Health Benefits of Chives Chives are part of the leeks, shallots, garlic and onion family. Chive plants have hollow stalks that grow up to 24 inches and these plants grown in clumps. The stalks are used in cooking and give out a light ‘oniony’ taste. Allium Schoenoprasum is the Latin name for chives. The flower of the chive plant is lavender in color and looks like a pom-pom.
Health and history: The Romans used chives to cure sunburns and sore throat.
Healthy chives: Chives is not only used in cooking for the flavor, but also for the health aspects. It has some anti-inflammatory properties as well as antibiotic properties. Research also hints at its anti-cancerous properties. Chives, research shows, can also fight prostate cancer. This vegetable is also effective for fighting salmonella.
Chives health benefits make it one of the best and most nutritious additions to any meal. However, before we get into the in depth details of chives health benefits, it is important to remember that because of diverse ethnicities spread all over the world, not everyone knows exactly what Chives are – or will probably know them by some other name. The appearance of Chives will see them as being lavender pink globular heads that will bloom around May or June. Something that most garden growers are likely to notice about Chives is the fact that they add a significant amount of aesthetic appeal to the garden. Moreover, the fact that they emit an odor that discourages aphids – they are also known to be very useful when grown amongst rose bushes.
- Chives are rich in flavonoids like organosulphides, which have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects.
- Moreover, the high potency of flavonoids means that the potency of Chives for medicine is extremely high. These qualities are also known to contribute to the anti cancer and anti inflammatory effects of chives. Rheumatoid arthritis is known to be a very common medical ailment that tends to develop as a sign of aging. However, in depth studies of the use of chives as a form of medication show that Chives are very effective when it comes to minimizing the effect that rheumatoid arthritis will have on your daily lifestyle.
- Those who consume chives as well as the other plants from the onion family, can actually minimize their risk of getting cancer, especially prostrate cancer and gastrointestinal tract cancer.
- Another factor that should be considered when discussing the medicinal benefits is chives is the fact that the flavonoid content of the herbs means that it contributes significantly to the reduction of high blood pressure and hypertension – which could be very useful given the fact that stress levels on an average are much higher today than it has even been before.
- The juice of chives can act as an insect repellant. The antibacterial and antifungal properties of the plant make fit a very effective lotion to have around in times of wounds. So, if you apply it to wounds and scabs, you can reduce fungal infections.
- Chives are a good source of beta-carotene, which helps to improve eye sight and clear acne. So, chives are a great vegetable for a radiant skin.
- Chives are also rich in vitamin C, which is a water soluble antioxidant. It can improve the immune system, elasticity of blood vessels and skin, prevents bruising, and increases the iron absorption.
- Chives are rich in vitamins E and C, which have antioxidant properties. These properties help to combat free radicals that can cause damage to the cells. Thus, it can also protect people from cancer, cardiac diseases and degenerative ailments.
- The high folic content of chives means that it is also very good for the heart. Folic acid helps by preventing the bunching up of homocysteine – which further causes a condition known as atherosclerosis by damaging the formation of the collagen which tends to constrict the blood vessels – possibly causing heart failure.which causes atherosclerosis by damaging the formation of collagen and constricting the blood vessels.
- Chives are rich in manganese, copper, zinc, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, iron and calcium. This helps to improve the metabolism of the body.
- This vegetable is a good source of dietary fiber and it adds roughage in the intestines, colon, thus, preventing constipation, diverticular disorders and hemorrhoids.
- When it comes to nutritional and vitamin content, Chives are considered to have high quantities of zinc, magnesium, copper, potassium, phosphorous, calcium and iron in addition to the dietary fiber contents that also works to improve digestion.
Chives Nutritional Properties Most of the chives nutritional benefits have been mentioned earlier, but it also helps to know that another one very important aspect of the many chives nutritional properties is the fact that it also said to significant stimulate a person’s appetite – thereby prompting him or her to consume higher quantities of food. Apart from the nutrients in Chives, some of the other chives nutritional value positives come from the fact that chives are rich in Vitamin C and vitamin E – which have abundant antioxidant properties, thereby improving not only the immune system, but also working to help in the elasticity of blood vessels and skin, the prevention of bruising and an increase in the absorption of iron. Garlic chives are considered too be of the same family and serve more or less the same benefits as regular chives.
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