13 March 2024 , 16:14
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A doctor has praised up a certain vegetable that she eats "regularly" because it can help lower the risk of inflammation and cancer.
Dr Poonam Desai, who is an osteopathic physician, took to TikTok to share how brilliant red onions are for our health and the best ways to eat them. Dr Desai, who is double board-certified in Lifestyle Medicine and Emergency Medicine, starts her video by telling her viewers: "I am a doctor and I eat onions regularly. But how you eat them and what onion you eat actually matters."
She goes on to explain: "Onions contain something called quercetin, which gives onions its powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. But the colour of the onions matters. Red onions contain more quercetin than white or yellow, so I opt to eat red onions. Second is if you cook the onions, it decreases the levels of quercetin in the onions. So I opt to eat my onions raw, so I can maximise the health benefits.
"Now the third is after I peel off the dry flaky layer of the onion, the outer layers contain more quercetin than the inner layers. So next time you're going to choose an onion, choose a red onion, try to eat it raw and try to eat the outer layers." WebMD says that quercetin, a plant pigment with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, is found in many plants and foods like onions, green tea, apples, and berries, reports Bristol Live.
Studies show that the antioxidants in quercetin can remove harmful chemicals called free radicals from our bodies. These bad guys damage cell membranes, mess with DNA, and can even cause cells to die. Quercetin is often used for heart and blood vessel conditions. It might also help reduce swelling, kill cancer cells, control blood sugar, and help stop heart disease.
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