Onions and Garlic Might Deter Loved Ones and Cancer

I have to admit it. I love garlic and onions and my philosophy regarding them is generally, "the more, the better". When either ingredient is cooking on my stove, the pungent aroma fills me with glee. If I see either of the words "onion" or "garlic" in the title of a dish when I am dining out I know that my palate will be satisfied. My love affair with garlic and onions has only one small downside. No one wants to talk in any sort of close proximity to a garlic-aholic. Thankfully, there is an easy remedy to that problem; gum or travel toothbrushes help to alleviate onion breath quickly and discreetly.

According to recent medical research, my love affair with stinky vegetables and herbs might be beneficial to my health. Scientists are now saying that people who eat large amounts of garlic and onions (1/2 cup of chopped onions daily, and self assessed "high" levels of garlic consumption) are 10 percent to 88 percent less likely to have various types of cancer, including breast and colon, as opposed to those who ate little or none of the two foods, according to a recent study of 25,000 people.

One theory is that the antioxidants in garlic and onions prevent harmful free radical molecules from damaging cells, which can spur cancer development. Another idea is that the sulfur compounds that give onions and garlic their strong taste have been shown to slow cancer cell growth. Stephen G. Pratt, M.D. and coauthor of Superfoods Rx says, "There are more than 100 nutrients in these foods so the health pluses may come from how they all work together in the body."
Researchers are also considering that the presence of high amounts of garlic and onions in a person's diet might also be a moniker of an overall healthy lifestyle. Generally, the other foods that are often paired with onions and garlic also contain high amounts of antioxidants, which assist the body with fighting cancer. For example, tomato-based products are often utilized with garlic recipes and tomatoes are known for the cancer-fighting nutrients. A diet rich in onions and garlic would also likely be rich in other herbs and vegetables that also help to fight cancer, reducing a person's overall risk.

In order to reap the benefits of onions and garlic, eat one to two cloves of garlic and flavor dishes with ½ cup of onions. Red onions are supposed to have the most antioxidants. Be sure to finely chop the garlic and onions before adding them to your recipes. The chopping causes a chemical reaction that releases the cancer-fighting components in the food according to Pratt.

Eat on, fellow garlic and onion lovers! I hope that this is health news that you can use.

Sources:
Superfoods, Rx, Stephen G. Pratt, M.D.
Redbook Magazine, July 2007