Onion

Health Benefits:

Aids in digestion
Anti aging
Anti inflammatory
Anti viral qualities
Detoxifying effects
Fights free radicals
Increases immunity
Lowers blood pressure
May reduce risk of cancer
May reduce risk of heart disease
May reduce risk of stroke
May regulate blood sugar
Prevents sinusitis
Promotes heart health
Reduces risk of prostate cancer
Relieves allergies

Nutrition:

Serving size: 1 medium; Calories: 44; Fat: .1g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 4mg; Carbs: 10g; Fiber: 1.9g; Sugars: 4.7g; Protein: 1.2g; Potassium: 4%DV; Vitamin A: 0%DV; Vitamin C: 13%DV; Calcium: 2%DV; Iron: 1%DV

Did You Know?

• Applying onion juice on the area of a bee sting will provide immediate relief from the pain and burning sensation.
• To decrease the likelihood of tears when cutting onions, onions can be chilled for 30 minutes prior to cutting in the refridgerator or in cold water.
• You can use an onion to clean your grill! Heat up the grill to burn off any grit or grime then turn the grill off and rub it with an onion half to loosen anything that is left!

Ways to Eat:

Onions are endlessly versatile and an essential ingredient in countless recipes.

• Raw
• Fried
• Pickled
• Sauteed
• Grilled
• Roasted

Farming Trivia:

• Members of the Allium family
• Ancient Egyptian Pharohs were burried with onions as a symbol of eternity
• In the middle ages onions were not just used as food, but as medicine to relieve headaches, snake bites and to cure hair loss 
• Around 9.2 million acres of onions are harvested annually
• The National Onion Association discussed a recent study from the Netherlands that showed that people who ate onions absorbed twice as much quercetin as those who drank tea, and more than three times as much quercetin as those who ate apples, which are other high-quercetin sources.
  • Red onions are especially high in quercetin, according to the association.
  • Shallots and yellow onions are also good options. White onions contain the least amount of quercetin and other antioxidants.