Onion

The best flavor enhancer and very good for the body, onions are a bit of an underrated superfood. Even though they may make you cry, onions are incredibly versatile in both food and daily routine – they have been used to remove the sting of burns and even repel insects. I enjoy using onions raw in salads, roasted, grilled, or thrown into sauces and marinades.

  • Onions have more polyphenols than garlic, tomatoes, carrot, and red bell peppers. Polyphenols are those wonderful antioxidants that have been shown to reduce oxidative stress within the body, therefore helping to prevent nasty diseases and cell damage.
  • Onions contain many sulfur compounds (hello, delicious smell!), which are needed for hundreds of biological processes in the body.
  • Onions contain the flavonoid quercetin, which helps to prevent hardening of the arteries, high cholesterol, and heart disease.
  • Onions are a good source of Vitamin C, K, B6 & B1, chromium, fiber, folic acid,
  • Onions have been shown to contain significant blood-sugar lowering powers, comparable to the prescription drugs tolbutamide and phenformin, which are often given to diabetics. This may be due to onion’s flavonoids and allyl propyl disulfides. (APDS)
  • Another reason why onions are underrated superfoods? They contain a specific prebiotic fructan called inulin. Inulin ferments in your colon and creates food for your functional and friendly gut bacteria. This not only keeps your gut bacteria incredibly happy, but it also promotes digestion, stimulates the immune system, and helps to prevent disease.

Vegukate Tips:

No need to buy organic, onions usually fall on the “clean fifteen.”

Store onions at room temperature in a cool, dark, and well ventilated place. They should keep for a few weeks.