With the arrival of summer, the human body is easily affected by high temperatures, leading to blocked blood vessels, which is also a dangerous period for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. At this time, it is advisable to consume warm and nourishing foods to dispel cold and protect blood vessels, without getting too hot.
In addition to carbohydrates, proteins, water-soluble vitamins, and minerals such as calcium, iron, and selenium, it also contains various nutrients with unique biological activities such as sulfur-containing compounds, flavonoids, and prostaglandins.
Therefore, it has antibacterial, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering, cholesterol lowering and other effects, and can also improve cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity and other diseases.
Moreover, eating onions in summer has many benefits, not only appetizing but also refreshing, especially suitable for uncles and aunties who lack appetite and are prone to drowsiness.
Onions are delicious and nutritious
Onions are the preferred summer ingredient, as they are not only rich in various nutrients, but also a good traditional Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that onions have a warm nature, a spicy and sweet taste, and have the effects of relieving external colds, detoxifying and resolving phlegm, strengthening the stomach and moistening the intestines, promoting appetite, diuresis and bowel movements. They can not only improve the condition of cold hands and feet, but also prevent colds to a certain extent.
Modern medicine also gives onions the reputation of being "heart stents in food" because their main nutrients are almost tailor-made for the heart.
01 Strong heart
Liu Ming, member of the Nutrition Department of Wu Jieping Medical Foundation, stated that onions are known as "heart stents in food" because they play a prominent role in protecting the heart.
Research has found that organic sulfides in onions have anti thrombotic effects, helping to prevent unnecessary platelet aggregation, as well as reducing cholesterol and triglyceride levels, improving red blood cell membrane function.
In addition, onions are rich in flavonoids that have strong antioxidant effects, helping to prevent heart disease and protect cardiovascular health.
02 Nourishing blood vessels
Onions contain quercetin, various sulfides, and flavonoids, which help to dilate blood vessels, reduce lipid concentration in blood vessels, assist in stabilizing blood pressure, and protect blood vessels.
Quercetin is a plant chemical compound with strong antioxidant properties in natural foods, which has a certain cleaning effect on blood vessels.
Onions are also the only vegetable known to contain prostaglandin A, which can soften blood vessels and maintain vascular elasticity.
03 Stable blood sugar
WHO experts found that the reason why Pakistanis are not prone to diabetes is related to their love of onions. The survey found that Pakistani people eat at least two (about 400 grams) onions per person per day.
Onions will not reduce the blood sugar level of healthy non diabetes people, while consuming onions in large quantities can reduce the blood sugar level of diabetes patients.
04 Strong immunity
Onions are rich in selenium, which is an antioxidant. It is also rich in vitamin C and niacin, which can promote the formation of intercellular matrix and repair damaged cells, making the skin smooth, rosy, and elastic.
In addition, flavonoids in onions can also eliminate free radicals, inhibit the growth of tumor cells such as liver and colon cancer, and enhance immunity.
Onions are also rich in quercetin, with a content of 110mg/100g, while hawthorn is only 22.8mg/100g and kumquat is 10mg/100g. Quercetin can inhibit tumor cell proliferation, induce tumor cell apoptosis, and thus enhance immunity.
05 Promoting bowel movements
Onions contain a large amount of water-soluble dietary fiber. Proper intake can promote intestinal peristalsis, remove intestinal garbage, alleviate and improve constipation. Regular consumption can also reduce the incidence of obesity and diabetes to a certain extent.
Diverse eating methods
Prolonged storage of onions after cutting and cooking for more than 10 minutes can significantly reduce their nutritional value.
Therefore, it is best to eat onions raw or stir fry them quickly over high heat, and it is not recommended to cook them at high temperatures for a long time. For example, after washing and shredding, mix it with red bell peppers, coriander, and other ingredients to eat.
Cold mixed potato and onion shreds
Seasoning sauce: 2 spoons light soy sauce, 1 spoonful dark soy sauce, 2 spoonfuls vinegar, half a spoonful oyster sauce, 1 spoonful sugar, a little spicy millet, and half a spoonful sesame oil
1. Shred potatoes, add white vinegar to water, blanch until cooked, remove and pour in cold water to cool.
2. Then add shredded onions, pour in the cold seasoning sauce, and mix well.
Onion beef and tomato soup
Ingredients: 250g beef, 250g onion, 300g tomato, minced garlic, scallions, salt, cornstarch, milk, cooking wine, and an appropriate amount of oil
Method:
1. Wash the onions and tomatoes, and cut them into small cubes; Cut the beef into small pieces, blanch for 3 minutes, then wash and set aside;
2. Take a bowl, add corn starch and an appropriate amount of milk, mix well and set aside;
3. Heat up the oil in a wok, add chopped scallions and garlic until fragrant, then pour in the chopped onions and beef, drizzle with a little cooking wine, and stir fry for 2 minutes;
4. Pour in diced tomatoes, stir fry until the tomatoes become soft, and season with an appropriate amount of salt;
5. Pour in an appropriate amount of hot water, bring to a boil over high heat, pour in the prepared starch juice, stir well, and continue to simmer for 5 minutes.
Stir fried meat with onions
Ingredients: pork, onion, green pepper, red pepper, ginger, pepper powder, corn starch, salt, vegetable oil, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce
Method:
1. Cut pork into thin shreds, add light soy sauce, pepper, dark soy sauce, and corn starch, stir well and marinate for ten minutes;
2. Cut onions and green and red chili peppers into shreds, and also shred ginger for later use;
3. Put a small amount of vegetable oil into the pot, put the marinated shredded meat into the pot, stir fry until the shredded meat changes color, and take it out;
4. Add a little more oil, then put the shredded onion into the pot and stir fry over high heat for two minutes;
5. Then put the shredded green and red chili peppers into the pot and stir fry for more than ten seconds;
6. Put the stir fried pork shreds back into the pot and stir fry evenly. Add an appropriate amount of salt and a little light soy sauce. Stir fry well and remove from the pot.
Onion ring Egg cakes
Ingredients: 1 egg, 1 tablespoon corn starch, carrots, corn kernels, asparagus, onion, salt, white pepper
Method:
1. Cut carrots and onions into small pieces, slice asparagus thinly, grab some corn kernels, add a spoonful of corn starch, appropriate amount of salt, and white pepper, beat in an egg, and stir well;
2. Cut a few onion rings, pour a little oil at the bottom of the pot, and add the onion rings;
3. Spoon the batter into the onion ring with a spoon, cover the pot and simmer over low heat for a while until the surface solidifies.
antic
To cut onions without shedding tears, you can try the following two methods:
1. Put the onion in the refrigerator and refrigerate it before cutting it. Lower the temperature of the onion to slow down the volatilization of thiopropanoid S-oxide.
2. Cut open the onion and soak it in water for a while, as Thiopropylal-S-oxide is easily soluble in water, soaking in water will also reduce the volatilization of Thiopropylal-S-oxide.
When purchasing scallions, please note:
First, observe the appearance of the onion. The onion skin is dry and intact without decay, and the onion roots are dry without new sprouts, indicating good onion storage.
Also, make sure to pinch the onions before buying and feel the texture of the onions. The harder the texture, the higher the moisture content and fresher the onion.
The high content of irritating substances in raw onions can stimulate the gastric mucosa and cause gastrointestinal discomfort, so patients with gastritis, gastric ulcers, and duodenal ulcers are not recommended to eat raw onions. Of course, eating onions can easily produce gas in the intestines and stomach, causing bloating and abdominal pain, so it is not recommended for patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery to eat onions.
People with allergic conditions such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, and skin diseases should also try to eat less.
