ONION BENEFITS AND SIDE EFFECTS

Onion (Allium cepa)

Onions are believed to have asthma prevention abilities, general
disease-preventive measure, antiviral and blood-sugar balancing
properties. Drinking a warm delicious onion soup is a good idea, when we
have a cold.

In the old time, people drank a heated mixture of olive oil, chopped onion,
flaxseed for relieving cough, bronchitis or chest congestion.

RESEARCH FINDINGS ON GARLIC BENEFITS

Onion contains a flavonoid called quercetin which can reduce blood
pressure and inhibit signal transduction pathways in vitro that regulate
cardiac hypertrophy. [1] In a study of Sprague-Dawley rats,
supplementation of Welsh onion lowered the blood pressure. [6]

Actually, quercetin has powerful chemical and biological activities including
chelatin, free-radical scavenging and antioxidant activities. [4] Onion also
contains large amounts of triterpenic acids and amino acids. Thus, onion
has excellent health benefits on wound and scar healing. [3] Consumption
of onion is also linked to decreased prostate cancer mortality risk. [2] And
in a test-tube study, quercetin protects against the genotoxic effects of
atrazine. [4]

Several studies show onion possesses antidiabetic potential. [5]

[1] Jalili T et al Quercetin-supplemented diets lower blood pressure and attenuate
cardiac hypertrophy in rats with aortic constriction. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2006
Apr;47(4):531-41. [2] Colli JL et al, International comparions of prostate cancer
mortality rates with dietary practices and sunlight levels. Urol Oncol. 2006
May-Jun;24(3):184-94. [3] Tataringa G et al, Phytochemical and microbiological
characterization of two Allium cepa L extracts in order to include in dermocosmetics.
Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi. 2005 Jul-Sep;109(3):676-9. [4] Mastrangelo S et al
Quercetin reduces chromosome aberrations induced by atrazine in the Allium cepa
test. Environ Mol Mutagen. 2006 May;47(4):254-9. [5] Srinivasan K. Plant foods in
the managment of diabetes mellitus: spices as beneficial antidiabetic food adjuncts.
Int. J Food Sci Nutr. 2005 Sep;56(6):399-414. [6] Yamamoto Y et al, Antioxidative
and antihypertensive effects of Welsh onion on rats fed with a high-fat high-sucrose
diet. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2005 Jul;69(7): 1311-7.

THE INFORMATION ABOVE IS FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY.
IF YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH PROBLEM, YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR
IMMEDIATELY.

References: (1) Amagase, H., Petesch, B.L., Matsuura, H. et al. (2001) "Intake of
garlic and its bioactive components." J. Nutr. 131: 955S-926S. (2) Fleischauer, A.T.
and Arab, L. (2001) "Garlic and cancer: a critical review of the epidemiologic
literature." J. Nutrition 131: 1032S-1040S. (3) Milner, J.A. (2001) "Mechanisms by
which garlic and allyl sulfur compounds suppress carcinogen bioactivation. Garlic and
carcinogenesis." Adv. Exp. Med. Biol 492: 69-81. (4) Milner, J.A. (2001) "A historical
perspective on garlic and cancer." J. Nutrition 131: 1027S-1031S. (5) "Allium
Vegetables and Organosulfur Compounds: Do They Help Prevent Cancer?"
http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/members/2001/109p893-902bianchini/bianchini-full.ht
ml. (6) "Garlic: Effects on Cardiovascular Risks and Disease, Proliferative Effects
Against Cancer, and Clinical Adverse Effects."
http://ahrq.gov/clinic/epcsums/garlicsum.htm.
Reference:
1 Curr Opin Lipidol. 1994 Feb;5(1):6-10 2. Macpherson IJ. The pungency of garlic:
activation of TRPA1 and TRPV1 in response to allicin. Curr Biol. 2005 May
24;15(10)929-34. [1A] Food Chem Toxicol. 2005 Jan;43(1):57-63].[2A] J Nutr
Biochem. 1999 Jun; 10 (6):372-6].[3A]Atherosclerosis. 2004
Dec;177(2):291-7].[4A] Garlic Boosts Lung Health in Rats, HealthDay, April 3,
2005[5A] J Med Assoc Thai. 2004 Oct; 87 (10):1156-61].[6A] Br J Nutr. 2004 Oct; 92
(4):701-6].[7A] Rev Argent Microbiol. 2004 Jul-Sep; 36 (3):139-44].

Onion Health BENEFITS and side effects, Nutrition Values
zhion@zhion.com

Lalitha Thomas, the author of 10 essential herbs, considers onion as a superb antiseptic. She explains in her book that onion
contains a large amount of sulphur. Like garlic, herbalists also use onion to cleanse the blood and lower high blood pressure.
Thus, onion offers valuable health benefits to us.