Quercetin in Onions Prevents Asthma, Allergies and Heart Disease
The known health benefits of onions may be fairly new but these
flavorful bulbs have been a food staple for more than 3,000 years. This
humble vegetable doesn’t get a lot of media hype compared to green tea,
red wine and blueberries, but some scientists are saying onions may
just be one of the greatest super foods yet.
Onions are a member of the allium family of plants – garlic,
shallots, chives and leeks are in the same family – and the most common
types are yellow, red and white. They are the second most important horticultural product grown in the world.
What truly makes the health benefits of onions so fantastic are the
properties of the polyphenol quercetin compound. Polyphenols are
phytochemicals, antioxidants that naturally protect plants against
bacteria and viruses. Red wine, citrus, olive oil and apples also
contain quercetin.
A Natural Anti-Inflammatory
Cornell University food science associate professor, Rui Hai Liu, MD,
PhD, said, “Our study clearly shows that the health benefits of onions
and shallots have potent…antioxidant activity and protective effect.”
Cornell’s study was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
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