10 Reasons to Add More Onion To Your Diet #DIY

Onions might be best known for their smell and how they make you cry when cutting them, but did you know that in addition to adding amazing flavor to your culinary efforts, onions have healing powers, too?

Onions contain sulfur compounds and a flavonoid called Quercetin, both of which help the body remove, repair or reverse certain ailments. They also have antibiotic, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Onions can help improve your health in so many positive ways.  The list of attributes is long for this potent vegetable.  Among these, onions are known to:

• Help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol
• Keep blood pressure in check by lowering it
• Protect against cardiovascular disease
• Thin blood
• Relieve sinus congestion, cold and flu symptoms
• Lessen the risk of stroke
• Lower blood sugar in diabetics
• Detox the body by removing heavy metals, including cadmium, lead and mercury, from the body.
• Relieve nausea and indigestion
• Increase bone density

Need a quick cure?  Onions can handle the job!  Try these folk recipes for treating congestion, remedying earaches and to help eliminate acne.

To treat chest congestion, use an onion compress.

1. Quarter 4 onions
2. Steam or lightly sauté in water until soft
3. Let cool until you are able to handle
4. Wrap in cheesecloth and secure with safety pins
5. Apply to chest

To keep it in place, put the compress under a shirt or towel. For children you won’t need as many onions so you can cut the recipe down, depending on the size of your child. A good way to keep it in place for little ones is lay the pouch on their chest and wrap an ace bandage all the way around them and secure.

Try this simple recipe to knock out earache pain:

• 1 onion with skin
• Bowl
• Spatula
• Eyedropper

Steam the onion with the skin on. Keeping the skin on helps to keep all of the onion juice inside until you’re ready to use it.

Once it’s done (when it’s soft) cut in half and put one half into a bowl.  Then press the onion with a spatula or other utensil to squeeze out the juice.

Use the eyedropper to capture some of the juice.  Put several drops into the ear and the earache should dissipate within 15 minutes or so.

To help get rid of acne, apply this simple mixture to your skin:

• 1 tablespoon fresh onion juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Combine and rub over entire face with your fingers in a circular motion. Let sit for about 20 minutes then rinse off with warm water. Pat your face dry. This can help clear up blemishes and can also be used as a spot treatment for breakouts.

When you plan out your garden this spring, add a little extra space for more onions… or be sure to stock up on more from the market.  You’ll add oodles of flavor to your meals and offer your body some fabulous health benefits!