HELLO! MEET THE RED ONIONS -Ntomchukwu Ukachukwu

THE GREAT HOME COMPANION

·         Strengthens the Heart Muscles

·         Supports Proper Digestion

·         Sends Bacteria Packing

·         Antioxidants Galore

·         Inceases Bone Weight

·         Balances the Blood Sugar Level

·         Keeps Cancer at Bay

·         So much nutrients, Vitamins and Minerals

·         Not much Calorie to worry with

I met the red Onion as a child. Being her first child, I used to stay very close to mom while she prepared those very delicious meals. Most of the time she would add onions to her soups and stews. As she cut them, she would graciously advance me a slice while she chewed as well.

Initially I resisted the strong pungent and aromatic smell as well as the taste. But with time and encouragement from mom I got very much used to red Onions. I never got the chance to enquire from her why she used it so much in her meals. I guess it was because I gradually left the kitchen when my female siblings were born in quick succession.

Do you like onions? I think you should. Forgive me if you don’t. I am aware that there are some who are allergic to Onions. Its human nature. An ancient proverb says that one man’s meat is another’s poison. The greater majority of we humans are at home with Onions.

So why has Onions come to be such a great companion? Even as I write this article I have some lobes of it close to me. Am chewing away! The Onion is good, in fact it’s very good. The value that it has brought to us is awesome. Onions contains very beneficial elements, so let’s meet them:

·    Strengthens the Heart Muscles

One of the greatest challenges people face is the issue of loss of heart muscle power. The heart is designed to keep operating for twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, and three hundred and sixty five days each year. Under no circumstance should the heart either skip pumping blood or should it rest. Worse still, it can’t stop! That we call death. Onions help the heart muscles to keep performing this very sensitive function.

·    Supports Proper Digestion

Early in life I used to have challenges defecating. I can’t tell if that was why mom always gave me Onions but I was well relieved of this situation which did frighten me. Constance presence of Onions in the meals ensures that the food we eat is properly digested. While the body gets the needed nutrients, it help to lubricate the walls of the alimentary canal so that the wastes can easily leave the body.

·    Sends Bacteria Packing

When you cut the Onion open and bring it close to your nostrils, it gives you a harassing smell. If it’s your first time, your nerves will be seriously agitated and in response you start sneezing. When you sneeze, the unwanted ‘visitors’, hiding in the nostrils are booted away. Many a times, I watch cooks keep their nostrils away as they slice Onions. I enjoy a subdued laugh as I look at their twitched faces. When the onion is inside the body it hunts the bacteria with all sense of responsibility.

·    Antioxidants Galore

From time to time we consume meals or drinks that contain what health sector classify as ‘radicals’. When they are in the system whether in the blood, nerves, muscles, brain, even the skin surface, or stomach, they prevent the body from performing its normal functions. This situations presents obvious challenges to well-being.  There is so much stress, tension, aches and pains. The body senses danger. These conditions are referred to as poisonous.

Onions help catch these radicals, effectively arrest their activities and marshal them out of the body. 

 

Onions have almost purplish skin and whitish meat with red strings.  Red onion is very mild and has a sweet taste.

•    Increases Bone Weight
Onions won’t give us muscular weight but certainly bring the much needed bone weight. An individual with frailty will sincerely be grateful to learn that something as simple as Onions can and indeed gives weight to the bones. A person might be skinny but if the bones are heavy he can execute tasks with least effort. Onions help us achieve this effectively.
•    Balances the Blood Sugar Level
Sometime ago I had an unusual health situation. Suddenly I noticed that dizziness was overtaking me. I was afraid to stand and walk; it was possible to fall without any controls. I contacted my health entries. It hovered around the blood sugar. But is it high or low? I could not tell. I needed to be extremely careful; any errors can spell doom. Well, for starters I reached for the onions. I chewed some and then took some water. I convinced myself to lie down and rest. I woke up an hour later and tested the dizziness. It hadn’t completely gone, but had reduced. Onions help a lot to balance the blood sugar level. As we eat onions, it does this work without our being aware; it gives us the necessary balance. Trust it.
•    Keeps Cancer at Bay
Cancers are malignant tumours. They are said to be malignant because their biochemical behavior is not easily understood by the medical sciences. However it is very clear that they originate from the free radicals that go tormenting the cells. Use of onions in the early stages of incidence of cancer helps to checkmate its activity. If someone is already used to eating onions, the possibility of contracting cancer is very, very low.

So Much Nutrients, Vitamins and Minerals
Onions provide about 12% of the daily value for vitamin C. Red Onions have high amount of flavonols and anthocyanins. Onion contains at least 27% different anthocyanins. Onions are also more effective natural blood thinner; they are richer in flavonoids, which help thin the blood. Onions provide 3% of daily value for calcium, and 2% of the daily value for iron.
Red onion is rich in phytochemicals, which are important because they boost our immune system. Onion is also a rich source of vitamin K, B6, and C, but at the same time, the phytochemicals act as a stimulant to vitamin C within the body. It also has folate, thiamine, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and manganese.

Odor Elimination
Sometime ago, I attended a regional conference in Nigeria. As finished with registration matters and walked into the main hall, I noticed a foul smell. On enquiry it turned out that the rug was not well cleaned. The conference could not go ahead in such a situation. I advised the conference managers to get some red onion bulbs. I explained everything to them and they obliged. I advised them on how to use the onions. In less than thirty minutes the odor was a thing of the past. Onions has the capacity to eliminate foul smell. At the same time you won’t perceive its own pungence. It leaves no traces. 

Ringing In the Ears
Years ago mom complained of constant ringing in her right ear. I recommended using the liquid drops from onions. She had so much doubts. I took it easy with her. I joked about how she introduced me to onions and she was surprised I still remembered. Then I administered the liquid drops carrefully. She slept with the ear up side. In the  morning she reported that the ringing had reduced so much. I left her to continue with the treatment. Onions help us manage vibes when the body produces more than we can manage. These sounds are not that bad in themselves but because we are not used to them, it worries us.

**** I shall soon do a second cut to enable me take you deeper into Onions. See you!****