Whole Food Signatures - Onion
I've always found it fascinating how the fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds we consume have such similarities to parts of our body. Our ancestors called this the Doctrine of Signatures, where they observed the signatures of foods to determine the benefits to particular organs and systems of the body.
Just a few examples: The tomato has four chambers, is red and looks just like a heart. Research shows that eating tomatoes is beneficial to the heart and blood flow. The avocado looks like a womb and cervix with a swollen seed and it takes 9 months exactly for an avocado to reach maturity from seed. Research indicates that avocadoes target the health and function of the womb and cervix, so beneficial in fertility and reproductive health. The walnut looks like a brain and scientific study has indicated that walnuts contain essential nutrients for healthy brain function.
This ancient wisdom has been proven with modern science and human nutritional research to be true! This is food’s way of talking to us and showing us what we need to target specific areas and organs of our body. The word signature means “sign of nature”. Signature foods are a prominent science hidden throughout modern culture today as it was anciently.
Nature has blessed us with so many wonderful foods including the many clues to their purposes and benefits and by using ancient wisdom and modern science we can realise the wonderful health benefits that eating whole foods bring to our body. Just another reason why eating whole fresh organic food is so good for us - an easy step towards healing ourselves and the world we live in.
Each week for the next month I am going to select a wholefood and discuss the benefits they bring to a particular part of the body.
Onions
Life starts with the cells!... and so will I.The onion looks a lot like the cell in the human body and is the food that specifically targets this area. Today’s research proves that onions help clear waste materials from all the body cells. They even produce tears which cleanse the epithelial or protective cell layers of the eyes. Onions have been used to clean the arteries and slow down and eliminate the growth of viruses, funguses, yeasts and parasites as well as soothe insect bites. This is why they are said to be beneficial for cold and flu symptoms due to its anti-viral and anti-fungal properties.
Onions are also shown to assist in heart health, lowering blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels and in a study of over 12,000 people, researchers concluded that half an onion a day keeps stomach cancer away. Two other studies indicated that the sulphur compounds in onions could inhibit tumours.
Traditionally, onions were considered a highly valuable vegetable by Egyptians who worshipped the food. They believed that its spherical shape and concentric rings symbolised eternity. It was also known as ‘unio’ in Rome meaning large pearl in Latin. This was said to be due to nutritional benefits of this tasty veggie. Enjoy!
Check this space next week for another wholefood sign-of-nature.
References:
Don Tolman’s Farmacist Desk Reference has a wide range of info on the subject along with an extensive list of references including:
Harvard Medical International Publishing Editorial Volume 3, Richard K Ottley, Director Cytochemistry Department November 1999
Michelle Badash “Brain Nutrients: Food For Thought”. Nutrition Science News, January 1998
