Monday, November 05, 2007

Opiparous onions...

Wonderful, sumptious and health giving onions: something we all knew but that continues to get more confirmation. The BBC reports Institute of Food research that shows eating a meal rich in compounds called flavonoids (in this case quercetin - found in onions, apples tea and red wine and even higher levels in the less-frequently eaten capers or lovage) reduces some early signs of heart disease. Worth noting that seperate research shows the absorption of quercetin from onions is twice that from tea and more than three times that from apples.

The US National Onion Association reports that studies have shown that quercetin protects against cataracts, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

"In addition, onions contain a variety of other naturally occurring chemicals known as organosulfur compounds that have been linked to lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels."
Also, as the British Onions site tells us, new scientific research "has discovered the humble onion could be just what the doctor ordered to give our brains a boost. The research findings could prove valuable in the fight against aging and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, while also providing protection from the effects of modern life." (The fantastic pictures in this post are taken from their image gallery)

Apart from all that we know that onions are low in calories but pack a punch in the flavour stakes and can be added to almost any savoury meal, someone once said that every meal began with peeling an onion. They are also sodium, fat, and cholesterol free, and provide dietary fibre, plus vitamins C and B6, potassium, and other key nutrients. Try raw onion on it's own with olive oil (and vinegar) and a pinch of salt as dressing - that plus a sliced apple plus maybe a chunk of strong, hard cheese and a glass or two of red wine and you can feel the benefit: a meal fit for a king!! If you're not keen on the strong flavour then try sweet onions: they still taste like an onion, but be much sweeter and milder. If however you're not keen on that either then you can just read about them: Ode to the Onion.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your meal suggestion ...healthy, quick, easy to prepare and an excuse to open the Rioja...
..and as long as the one you love eats the same ...the perfect meal.

Anonymous said...

Why does it matter if your partner has the same?
Surely parsley or something else could cure if you feel the need – But why would you!

I do love these fantastic claims and counter claims.

Coffee this week to the tune of six cups a day protects against skin cancer!

Rioja? Well the affects of wine in any quantity varies dependent upon the scientists particular penchant!

Having just heard of another friend dying having only attained the age of fifty my advice is drink, eat and be merry.

Life is about risk and if you lead your life as follows you will surely be the richer for it?

"To laugh is to risk appearing a fool,
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement,
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return,
To live is to risk dying,
To hope is to risk despair,
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow,
But he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or live.
Chained by his servitude he is a slave who has forfeited all freedom.
Only a person who risks is free. Only a person who risks is free!"

I suppose how you manage the risk is for you and maybe the clue comes from the following aphorism

“The pessimist complains about the wind;
The optimist expects it to change;
And the realist adjusts the sails."

So adjust the sails and eat the onion!

PS Span found this old footage of you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Foty1pMHI4

And finally if not been there; visit theonion.com

Personal favourites include, the N word, bullshit and recently flying cars – Enjoy

Been a while ……. Kenji

Span Ows said...

Missbonnielass, thanks...enjoy!...and ignore Kenji, a pint and a burger are more his style :-)

Kenji, great poem...and oh so true about risk etc....before you popped into the blog it was a bit different and I had some quotes in the title header (where it says Owsblog)...one of those was by Albert Einstein (I think) saying "He that has never made a mistake has never tried anything new"...eat drink and be merry, as you say.

By sheer coincidence I heard only this week the Chinese proverb from whence you second ditty comes...I presume...it said 'A man can't change the wind but he can adjust the sails'.

I know The Onion (Gavin posted the link in a comment when I did my first onion post (linked..Ode to the Onion)...I was there this week and although it sounds terrible to say (Mags etc I apologise in advance) but go to the video news and click on the 'missing girl raped' bulletin ...NO!!!...it isn't anything really bad or even true; nothing to do with Madeleine or missing children either, just ripping the piss out of the media.

(will check out that Youtube link now...he says a bit worried....)

Span Ows said...

For God's sake...I could beat that! ;-)

Just for teh record I was champion baked potato eater at college (I wa salso the only one who didn't throw-up) and also won the 'bad food' race...bad? PAH! A raw onion, a raw potato, a cup of raw eggs (4), a 1.5 inch thick sandwich (Peanut butter, chocolate spread, sandwich spread and something else...can't remember) finishing with a pint of beer down in one...in fact not only did I win but I was the only one to finish! oh the memories! the fame! :-)

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Span Ows said...

Thanks wuttisak, I've toyed many times with the idea of orchid posts so if I do I may link you (and pinch a few ideas!) if I get round to it...

So far I've only done the one, back in September, re orchid pollen found on a bee trapped in amber thousands of years ago...HERE