Outstanding Onion Facts

Posted on 18. Sep, 2009 by Tracey in How To Grow Veg

Following on from my previous posts on Onion Week at iGrowVeg.com here are some useful facts about the humble onion.

Hayfever Sufferers should eat more onions. Quercetin which is found in over-the-counter anti-histamine medication is also found naturally in onions. The high amount of querceptin in onions absorbs into the body twice as quick as the next biggest source, Broccoli. The best way to keep the querceptin levels in onions is by eating them raw or by slow cooking for 10 – 15 minutes over a low heat. Read More at British Onions
Onions are low in calories, 23 calories per 100g and are high in dietary fibre.
In the UK, Onions are grown commercially in Lincolnshire, East & West Anglia, Bedfordshire, Yorkshire and Kent.
26% of the Onions Worldwide are grown in China. USA, China, India and Russia are the main growers internationally.
Red Onions have a high anthocyanin and antioxidant content, therefore making them healthier to eat than brown onions.
Chromium in onions is a natural cure for PMS and also helps reduce cholesterol.
In Egypt, Onions were said to have great effects on libido and celibate priests were forbidden to eat them.
Egyptians also believed that the onion brought eternal life and raised the dead.
Onions can be used to rid the smell of fresh paint from a room, cut in half and place in the centre of the room.
To reduce tears when cutting an onion, chew gum, eat bread, light a candle or splash white vinegar on the board to start with.