Onions for Better Health, says WHO

(Adapted from an article on Care2 webpage by Diana Herrington o 22 February 2012)

WORD FORMATION

Everyone loves onions but few recognise how good they are for you!
They are full of (1) _______________ phytonutrients, vitamins, trace minerals,
and unique anti (2) _________________ compounds. Onions are one of my
favourite powerfoods.

PROTECT
INFLAME

6 Health Benefits of Onions:

1.

WHO recognises that onions help relieve symptoms such as cough,

(3) _______________ , asthma and (4) ________________ infections.
CONGEST RESPIRE
Early American (5) _______________ used wild onions to treat colds,
SETTLE
angina, coughs, and asthma, and repel insects.
In (6) ______________ medicine, onions have been used to treat angina, CHINA
coughs, (7) ______________ infections, and (8) _______________ problems. BACTERIUM BREATHE
Sugar and onion juice form syrup, much used in domestic practice,
against cough and other (9) _______________ of the air-tubes in
AFFECT
children.
2. Onions contain a (10) _______________ of other (11) ________________
VARY
NATURE
occuring chemicals known as organosulfur compounds that have been
linked to (12) _______________ blood (13) ______________ and cholesterol levels.
LOW PRESS
They contain sulfides similar to those found in garlic which may
lower blood lipids and blood pressure.
3. Onions are a rich source of flavonoids, substances known to provide
(14) _______________ against cardiovascular disease.
PROTECT
4. Onions are also (15) ____________ anti-clotting agents since they possess
NATURE
substances with fibrinolytic (16) ______________ and can suppress platelet
ACTIVE
(thrombocyte)-clumping. The anti-clotting effect of onions closely correlates
with their sulfur content.
5. Onions provide protection against stomach cancer as they are rich in
sulfides. Studies in Greece have shown a high (17) ________________ of
CONSUME
onions and garlic to be protective against stomach cancer. Dutch men
and women who ate half an onion per day had half the level of stomach
cancer in (18) _______________ with those eating no onions at all.
COMPARE
6. In areas in India where they never consumed onions and garlic, people
had higher cholesterol levels and shorter clotting time, than in areas in India
where they ate garlic and onions (19) _______________ .
REGULAR

Onion trivia (unimportant details):

By eating parsley you can get rid of onion breath.

In Rome, gladiators had an onion rub down to firm their muscles.

Athletes in ancient Greece ate large quantities of onion because it was

believed to (20) ________________ the balance of blood.

LIGHT

Ancient (21) ______________ worshiped the onion. Its shape was believed
to symbolise (22) ______________ .

EGYPT
ETERNAL

In the Middle Ages people would pay their rent with onions or give them

as gifts.

KEY: Onions
1. protective
2. inflammatory
3. congestion
4. respiratory
5. settlers
6. Chinese
7. bacterial
8. breathing
9. affections
10. variety
11. naturally
12. lowering
13. pressure
14. protection
15. natural
16. activity
17. consumption
18. comparison
19. regularly
20. lighten
21. Egyptians
22. eternity