Health Benefits of Onions

Onions belong to the lily family, which also includes garlic, leeks, chives, scallions, and shallots. Early American settlers used wild onions to treat colds, cough, asthma, and to repel insects. Onions are effective against many bacteria, including Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella, and E. coli. There are many different types of onions, including red, yellow, white, and green. Each different type of onion has its own unique flavor, from very strong to mildly sweet. The high level of sulfur-containing compounds gives onions their unique odor. The strongest smelling onions provide the most health benefits. The best choice is yellow onions, followed by red onions, and then white onions. They are a significant source of vitamins B6 and C, dietary fiber, chromium, folate, manganese, potassium, copper, and phosphorus.


There are many good health benefits involved with onions. A regular diet including onions can lower cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. This can help to prevent atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease. It can also reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Onions are able to increase good-type HDL cholesterol and reduce total cholesterol levels to make a person healthier. Onions are good for diabetics because they contain allyl propyl disulfide, which lowers blood sugar levels by increasing the amount of free insulin available. They also contain thiosulfinates that reduce the symptoms of diabetes. Colorful onions, such as red or yellow, contain the most thiosulfinates. It is best to eat onions raw or lightly cooked because heat diminishes thiosulfinates. Onions contain sulfides which might lower blood lipids and blood pressure.


Onions contain flavonoids, such as quercetin, that can reduce the risk of developing colon cancer by stopping the growth of tumors and protecting colon cells from the damaging effects of certain cancer-causing substances. The flavonoids improve the integrity of blood vessels and decreases inflammation. They also provide protection against cardiovascular disease. Quercetin protects the body against stomach ulcers and colon, esophageal, and breast cancers. Quercetin extract enhances physical performance and endurance.

Other interesting facts about onions are that onion extracts are good at relieving coughs and colds, asthma, and bronchitis. They decrease bronchial spasms and allergy-induced bronchial constriction in asthma patients. They are very rich in chromium, which is a mineral that helps cells respond to insulin. They are effective against osteoporosis. In osteoporosis, they destroy osteoclasts so that they don't break down bone.

Onions are safe to eat for most people but eating too much of this food may cause stomach distress and gastrointestinal irritation that might cause nausea or diarrhea. Cutting onions under cold running water is good at reducing watery eyes and eye irritation. Cut onions should either be stored in a sealed container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and immediately refrigerated. Uncut onions should be stored in a cool, dark, and dry place.

Health Benefits of Avocados

Avocados are a fruit that are very rich in nutrients. They can grow in many different locations but are native to the Mesoamerican region. They contain folate, which helps to prevent heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease. Folate also reduces the risk of certain birth defects, such as spina bifida, and is good for healthy cell and tissue development. They contain vitamin E, which is good at slowing down the aging process and protecting the body against heart disease and some forms of cancer.
Avocados even contain a toxin that can kill cancer cells. They contain monounsaturated fat, which lowers bad cholesterol and raises good cholesterol. Monounsaturated fat is also good for cognitive and visual development. They contain lutein, which protects the body against prostrate cancer and certain eye diseases, such as cataracts and macular degeneration. The fruit can also be used to treat skin disorders and to heal people who suffer from digestive and circulatory problems. They are high in oleic acid, which is good for preventing breast cancer.

Avocados contain many minerals that are important for good health. They contain potassium, calcium, vitamin C and K, folic acid, copper, sodium, and dietary fibers. Potassium is good for regulating blood pressure. Sodium is good for reducing the risk of high blood pressure and stroke.

The Benefits of Canola Oil

Canola oil is one of the healthiest cooking oils that is sold. It is genetically engineered and processes from the rapeseed plant, which is considered part of the mustard plant family. Canola oil is not harmful health-wise. It has a neutral taste and is low in saturated fats. Saturated fats are not good for you because they raise the total blood cholesterol level, including LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol).

The Benefits of Olive Oil

Olive oil can have a positive effect on blood cholesterol levels, heart disease, skin cancer, earaches, constipation, colon cancer, upset stomach, dry skin, and stretch marks. It also contains vitamins E, K, A and hundreds of micronutrients. Many of its health benefits are due to its high amount of monounsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, and moisturizing properties.

Olive oil has a positive effect against heart disease by controlling LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels. It is good at activating the secretion of bile and pancreatic hormones and lowering the chance of the formation of gallstones. When it is taken orally, it can increase metabolism, help digestion, and lubricate mucous membranes. Putting extra virgin olive oil on skin after sunbathing can help to prevent skin cancer.

Health Benefits of Ginger

There are positive health benefits to ginger. Fresh ginger and ginger root have compounds that can fight certain cancer cells and slow the growth of tumors. For many years, ginger root has been used to treat nausea, pain, swelling, and cold symptoms. Studies have shown that regular use can lower cholesterol levels, help to stabilize blood pressure and glucose levels, and reduce blood clotting.

Ginger root is safe to use as long as it is used in reasonable amounts. A safe dose would be 100 mg per day. There have not been any severe side effects reported when higher doses are taken, except in people who are allergic to ginger root. The most common allergic reaction is excessive burping.

Ginger capsules are sold for medicinal purposes in pharmacies in many other countries. They are not sold for medicinal purposes in pharmacies in the United States. They are sold as capsules in the United States as dietary supplements. The FDA classifies it as a food and not a drug.

Fight Cancer with Berries

Berries, such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and cranberries, contain ellagic acid and polypenols, such as anthocyanidins and proantocyanidins, that promote the death of cancer cells. Berries are also high in antioxidants, which attract and neutralize free radicals that could damage body cells in ways that could cause cancer, heart disease, and age-related eye damage. They are also good source of vitamin C and could help to prevent or reverse the disease processes of diabetes, heart disease, and stomach ulcers. They can also help to lower cholesterol levels. It is best to eat them raw in their whole fruit form instead of eating processed berries or fruit drinks that are made from berries.

A Little Alcohol Good for Healthy Living

Researchers have found that drinking small amounts of alcohol, mainly wine, during middle age years you can have a major reduction in heart attack and stroke risk. It is recommended to drink one glass of wine per day. Alcohol raises HDL cholesterol levels, which is the cholesterol that is good for you, and stimulates the release of nitric oxide and histamines that relax blood vessels and improves their function.

Small to moderate amounts of alcohol could also help prevent Alzheimer's disease, peripheral artery disease, the common cold, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, bone fractures and osteoporosis, kidney stones, digestive ailments, stress, depression, poor cognition and memory, Parkinson's disease, hepatitis A, pancreatic cancer, macular degeneration, angina pectoris, duodenal ulcer, erectile dysfunction, hearing loss, gallstones, liver disease and poor physical condition in elderly.

Too much alcohol is bad for you. Too much can cause high blood pressure, increased triglyceride levels, cause abnormal heart rhythms, and raise the risk of breast cancer in women.

Macadamia Nuts Lower Cholesterol Levels

Even though macadamia nuts are high in calories and fat, they can help to keep arteries clear. The type of fat they are high in is called monounsaturated fatty acids, which is what causes it to lower levels of blood cholesterol. Adding 1 1/2 ounces of the nuts to your diet each day can lower cholesterol levels by about 9 percent after 5 weeks. Macadamia nuts are originally from Australia but have been imported to Hawaii to be grown and used for commercial use.

Oats for a Healthy Heart

Eating oats are good for a healthy heart. They are rich in dietary fiber, manganese, selenium, the antioxidant flavonoid, and magnesium. They are also rich in beta-glucan and have shown to be able to reduce the risk of heart attack and lower cholesterol levels. Eating oats on a regular basis can lower cholesterol levels by 6 to 10 percent and lower the risk of heart attack by up to 25 percent. Also adding whole grains, beans, soy, vegetables, and fruits to your diet can reduce the risk of heart attack by 40 to 60 percent.

The Affects of Menopause on Heart Disease

There are Dutch scientists that have found that women who have severe menopausal symptoms have more heart disease risks, such as high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and a higher body mass index (BMI), than women who have more mild symptoms. It is assumed that the decline in estrogen could affect the walls of blood vessels to cause these risks.

It is recommended for a woman experiencing menopause to get her blood pressure and cholesterol checked. It is also a good idea to try natural remedies, such as daily exercise, yoga, and a diet that is rich in flaxseed or isoflavones from soy.

Diet Soda Not Good For Diet

Drinking diet soda to lose weight is not as good as it seems. Diet soda can increase the risk of having high amounts of belly fat, high blood sugar levels, and high cholesterol. A person that drinks one diet soda each day have a 34 percent higher risk of having these things than people who don’t drink diet soda. To have a healthier and tasty drink, it is a good idea to mix freshly cut fruit such as berries and citrus fruits, with seltzer water.

Relaxation Can Lower Cholesterol

Staying calm during stressful situations can help to maintain or to raise the levels of HDL cholesterol, which is the good cholesterol. Researchers from Oregon State University surveyed 716 men and found that the men who stayed calm during stressful situations had higher levels of HDL than men who became angry or wanted to be along during stressful situations. The men that got angry also had higher levels of triglycerides, which are blood fats. The same effects happen in women.

A person that has anger control problems can learn self-control techniques, such as taking time to slowly and deeply breathe when feeling angry.