Ask the Nutritionist
Q:
I don’t see onions on this list (In Search of the Perfect Food, June 22, 2007). I have read that the ancient Egyptians believed the onion had strength-producing powers and fed onions to the slaves who built the pyramids. In fact some articles claim that the slaves’ diet consisted almost entirely of onions. What is the nutritional value of onions?
Mary W., Hull, MA
A:
Thank you for your thoughts on this subject. We believe there is no one perfect food, as the article states. However, onions are a noteworthy vegetable as they are low in calories (about 30 per serving), and offer key nutrients such as vitamin C and chromium (a trace mineral that helps cells respond to insulin). Onions, like garlic, are members of the Allium family, also contain powerful sulfur-containing compounds that give them their pungent odors as well as health-promoting effects (lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels). In addition, onions are rich in the antioxidant quercetin, which is associated with reduced risk of cataracts, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
For more information about onions, including their history, check out this website: www.onions-usa.org.
Happy cooking!
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