Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Red Onion vs. Heart Disease: Has High Cholesterol Met Its Match?
CBS News Healthwatch ^ | October 8, 2010 | David W Freeman

Posted on 10/09/2010 4:50:39 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o

Can eating red onions lower your risk for heart attack and stroke? A new study suggests the answer to that question may be yes.

At least if you're a hamster.

Scientists in Hong Kong fed crushed onions to hamsters that had been on a high-cholesterol diet. After eight weeks, the little guys' levels of low-densitiy lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol fell by 20 percent, the Daily Mail reported.

That's good news, because elevated LDL cholesterol levels are linked to cardiovascular disease.

At the same time, there was no decline in the hamsters' levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol - the good stuff.

These findings "support the claim that the regular consumption of onion reduces the risk of coronary heart disease," lead researcher Zhen Yu Chen of the Chinese University of Hong Kong said, according to the newspaper.

The onions - sweeter than the more familiar white variety - are a staple of Indian and Mediterranean cooking.

Red onions may have other health benefits as well. They seem to contain compounds that slow the growth of colon and liver cancer cells, according to a 2004 study published in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry."

Does all this mean that people who avoid onions are missing out on their health benefits?

It's enough to make you cry.


TOPICS: Food; Health/Medicine; Science
KEYWORDS: cholesterol; diet; hamster; hamsters; healthfood; heartdisease; heatdiseast; redonion
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-36 last
To: Mrs. Don-o

Just what every parent needs: A hamster with bad breath that lives ten years.


21 posted on 10/09/2010 5:54:42 PM PDT by norwaypinesavage (Galileo: In science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of one individual)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibFreeOrDie

Even good things have to be done in moderation.

22 posted on 10/09/2010 6:04:17 PM PDT by USNBandit (sarcasm engaged at all times)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Mrs. Don-o
We had onion sandwiches when we were kids...Don't ever buy red onions....too expensive.

Was this testing done for "the red onion society"?

23 posted on 10/09/2010 6:10:43 PM PDT by Sacajaweau (What)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: goat granny

Munch away and you’ll stay healthy! I give equal credit to my habanero peppers and of course Crown Royal.


24 posted on 10/09/2010 6:25:40 PM PDT by B4Ranch (Conflict is inevitable; Combat is an option. Train for the fight.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Charles Henrickson
My cholesterol is actually quite low despite what I eat primarily because I take a lot of Omega 3 fish oil pills. BTW, I picked up a bunch more of those fish oil pills FREE today with my coupons.

...And now to pop another of those pills.

25 posted on 10/09/2010 6:34:58 PM PDT by PJ-Comix (The Coupon Whisperer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Mrs. Don-o

Two of my favorite dishes are with red onions.

1. Red onions marinated with apple cider vinegar and chopped cilantro all over it.. very simple but yummy.

2. Roasted red onion halves with balsamic vinegar and goat cheese.


26 posted on 10/09/2010 6:38:59 PM PDT by mnehring
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mrs. Don-o

I do salads at lunch and put quite a bit of onions on it ! I make the joke about onions - helps keep people away from me ! LOL


27 posted on 10/09/2010 6:41:13 PM PDT by CORedneck
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sacajaweau
We had onion sandwiches when we were kids..

I still do, at that, whenever I feel like I am coming down with the cold or flu, I make one piled with sliced garlic and horseradish, kills the bug every time.

28 posted on 10/09/2010 6:44:15 PM PDT by mnehring
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: mnehring

All that. plus some kind of ham or bacon...


29 posted on 10/09/2010 7:30:43 PM PDT by waterhill (Who got their elk? I did not. Now for whitetail...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Mrs. Don-o

Good news. I love red onion. And yes, I live (and sleep) alone. No worries.


30 posted on 10/09/2010 7:32:30 PM PDT by LiberConservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: B4Ranch
Those peppers make you sweat they are so hot....but a good bourbon like Basil Hayden is perfect with anything...:O)

Potato and Cheese Pierogies saute with slices of a large onion is good...had that for dinner yesterday..

My daughters husband has his own business and lot of Philippine's work for him...they gave him some hot peppers from home and my daughter used them in making chicken....my son-in-law calls it Head Sweating Chicken....he loves hot and actually was sweating while eating the chicken...

Sounds like you and him love the same kinds of hot stuff...LOL

31 posted on 10/09/2010 7:41:19 PM PDT by goat granny
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: mnehring

Grilled corned beef on rye bread with real horse radish, clears up the sinus also....if you smell the horseraddish and it brings tears to your eyes its just right...


32 posted on 10/09/2010 7:45:31 PM PDT by goat granny
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: goat granny

My doctor told me that regular eating of peppers cuts down on the odds of ever having cancer growths in your body. The plus is that I love them.


33 posted on 10/09/2010 9:40:54 PM PDT by B4Ranch (Conflict is inevitable; Combat is an option. Train for the fight.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: norwaypinesavage

That's MISTER Hamster, to you.

34 posted on 10/10/2010 4:02:25 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (Dry understatements free of charge, one per customer until supplies are exhausted.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: mnehring
Mmmm. MMMMmmm.

Notice I'm keeping my lips together, in modest and comely fashion. Afraid to exhale from the mouth.

35 posted on 10/10/2010 4:04:25 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (Dry understatements free of charge, one per customer until supplies are exhausted.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Mrs. Don-o

Red onions are fine for most applications except onion rings. I have to insist on Vidalias for that.


36 posted on 10/10/2010 10:40:13 AM PDT by don-o ("At this point, Islam is just surging into a vacuum" - Mrs Don-o)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-36 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson