If you are looking for a delicious, colourful, vitamin-rich and low-calorie addition to your diet, look no further than spring onions. They are packed with Vitamins A, C, Thymine, copper, potassium and magnesium and are a staple in Chinese and Asian cooking. They’re also notable in history as being used in recipes as far back as 2000 BC! Another advantage of this vibrant vegetable is that they are relatively easy to grow (even from your back garden!) and available all year round. As well as being packed with vitamins, these bulbs also come supplied with a whole host of goodies as standard, read on for Spring Onions: Top 7 Health Benefits!
1. Improves Respiratory Function
Spring onions are renowned for their anti-viral properties. They are often incorporated into many herbal remedies to aid and manage recovery when suffering from a cold. This is because it can stimulate the responsiveness of the respiratory system, leading to faster recovery.
2. Reduces Blood Sugar Levels
They contain sulphur compounds which intensify the production of insulin, which is vital for aiding the journey of the sugar in the blood to the cells.
3. Spring Onions Support Gastrointestinal Health
Spring onions are rich in fibre, meaning it is excellent in the maintenance of a healthy gut.
4. Anti-Aging Properties
These wonderful bulbed vegetables are loaded with vitamin C and help to protect against tissue damage, slowing the advancement of wrinkles and aging .
5. Lowers Stress
The vegetable encourages the absorption of vitamin B1, which in some studies has shown to reduce stress levels.
6. Wound Healing
They also contain vitamin K which is vital in the diet as it’s needed to help wounds heal through blood clotting.
7. Encourages Vision Health
Having the advantage of containing both vitamin A and carotenoids, spring onions can help prevent dry eye as well as reduce inflammation. This contributes to overall better eye health.
Not only are these onion bulbs packed with health benefits, they are a delicious and tasty side garnish enjoyed raw or cooked in a recipe. Literally the moment you heat them in a couple of spoons of olive oil, you’ll have a gorgeous aroma filling the kitchen! It is such a versatile ingredient and can be used to add flavour to an infinite variety of dishes, from soups to pastas and salads. Go ahead and use this humble, yet powerful vegetable in as many adventurous, culinary ways as you can and let us know your fave uses in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!
Sources:
Times Food (2018) Available at: https://recipes.timesofindia.com/articles/health/10-reasons-why-spring-onions-should-be-included-in-all-your-recipes/photostory/65009786.cms?picid=65009809
Better Health channel (2020) Available at: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ingredientsprofiles/Spring-onions
Chilukoti, B. (2015) Available at: https://www.thehealthsite.com/fitness/healthy-food-fitness/top-8-health-benefits-of-spring-onions-176453/
