You’re probably wondering where I’ve been the past 4 weeks, aren’t you? You’ve missed me, admit it. Well, here I am, still trying to recover from the holiday pleasantries, and trying to get my eating back on track. Let me tell you, it’s a catch-22 to have a mother-in-law who is Italian. Every time we visit my husband’s family I know I am sure to come home with amazing new recipes to try. I also come home with and extra 5 pounds attached to my body. Thanks Nonna! While we were there we got on the topic of strawberries and onions. You see, outside of Tampa city limits there is this magical festival called the Strawberry Festival. I haven’t had the chance to go yet, but I’ve seen pictures. And, as you could imagine, with a festival dedicated to one single fruit it must mean these strawberries are out of this world. However, when planting these strawberries, farmers also plant onions. Onions have this amazing quality about them to absorb anything and everything they can from the air and soil. So essentially, when the crop is picked, the onion that is pulled from the ground has this sweetness to it, from the strawberry, and a nice kick to it, because let’s get real, it’s an onion. This got me thinking… What else can an onion do for me?

Zechariah’s sick face

Believe it or not, onions have amazing healing properties. Did you know that? We use onions almost every single day in cooking to flavor our food, but they are also a very healthy vegetable. Just like broccoli, onions are a great source of magnesium. If you can recall the post on micronutrients, I talked about how almost 90% of the US population, if not more, are magnesium deficient. Magnesium is pretty much a brain boosting electrolyte. Magnesium helps fight ADD, ADHD, and aids in basic brain functions. Don’t get me wrong, I am in no way looking to replace my favorite vegetable, but when I am looking to change my routine up a bit, I know I can use onions (This is also my public Sorry-I’m-Not-Sorry to my husband who has to kiss me after I eat raw onions). Onions are also a great heart healthy vegetable. Not only are onions low in calories and a great source for magnesium, but they are also a great source for sulfur compounds. When ingested, sulfur compounds act as a detoxing element. This helps activate the liver and rid your body of unwanted toxins and impurities. Another incredible thing about onions is that they contain quercetin. This component is also an antioxidant. These antioxidants keep your heart healthy, reduce high blood pressure, and keep the arteries in your body elastic.
Onions are simply an abundant source for so many things, and I didn’t even realize it.In fact, while we were on the subject, my mother-in-law told me she uses raw onions when she is sick. I looked at her sideways. Where was she going with this? She said she simply places a few raw onion circles at the bottom of her foot and covers it with a sock while she sleeps at night. I laughed. Really? A raw onion? She claimed that the raw onion had properties to draw out and absorb the toxins and impurities in the body. Well, as it turns out, Zechariah got sick just 2 days after we had traveled home. Granted, traveling from 85 and sunny in Florida to 50 and freezing in Houston, I bet anyone would have gotten sick. So what did I do? I panicked. No mother likes to see her child sick; no mother likes to be projectile vomited on either. I experienced both. After cleaning the little man up and getting him comfortable enough to go to sleep, I figured I had to at least try her trick. Who knows, it might save me a trip to the doctor right? Now, I didn’t go as far as putting a raw onion inside his footie PJs, but I did cut an onion in half and place it on his bedside table. The results? I woke up the next day to his room smelling like a casserole, but also a smiling happy baby boy and a disgusting looking raw onion. And by disgusting I mean it was black and slimy.
Was the onion gross from the natural pollutants in the air, or from actually absorbing the illness from Zechariah’s body? One may never know. But, after researching and reading about how great onions are for you, the hippie living inside of me wants to fully believe that the onion healed him. It may work for you, it may not, but I can tell you with certainty that onions are a great vegetable to incorporate into your daily intake and meal prep.