By: Hettie Basil Lighttower
Now that we have gotten a little more acquainted with our friends the onions, what else can we explore about them? One thing I am curious about now, is how many species of onions there are in the United States. Supposedly there are twenty-three! That is quite a bit. Nine types are the most widely used. We Americans do like our onions. We use them in nearly everything.
Onions certainly do boost the flavor up a notch in the recipes. But did you know, more importantly they boost our immune system up a notch! These vegetables contain much needed minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, chromium, potassium, selenium and phosphorus. And vitamins found in onions are C and B6. Onions are antibacterial, antiviral, antimicrobial and antisocial! Haha
Have you ever heard of onion cough syrup? Yep. You boil a chopped onion in a small amount of water. Strain the liquid, add sugar to make it syrupy and take a spoonful of it once a day until you feel better. You can do this when you have a cold, or other lung sicknesses. My grandma did this.
Onions keep your red blood cells from clumping together. This helps with cardiovascular health. They contain chromium which helps reduce blood sugar levels. They boost your immune system as mentioned above with all the “anti” properties. Onion juice mixed with a little olive oil can be applied to acne topically to clear it up. Onion juice mixed with a little olive oil can be dropped into the ear for clearing up a severe ear infection. Onions contain saponins which are ant-spasmodic and can help stomach or gastro situations. Onions have been considered a remedy for relieving various disorders and diseases metabolically. Studies have shown the sulfuric compounds in onions melt phlegm so well that they stop biochemical chain formations which then prevent asthmatic conditions. Onions quite frankly are pretty amazing. We should all have them in our diet everyday one way or another. Healthy healthy healthy.
Ok…. Radishes. What is the deal with radishes? Some thing else covered in dirt that we decided to eat. They burn and hurt as you eat them, some more than others and taste like dirt. Here’s what I have learned…. There are no archeological records about radishes. They too are believed to have derived in China first or in Asian countries. They are believed to be one of the oldest cultivated vegetables as early as the 7th century BC. It is really hard to say. They have just been around forever as well as the onions and no one wants to claim to be the first person foolish enough to try these bitey roots. (bitey may not be a word, but I make up words as I see fit)
Surprisingly, radishes really do have nutritional value. Check this out…..they may even help you fight cancer. These peppery crunchy roots support the liver and kidneys. They come in many different colors sizes and shapes. While they make a good garnish or splash of color to a salad, they also contain folic acid, vitamins A,C,K and niacin, choline, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, manganese and folate to boost our immune system and clear skin disorders. They are best eaten in moderation(as if anyone would eat them in quantity) as they may irritate your system because they are so high in fiber.
Radishes radically lower cholesterol and stimulate bile production. Even their leaves are good to eat in salads or soups. They can help you manage diabetes, relieve a urinary tract infection, fight cancer, convert fat to energy, the structure of your blood vessel walls, reduces atherosclerosis, relieve congestion in your respiratory tract(you know…. That rush when you eat a radish and it burns straight into your nose and sinuses and nearly takes your breath away? That is the radishes’ super powers to clear out a sinus infection!), because they detoxify and stimulate liver function they help with jaundice and also they give joint support against osteoarthritis as they build collagen.
Wow…. That’s a lot of goodness. An interesting way to eat radishes is to chop up and include in salsa. And I have never had the fried, but I hear-tell fried in butter they are delicious. And to be honest, I never met a vegetable I didn’t like fried in butter. Good luck out there and eat your veggies!!
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