Chives
Native to Europe, chives are no stranger to U.S. culture and cuisine! Finding their way into many dishes, chives not only add flavor, but also boast many health benefits!
Health Benefits
May ease digestive comfort, support heart health, act as an immune system booster, support bone health, may prevent cancer, support vision health, nurture development in pregnant mothers, flush toxins from the body
Nutrients
Vitamin C, allicin, potassium, allyl sulfides, vitamin K, quercetin, carotenes, folic acid
Did you know?
Chives have been used since before the Roman Empire for medical reasons
onions (white)
Onions are part of the Allium family, which means they pack a punch in flavor, odor, and health benefits thanks to their sulfur-containing compounds. These compounds are responsible for some pretty amazing cardiovascular benefits (such as heart and blood vessel protection), healthy red blood cell membrane function, and may also help balance blood levels of cholesterol and lower blood triglycerides. Sulfur compounds also provide connective tissue, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial benefits. Moreover, onions are also rich in antioxidant polyphenols – such as flavonoids (like quercetin and anthocyanins <-- more so in red onion) – these antioxidants provide cardiovascular, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial benefits. Nice!
Health Benefits
Provides anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, connective tissue, & cardiovascular benefits. Increases bone density, promotes healthy red blood cell membrane function & blood vessel protection, & may help lower blood levels of cholesterol and trigylcerides
Nutrients
vitamin C, fiber, molybdenum, manganese, vitamin B6, folate, potassium, tryptophan, flavonoids
Did you know?
Onions were acutally used as currency by the ancient Egyptians and were supposedly used to pay the workerd who built the pyramids
Onions (Red)
Onions are part of the Allium family, which means they pack a punch in flavor, odor, and health benefits thanks to their sulfur-containing compounds. These compounds are responsible for some pretty amazing cardiovascular benefits (such as heart and blood vessel protection), healthy red blood cell membrane function, and may also help balance blood levels of cholesterol and lower blood triglycerides. Sulfur compounds also provide connective tissue, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial benefits. Moreover, onions are also rich in antioxidant polyphenols – such as flavonoids (like quercetin and anthocyanins) – these antioxidants provide cardiovascular, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial benefits. Nice!
Health Benefits
Provides anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, connective tissue, & cardiovascular benefits. Increases bone density, promotes healthy red blood cell membrane function & blood vessel protection, & may help lower blood levels of cholesterol and trigylcerides
Nutrients
vitamin C, fiber, molybdenum, manganese, vitamin B6, folate, potassium, tryptophan, flavonoids
Did you know?
According to whfoods.com – never over peel an onion! Flavonoids in onions tend to be more concentrated in the outer layers of the onion – more specifically, red onions can lose about 20% of its quercetin and 75% of its anthocyanin content if it’s over peeled!!
Onions (Green)
Green onions, also known as a scallions, are part of the Allium family, which means they pack the same health benefits as their other sulfur containing siblings. The sulfur-containing compounds in onions are responsible for some pretty amazing cardiovascular benefits such as heart and blood vessel protection, healthy red blood cell membrane function, and may also help balance blood levels of cholesterol and lower blood triglycerides. Sulfur compounds also provide connective tissue, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial benefits. But that’s not all, Green Onions are also a good source of Vitamin K, A, & C. Thanks little greenies! ;)
Health Benefits
promotes eye & heart health, immune boosting, helps utilize calcium & maintain bone & blood clotting health
Nutrients
carotenoids - vitamin A, lutein, zeaxanthin - vitamin C, vitamin K, fiber, molybdenum, manganese, vitamin B6, folate, potassium, tryptophan, flavonoids
Did you know?
Both the bulb and the stalk of the green onion are edible, actually the whole green onion is edible.
Leeks
Let’s talk about leeks! With their unique combination of antioxidant flavonoids – including the blood vessel protector, kaempferol – and sulfur-containing nutrients, these onion-like beauties are sure to add a nutritious kick to any meal. Like their allium brothers, leek’s sulfur-containing nutrients are responsible for not only that strong onion-like smell and taste, but also the amazing cardiovascular, connective tissue, and anti-inflammatory benefits. Not to mention, a leek also contains folate in its most bioactive form (throughout most of the plant too) - which actually provides even more cardioprotective properties. However, remember, leeks may supply a great amount of heart-protecting nutrients, but they won’t fix a broken heart caused by an ungrateful ex!
Health Benefits
increases blood vessel protection, has cardioprotective & anti-inflammatory properties, may help reduce the risk of cancer, provides anti-aging skin properties, promotes eye health, helps keep calcium in bones & activates osteocalcin / (Folate, which can be found throughout the leek plant, is vital for a healthy pregnancy, specifically for healthy fetal brain and spinal cord development)
Nutrients
flavonoids, vitamin K, vitamin A, manganese, vitamin C, folate, vitamin B6, iron, fiber, polyphenols
Did you know?
Back in the day, the Roman emperor, Nero, used to habitually eat leeks to make his voice stronger.
garlic
Garlic bread & garlic fries… our mouths are watering too; however, these two options are not really everyday healthy choices, and we aren’t necessarily putting a Fruitive stamp on them… but we do agree with something that both of these sides have in common… and that’s GARLIC! Garlic is super healthy, so let’s dive into the why. Garlic gets most of its smell and health benefits from its sulfur-containing compounds. Studies have shown that these compounds have cardio-protective, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-clotting, and antiviral properties… maybe that’s why vampires can’t have it?!? Additionally, garlic is able to lower our blood triglyceride levels, total cholesterol, and keep our blood pressure under control… and to that we say, “thanks garlic!” Garlic may also be able to increase the body’s production of ferroportin, an important protein in our metabolism of iron. Sorry vamps! More science specific info: Some examples of the sulfur containing compounds include - ajoene (which brings the anti-clotting properties), alliin (alliin conjugates to allicin, which has the ability to lower blood pressure), and polysulfides (our blood vessels use polysulfides to make hydrogen sulfide gas, which expands our blood vessels & balances our blood pressure).
Health Benefits
provides strong detox aiding, blood pressure balancing, iron absorption & metabolism benefits AND cardio-protective, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-clotting & antiviral properties.
Nutrients
vitamin C, vitamin B6, selenium, manganese, calcium, tryptophan, phosphorus, thiamin, copper, ajoene, alliin, & polysulfides
Did you know?
Chopping up garlic and letting it sit for couple of minutes, before heating or cooking it, increases its alliinase enzyme content, supplying you with even more health benefits.