Onions for Better Health, says WHO

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. Ancient (21) ______________ worshiped the onion. Its shape was believed to symbolise (22) ______________ . In the Middle Ages people would pay their rent with onions or give them as gifts. LIGHT EGYPT ETERNAL

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