The health benefits of red onions have been known for a long time. Red onion is widely used in cooking for preparing savory snacks and as an ingredient for various salads, as well as in folk medicine recipes.
Composition of red onion
The qualitative composition of red or, in other words, purple onion is very diverse. It contains almost the entire vitamin complex: vitamin A, B vitamins, ascorbic acid, and vitamin PP.
The set of microelements in purple onion is no less diverse. It contains: iron, magnesium, phosphorus, chromium, sodium, sulfur.
In addition to all of the above, this vegetable has a very high content of anthocyanins, which give it a rich purple color. The largest amount of all beneficial compounds is contained in the upper covering scales. Purple onion is also rich in quercetin, a special flavonoid with unique healing properties.
The beneficial effects of red onion
The most well-known beneficial property of red onion is its ability to lower cholesterol. This effect is due to the vitamin complex and antioxidants that are part of its composition, which also help to resist various infections and inflammatory processes. Antioxidants also have the ability to prevent the development of diabetes, cancer, and slow down the processes of natural aging of the body.
Quercetin, contained in purple onion, has anti-edematous, diuretic, and antispasmodic effects. But its beneficial effect is manifested only with the regular consumption of onions. This is due to the fact that quercetin has the ability to accumulate.
Various sulfur compounds that are part of this vegetable contribute to the production of a special amino acid in the body – cysteine. It promotes the removal of toxins, improves the synthesis of collagen, which leads to a significant improvement in the general condition of the skin, hair, and nails.
Sulfur compounds also fight “bad cholesterol” and promote the production of “good”, eliminate excess fat deposits and have a positive effect on the work of the cardiovascular and circulatory systems.
Red onion contains a lot of valuable trace element – chromium. It has the ability to lower blood sugar levels and increases the sensitivity of cells to insulin, which significantly reduces the likelihood of developing type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Proponents of a healthy lifestyle claim that the regular consumption of purple onion for 40 days can reduce cholesterol levels by almost a quarter and significantly improve the condition of the blood vessels of the brain.
Use in folk medicine recipes
Purple onion is also widely used in folk medicine. Below are the most popular recipes using it. For colds and flu, a mixture of onion juice and honey in a 1:1 ratio is used.
With a strong and chronic cough, it is recommended to replace honey with goose fat. This mixture is used as a rub at night. It should be applied to the chest area.
Onion is also used as an anthelmintic. To do this, clean a medium-sized onion and pour 200 g of warm boiled water. After that, it is left for 8 hours to infuse. This infusion should be drunk 100 g on an empty stomach for 5 days.
For stomach problems and hemorrhoids, a mixture of onion juice and flower honey taken in equal proportions is used. Take it internally 1 tablespoon before each meal.
With an irregular menstrual cycle, onion husks from 4-5 large onions are used to prepare a decoction. To prepare it, the husk is poured with 400 g of hot water. After that, it is boiled for 20 minutes in a water bath. The resulting broth is filtered. It should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach for 15 days.
The following remedy is used as a diuretic. Several medium-sized onions are very finely chopped or chopped using a blender. The resulting gruel is poured with 200 g of warm water and left to infuse for 8 hours. The infusion is drunk 50 g 3 times a day.
Contraindications to use
In addition to beneficial properties, red onion also has a number of contraindications. It is recommended to eat no more than 100 g of this vegetable at a time, and even then, if there are no significant health problems. The consumption of purple onion should be limited for the following categories of people:
- With liver diseases
- With impaired kidney function
- With colitis
- With stomach diseases in the acute stage
- With skin problems
As you can see, there are significantly fewer contraindications to the use of this vegetable than its beneficial properties. However, before using any folk medicine remedies using purple onion, it is best to consult a doctor.