cholesterol

I knew onions had some health benefits, but when I did the research, I couldn’t believe how many health benefits they might offer.

Though I couldn’t find a statement from the WHO (World Health Organization), several sources state that the WHO promotes the use of onions to treat lack of appetite and prevent atherosclerosis (a condition that occurs when fatty material builds in the arteries, sometimes completely blocking them).  Onions and onion extracts are also used in some parts of the world to treat coughs and colds, asthma, and bronchitis.  They appear to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, they may inhibit tumor growth and bone loss, and they can control blood glucose levels.  If that’s not enough, they can help with sinus problems (helping to drain mucus from sinus cavities), and some people use them topically for antifungal/antibacterial treatments.  Wow – now that’s a superfood!

I’ve always been fascinated by nutrition and the positive effects that food can have on our health.  We’ve all heard about blueberries being a super food, and know we should eat more fish.  Interesting….but I’m especially fascinated when I learn about lesser-known health benefits of foods (including herbs and spices).  For instance, cinnamon has many incredible qualities beyond its comforting, warm flavor.

Eating cinnamon can actually help to control your blood sugar levels.  This study also showed that it can also help control levels of triglycerides, LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol) and total cholesterol.  I love cinnamon, so how to incorporate more into your diet?  A friend once suggested I sprinkle it in peanut butter and jelly sandwiches -it sounded strange, but it was great (I’m now allergic to peanuts, but it’s equally great with sunflower seed butter, which I now eat) – almost anything that you would eat with peanut butter is great with cinnamon.  Cinnamon is also a great addition to french toast batter, just sprinkle a little in with your milk and eggs.  Try sprinkling it on fall/winter veggies like squashes, sweet potatoes and pumpkins - it’s a great pairing whether you are roasting, pureeing, sauteeing or incorporating the veggies into a soup.  Cinnamon is a great addition to baked goods, too.  I recently made some raspberry-oat muffins that included cinnamon and it added a wonderful depth of flavor to my muffins!  It’s great in other baked goods, too - add it to brownies for Mexican brownies, or hot chocolate for Mexican hot chocolate.  (You can heat the milk on the stove with a cinnamon stick in it for great flavor).   You can even sprinkle some in with the ground coffee in your coffee maker to brew cinnamon flavored coffee!

Check back in the next few weeks as I talk about onions, coffee, and other foods!