The benefits and harms of onions

Any plant that grows on our planet plays an important role in the life of humans or animals. But among them there are those who very often, almost daily appear in our lives. These plants include common onions. Let's find out what beneficial or harmful properties it has.

The benefits of onions

There are many varieties of onions, but onions are considered the most popular in our country. This healthy vegetable contains about twenty different types of amino acids. Most of it is tryptophan, and less histidine. Lots of onions and vitamins, useful microelements and macronutrients.

Another type of onion, no less common in our country, is green. It is grown mainly from onions. This vegetable is rich in chlorophyll, which is beneficial for the hematopoietic process. Zinc is also present in it, which is useful for men's health and for strengthening the immune system. For women, zinc is also beneficial - it is good for hair and for the preservation of reproductive function.

Another very useful type of onion is leek, also called pearl onion. This vegetable does not have such a harsh taste as onions, which makes it very popular for cooking various dishes. It is also used in traditional medicine, for example, to treat gout or relieve pain in rheumatism.

Onion harm

Like any other product, onions also have harmful and unpleasant properties. These include a very unattractive specific scent from the oral cavity after its use. But with such a scourge, you can quite successfully fight. For example, after eating onions, chew a little parsley, a burnt crust of bread, or fried walnuts. nuts... However, any of these products only partially outweighs the onion aroma.

Any onion has the ability to irritate the stomach and intestines, and also causes increased acidity of stomach juice. This suggests that onions should not be used for liver or kidney disease, ulcerative lesions or gastritis.

Onions negatively affect the nervous system and can cause an increase in blood pressure as well as asthma.

Onion contraindications

All the contraindications that onions have apply only to raw vegetables. Boiled, fried or baked, this vegetable can be used by everyone. The fact is that in raw onion there is an oxide that has an irritating effect on the mucous membranes of the intestines or stomach. Considering the harm caused by raw onions, we indicate the contraindications to its use:

• Asthma.
• Peptic ulcer of the intestine and stomach.
• Acute gastritis.
• Inflammation of the kidneys and liver.
• With a weak heart and a tendency to hypertension, it is better not to use raw onions in large doses.
• It should also be borne in mind that some individuals suffer from an individual intolerance to onions.

Types of onions

There are many types of onions. But only a few of them are edible and eaten by humans. Let's dwell on some of them, the most popular in our country.

The onion is a perennial plant. Instead of a bulb, it has a false appearance of the stem, and the leaves can grow up to half a meter in height. The onion does not stop growing throughout the summer. It perfectly tolerates cold and in some cases it is not even necessary to dig it out for the winter.

Onions have hollow leaves in the form of long tubes of bright green color. Its bulbs usually have yellow husks, but varieties with purple or white can be found. This onion is commonly used to prepare a variety of dishes raw, fried, or boiled.

Chives are distinguished by the delicate taste of small leaves. During the summer, you can harvest this plant several times. It is often bred as an ornamental plant because of its pretty pink flowers.

Shallots have narrow, thick-walled leaves. Shallot bulbs are small in size, oval or round in shape. They can be white or slightly purple in color. This type of onion has a pleasant and slightly pungent taste. Shallots are valued for their large number of vitamins and minerals.

Onion treatment

Due to its beneficial properties, onions are often used to treat diseases. For example, onion compresses can be used for otitis media. To do this, squeeze the juice from fresh onions and moisten a piece of cotton wool with it. Insert the resulting swab into the sore ear. It is important to make sure that the cotton wool is well moistened, but at the same time the onion juice does not stand out from it. Otherwise, you may simply burn yourself.

Onion compresses are great for treating coughs. Soak cheesecloth with onion juice and apply it to your chest. Then cover with plastic wrap and wrap with a warm cloth. For the same purpose, you can make onion syrup. Chop the onion and cover it with two tablespoons of sugar, let it brew for three hours for juice to appear. Drink this juice in two tablespoons in two hours.

For headaches, cut the onion in two and place both halves at your temples. You can bring down the heat with onions. To do this, simply fry the finely chopped onions in oil, fold them into a paper bag and place them on your chest.

If you have tinnitus, then make a medicine from onions and caraway seeds. Make a well in the onion and pour the cumin into it. Now put everything in the oven and bake. After that, drip the resulting medicine into the ears in a few drops. Then cover your ears with cotton swabs.

Onions in folk medicine

Colds and flu respond well to onions. Just finely grate a raw onion and inhale its vapor. Disease-causing bacteria and viruses are concentrated in the nasopharynx, so the bactericidal properties of onions are very useful here. Inhale the pungent onion scent through your nose and mouth alternately for a quarter of an hour. Do this procedure several times a day every day. Use a freshly cut onion each time. This method is perfect for the initial stage of the disease.

If you have a boil on your body, then you can cure it with baked onions. Chop the baked onion and mix with the shavings of laundry soap. In this case, the onion should be twice as much as the soap. Apply this mixture to the boil, changing the dressing several times a day.

If you have a cold or a sore throat, fresh onion juice and honey will help. Mix them in equal parts and consume a teaspoon four times a day. In a higher dosage, this agent can be used to treat cerebral vessels.

Another great cough remedy is baked onions. Fill a wine bottle with chopped onions and cap it well. Then cover the bottle with dough and send it to bake in the oven until the bottle is browned. Then turn off the heat and leave the bottle in the oven until it cools. Onions baked in this way can be used to treat bronchitis. Eat a couple of tablespoons of it four times a day after meals. For a child, halve the dose.

In addition to the onion itself, onion husks are also useful for treatment. For example, it can be treated with an infusion of onion peels. leg cramps... Chop onion husks and pour a teaspoon of this product with a glass of boiling water. When infused, strain and drink before bed.

For the treatment of kidney disease, a decoction of onion peels is suitable. Boil three large spoons of onion skins in 400 ml of water for about 1 minute. Then leave it to brew for half an hour, strain and drink 15 ml three times a day.

If your nails are affected by fungus, then give your feet hot baths with a strong decoction of onion peels. The duration of the bath should not be less than half an hour.