By Marie Dufour, RD- The Onion (Allium cepa)belongs to the lily (Allium) family. It is a close relative of garlic, shallots, scallions, chives and leeks.
Nothing opens the appetite like the odor of onions cooking. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) supports the use of onions for the treatment of poor appetite. But there is more. Onions are a wonderful part of a healthy diet and can contribute in overall health in many different ways.
Weight Control: They are low in calories and a good source of dietary fiber.
Heart Health: onions contain folic acid and the antioxidants quercetin, a flavonoid associated with heart health.
Liver Health: onions are rich in sulfur compounds, essential in the liver detoxification process and in fat metabolism. This makes them part of a lipid-lowering diet.
Finally, they have been shown to have a beneficial effect in stomach cancer prevention.
Onions have the advantage to have a long shelf life. Yellow, white or red; large Maui sweet or small Italian cippolino; sliced raw over salad, glazed in sauce, stewed in soup, candied in tart, onions are the ultimate versatile veggie.
By Marie Dufour, RD- The Onion (Allium cepa)belongs to the lily (Allium) family. It is a close relative of garlic, shallots, scallions, chives and leeks.
Nothing opens the appetite like the odor of onions cooking. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) supports the use of onions for the treatment of poor appetite. But there is more. Onions are a wonderful part of a healthy diet and can contribute in overall health in many different ways.
Weight Control: They are low in calories and a good source of dietary fiber.
Heart Health: onions contain folic acid and the antioxidants quercetin, a flavonoid associated with heart health.
Liver Health: onions are rich in sulfur compounds, essential in the liver detoxification process and in fat metabolism. This makes them part of a lipid-lowering diet.
Finally, they have been shown to have a beneficial effect in stomach cancer prevention.
Onions have the advantage to have a long shelf life. Yellow, white or red; large Maui sweet or small Italian cippolino; sliced raw over salad, glazed in sauce, stewed in soup, candied in tart, onions are the ultimate versatile veggie.