Onions are specially doused with boiling water for the purpose of preventing its enzyme from being released into the air and so that tears do not flow from the eyes when cutting it. Since this enzyme has an aggressive effect on the eyes and causes lacrimation.
This is also done to remove the bitterness from the onion, because in winter there is a type of onion that is called “evil” and it is very bitter. And after scalding, the bitterness leaves the onion.
You also need to scald already chopped onions when you don’t want to smell like onions after eating them. In this case, this helps. And there are also some salads in which the bitterness of the onions spoils and affects the taste, and then they scald them.
Onions are an essential vegetable that has a lot of beneficial properties and helps against many ailments. The areas of its application to maintain the health of the human body are very diverse.
Onions are easy to care for. Many people grow it in their summer cottages and even in city houses on the balcony in flower pots. Everyone knows that onions are consumed both raw and after heat treatment.
This vegetable is added to a huge variety of dishes, to which it adds juiciness and flavor. Raw onions are added to vegetable salads. Fried onions are a component of numerous hot dishes.
Useful properties and contraindications
Beneficial features
- As a source of vitamin C, it helps with colds and flu.
- Kills germs.
- Increases immunity.
- Slows down the growth of cancer cells in the body.
- Helps restore elasticity of the skin and blood vessels, breaks down fats.
Contraindications for use
- It is not recommended to eat onions if you have kidney or stomach diseases. May cause mucosal irritation and heartburn. Therefore, it is not recommended for people with high acidity. You should not eat onions if you are allergic to this product.
- Doctors do not recommend putting onion juice into the nose for a runny nose or various colds. The juice can cause a burn to the mucous membrane. Not only will this not help cure a runny nose, but in some cases it can cause allergies and severe swelling.
How to choose?
When buying onions, it is recommended to pay attention to the following signs of a good product:
- purity
- no damaged surface or mold
- dryness
- density
- elasticity.
How and where to store?
It can be stored in a cool, dark place for up to 1 month. Sweet onions are best kept in the refrigerator. Store prepared and pre-chopped onions in an airtight container in the refrigerator for no more than 2 days.
How to properly peel and chop onions?
To clean, cut off the top and root parts and remove the husks by hand. You can cut the onion into rings, half rings, cubes and feathers, depending on the dish being prepared.
The most important problem that almost every housewife faces is the ability of onions to cause tearing. Onions contain sulfur-containing substances. When cutting, the integrity of cell membranes is disrupted, which leads to the evaporation of these substances. They cause irritation to the mucous membranes of the eyes and nose.
There are several ways to combat this unpleasant property of onions:
- periodically wet the knife with cold water;
- Before cutting, keep the onion in the refrigerator;
- While peeling and slicing, exhale deeply or blow on the onion, thus driving away the pungent onion vapors from the eyes. The same effect can be achieved using a fan;
- To cut onions, it is better to use a thin, sharp knife without cloves;
- You can wear special safety glasses.
How to cook?
When preparing any dish with the addition of onions, you need to think not only about its taste, but also about how to preserve its healing properties as much as possible.
Naturally, eating onions in their raw form is most beneficial. During heat treatment, part of its medicinal properties is lost. There are a huge number of recipes for vegetable salads in which onions are added raw. Onions can serve not only as a flavorful additive, but also be used as the main element of soups, salads, and hot dishes.
Cooking rules
When adding onions to liquid dishes, keep in mind that the onions cook for about 10 minutes. If using pre-prepared frying, it is added 5 minutes before the dish is ready.
Onions with sugar will help relieve a cough and speed up recovery - an effective folk remedy.
Every family that practices traditional methods of treatment has its own recipe with onions to get rid of cough. Below are the most famous options.
Onion inside
For tonsillitis, flu and acute respiratory viral infections, it is recommended to use onion internally due to its antiseptic effect. Thus, it works in two directions at once: it helps to suppress the disease, destroying pathogenic microbes accumulated in the throat; dilutes and removes mucus from the respiratory tract.
- Grind 4 onions until smooth;
- Add 400 grams of sugar;
- Pour in 1 liter of water and 50 g of honey;
- Cook, stirring over low heat for one hour.
- Cool the broth and strain using gauze.
The resulting syrup is taken 1 tablespoon every 3-4 hours throughout the day. The medicine is stored in the cold and warmed up in portions before use.
Onions with sugar are the most common and accessible recipe, allowing you to start treatment as early as possible. The mixture has an expectorant and anti-inflammatory effect.
- Finely chop the onion;
- Add honey to it at a ratio of 1:1;
- Stir the mixture thoroughly.
Keep refrigerated. Take a heated tablespoon 3 times a day.
This mixture helps relieve coughs, thins mucus during a wet cough and speeds up its removal from the respiratory tract.
- 3 large onions and 6 cloves of garlic: finely chopped;
- Water: pour in half a liter;
- Simmer over low heat until the meadow softens;
- Cool the broth to room temperature and add a large spoon of honey
Take two heated teaspoons in the morning and evening. Keep refrigerated.
This recipe effectively copes with chest pain, has an expectorant effect, and thanks to the addition of garlic, it most effectively helps with colds and ARVI.
- Chop a couple of onions;
- Pour a glass of milk into the resulting slurry;
- Boil and keep on low heat for about an hour;
- Leave the mixture to infuse for 3-4 hours;
- Strain the syrup through cheesecloth.
Drink one tablespoon every 2-3 hours throughout the day.
A milk-based recipe is effective even against prolonged cough caused by tuberculosis.
With apple and potatoes:
- Potatoes, onions and apples: 1 each;
- Pour boiling water – 1 liter;
- Boil until ½ part of the water boils;
- Wait until it cools and strain with gauze.
Take one tablespoon each time after meals. The medicine is stored refrigerated and reheated before use.
This recipe is used to treat debilitating dry cough.
With butter:
- Chop the baked onion to a smooth paste;
- While hot, mix with butter at a ratio of 1:1.
Take 1 small spoon 4 times a day when heated.
Recipe for onion jam for cough:
- Chop 0.5 kg of onion into cubes;
- Add sugar at a ratio of 1:1;
- Pour a liter of water into the mixture and cook for 3-4 hours.
- 30 minutes before the end of cooking, pour in 50 grams of honey, stirring constantly;
- Pour into jars.
The jam should be stored in a cool place. When sick, take one tablespoon every 2-3 hours.
This remedy has a sweet taste and is therefore ideal for treating children. Helps with colds, sore throats, bronchitis and tracheitis.
Onions are no less effective in helping to get rid of coughs when used externally. To treat a spasmodic dry cough that lingers after a cold, special ointments and onion compresses are made.
- Chop the onion or grind in a blender to a paste;
- Add a couple of tablespoons of goose fat;
- Apply the resulting ointment to the chest, with the exception of the heart area;
- Cover with polyethylene and a warm towel, secure the compress.
Apply this ointment before bed and leave it overnight. The effect is noticeable after the first use.
- Chop a few onions and squeeze the juice out of them;
- Soak the gauze pad in it;
- Place gauze on chest;
- Cover the top with film and a warm towel;
- For convenience, secure the compress.
The compress made according to this recipe should be kept for several hours. After removing the pad, wipe the skin with a clean towel dampened with warm water. After the compress, it is advisable to wrap yourself well and observe bed rest. If signs of irritation appear on the skin, it is advisable to reduce the exposure time during the next session.
Inhalations
Another common method of treating cough is inhalation. They help get rid of a dry and barking cough caused by a cold, flu or sore throat. And the effect is noticeable after the first procedure. Onions are also used to make them:
- Peel and chop 2-3 onions;
- Place in a saucepan and add boiling water;
- Wrap in woolen scarves or towels, leave to infuse for 3 hours;
- Bring mixture to a boil;
- Wait until the broth stops boiling.
When an adult has a cough, it is recommended to breathe in the steam for no more than 5 minutes, and for children half as much.
Onions offer a whole host of options for treating any type of cough: from inhalations to sweet jam. In addition, being an absolutely natural product, it is suitable for treating very young children and women during pregnancy.
We invite you to read: Growing apricots in dachas in the Moscow region
source
The medicine is also taken to prevent complications and prevent the development of the disease at the first signs of a cold - headache, runny nose, weakness.
Contraindications include:
- diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance;
- liver and gastrointestinal diseases;
- asthma;
- cardiovascular diseases, hypotension;
- increased excitability of the central nervous system;
- children under 3 years of age;
- obesity;
- migraine attack;
- allergy to the components of the medicine.
It is not recommended to use the product during pregnancy and lactation.
