10 health benefits of chives
Chives have a lot of nutrients that are essential for the overall health of the body. Also, while chives don’t look much like onions as we commonly think of them, they are actually the smallest member of the onion genus, Allium.
With the full scientific classification of Allium Schoenoprasum , this tiny vegetable has a wide range of uses and benefits for human health.
Chives are bulbous plants, their stem is long and hollow, which is the edible part of the plant.
This stem is commonly sliced and added to fish, soups, sauces, salads, Mexican cuisine, potato dishes and a wide variety of other meals.
In terms of medicinal use, chives were the most used that dates back to the Roman Empire, but it was probably used long before that.
Chives have similar medicinal properties to garlic, although they are not as potent, but their more palatable nature makes them more versatile in food dishes, where the benefits can be more affordable than other members of the garlic genus.
They have a less severe flavor compared to onions and are therefore often used to enhance the flavor of dishes.
Nutritional value of chives:
Chives contain high amounts of zinc, magnesium , copper, potassium, vitamin C , phosphorus, calcium and iron, which help improve digestion. In addition, it also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Benefits of chives:
1. Cancer Prevention:
Chives have anti-cancer properties . Therefore, chives contain many antioxidants that can destroy free radicals and stop the growth of cancer cells and tumors.
In addition, chives help your body produce glutathione, an agent that allows your body to identify toxins and other carcinogens and eliminate them.
2. Heart health:
Chives contain allicin , an organosulfur that is known to lower LDL or bad cholesterol and increase HDL or good cholesterol, thus reducing the risk of stroke and heart disease.
In addition, Allicin also releases nitric oxide which reduces stiffness in blood vessels and lowers blood pressure .
Therefore, this vegetable helps to prevent calcification of arteries by helping with heart health.
3. Anti- inflammatory :
Chives have a mild anti-inflammatory effect , which can reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis, a common medical disease that often develops with age and other types of inflammation in the body.
4. Antibiotic:
Chives have antibiotic properties . The natural antibacterial and antiviral agents in chives work with Vitamin C to destroy harmful microbes.
In addition, consumption of this vegetable acts as an excellent defense against the common cold, the flu, and certain fungal infections.
5. Promotes Bone Health :
Chives are a rich source of Vitamin K , which is vital for long-term bone health.
This vitamin assists in the regulation of cells that help in preventing bone dematerialization. In addition, chives also help to produce a bone protein called osteocalcin, which helps in maintaining bone mineral density.
6. Blood circulation :
Flavonoids present in chives help to stabilize blood pressure and reduce hypertension, while sulfides reduce blood lipids and blood pressure.
Vitamin C helps to improve the elasticity of blood capillaries and facilitates the absorption of iron in the body.
7. Against premature aging:
The Vitamin C and Vitamin E present in Chives have antioxidant properties that can fight the free radicals that cause cell damage and are responsible for skin aging.
8. Hair health:
Chives have properties that stimulate hair growth by increasing blood flow to the scalp and hair roots.
Chives help stop hair breakage , giving you fuller, shinier hair. Therefore, chives are also effective in reducing or eliminating itchy scalp.
9. Eye health:
The carotenes found in chives , namely lutein and zeaxanthin , are directly responsible for reducing oxidative stress in the ocular system and delaying the appearance of cataracts in the eye.
Chives also help to delay or prevent macular degeneration, keeping your eyes healthy well into your old age.
10. Detoxify the body:
Chives have mild diuretic properties combined with the other free radical scavenging and antibacterial qualities.
That’s why chives are a wonderful way to detoxify the body.
By stimulating urination, chives can help the body function better by keeping organ systems running smoothly and eliminating any harmful substances that could harm us.