The mixture of onion, garlic and lemon is very common in natural remedies. Not only because these are commonly used foods in the kitchen, but because it's believed that together they could provide more benefits to the body.
Onion, garlic, and lemon are three commonly-used ingredients in the kitchen to prepare different recipes: Appetizers, dressings, main dishes, side dishes, etc. However, they’re not only useful in meals, but also in home remedies.
These three ingredients usually make up the so-called “super-powerful remedies”. According to popular belief, they not only contribute to the relief of ailments but also provide several health benefits.
Below, we’ll review the nutritional contribution of these three foods, according to data from the Spanish Nutrition Foundation(FEN)
Onions are a common food in the kitchen. However, they’re also a common ingredient in various home remedies.
Onions are a food that, in addition to fiber, contains potassium, vitamin C, proteins, flavonoids, and sulfur compounds. In view of this, it’s said to possess the following properties:
Diuretic.
Digestive.
Antiseptic.
Expectorants.
Antioxidants.
Cardioprotective.
The regular intake of onions, within a varied and balanced diet, is healthy. Now, there’s also a hypothesis that eating this food could provide certain health benefits.
In a study involving rodents, researchers observed that onions could be a good dietary supplement in preventing (or partially modulating) vascular dysfunction. In addition, it may help reduce the risk of developing pathologies such as atherosclerosis.
Garlic is a food with multiple uses in the kitchen. In addition, positive health effects are attributed to it.
Many meals wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t add garlic, as this food brings a characteristic taste and aroma to meals. It contains proteins, iodine, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin B6, and sulfur compounds.
For all these reasons, consuming it on a regular basis could:
Improve cardiovascular health: Thanks to a compound called allicin, garlic prevents the formation of clots and enhances blood circulation.
Regulate blood pressure and cholesterol.
Reduce inflammation: It may also have a certain anti-inflammatory effect that could be beneficial in several cases.
This citrus fruit, so well known for its yellow color and acidic flavor, contains vitamin C, flavonoids, and organic acids. Being rich in antioxidants, it could help maintain the health of all the cells in the body. For this reason, it’s attributed, above all, with antioxidant and antibacterial properties.
In view of the nutritional value of each of these foods and their respective properties, you can imagine how beneficial their combination could be.
By mixing onion, garlic, and lemon in the same preparation (as a syrup, tea, infusion, etc.), the concentration of its minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients increases. Therefore, they could be good allies for the health of the respiratory system especially.
Next, we want to share a homemade syrup recipe to alleviate the throat irritation and the pain. It also helps to alleviate coughing and to expel mucus that builds up in the respiratory tract.
Ingredients
3 lemons.
3 cloves of garlic.
1 onion (red or white)
½ cup of pure honey (150 g).
1 piece of ginger root (3 cm).
Preparation
Peel the garlic, chop it and grind it in a mortar until you get a kind of paste.
Peel the onion and grate it over the garlic; also grate the ginger root.
Squeeze the juice from the lemons and add it together with the honey to the preparation.
Cover and let it rest all night (about 8 hours).
After this time, filter and pour into a glass jar with a lid.
Keep in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks at most.
Note: According to popular wisdom, one should consume a teaspoon of this syrup daily. This helps to prevent illnesses and strengthen the immune system. And, in the case of pin and irritation in the throat, you should also take a spoonful.
Some people use black garlic instead of white or purple garlic to “boost” the effects of the remedy. However, this is completely at the discretion of each individual.
Garlic, lemon, and red onion remedy are another of the most common super-powerful remedies to relieve symptoms related to mucus and congestion. In fact, some people consider it an antioxidant “elixir” for ex-smokers.
Garlic and onion tea with a splash of lemon juice and honey is another option for enjoying the benefits of all three super-powerful remedies for colds, flu, and colds. However, because it tastes so particular, not everyone likes it when they first try.
There are many ways to enjoy the combination of garlic, onion, and lemon. So, do you know which one might be yours or will you continue to search for the perfect one? Either way, keep in mind that the important thing is that you include it within a healthy lifestyle.
Corzo-Martínez, M., Corzo, N., & Villamiel, M. (2007). Biological properties of onions and garlic. Trends in Food Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2007.07.011
Benkeblia, N. (2004). Antimicrobial activity of essential oil extracts of various onions (Allium cepa) and garlic (Allium sativum). LWT – Food Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2003.09.001
Griffiths, G., Trueman, L., Crowther, T., Thomas, B., & Smith, B. (2002). Onions – A global benefit to health. Phytotherapy Research. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1222
Charron, C. S., Milner, J. A., & Novotny, J. A. (2015). Garlic. In Encyclopedia of Food and Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384947-2.00346-9
Gebreyohannes, G., & Gebreyohannes, M. (2013). Medicinal values of garlic: A review. International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences. https://doi.org/10.5897/IJMMS2013.0960
González-Molina, E., Domínguez-Perles, R., Moreno, D. A., & García-Viguera, C. (2010). Natural bioactive compounds of Citrus limon for food and health. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2009.07.027
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