Shallots are a popular vegetable used in Thai cooking. They have a round or oval shape with a reddish-purple husk. They have a pungent smell and a sweet and spicy taste. And They are rich in nutrients such as carbohydrates, protein, fiber, and beneficial plant compounds. And they may help prevent blood clots, fight infections, relieve allergic symptoms such as colds and nasal congestion, and reduce blood sugar levels in diabetics. Eating shallots may help promote health. However, some compounds in shallots may cause allergic reactions in some people.
Nutritional value of shallots
100 grams of shallots, or about 10 tablespoons, may contain the following เล่นเกมคาสิโน UFABET ทันสมัย ฝากถอนง่าย nutritional value:
- Energy 75 kilocalories
- Water 89%
- 17 grams of carbohydrates
- 3 grams of fiber
- Protein 2.5 grams
Shallots are highly nutritious and are loaded with fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants such as vitamin B, iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and zinc, which provide many health benefits.
Health benefits of shallots
Shallots contain many health-promoting nutrients. Scientific research supports the following health-preventive and therapeutic properties of shallots:
Helps relieve allergy symptoms
Shallots are rich in Quercetin, an antioxidant that helps prevent inflammation, bacteria, and viruses. It also helps boost immunity, which may help relieve seasonal allergy symptoms such as colds and nasal congestion.
Promote heart health and circulation
Onions are a source of thiosulfinates, a group of organosulfur compounds that may help inhibit platelet aggregation and may reduce the risk of blood clots. This allows blood to flow normally and may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Antimicrobial
Shallots contain certain compounds such as Allicin Allylmethyl Sulfide, which inhibits the growth of microorganisms, thus helping to fight fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Ajoene is an antioxidant with anti-thrombotic properties, helping to prevent platelets from clumping together into blood clots, which may reduce the risk of heart disease and blood vessels.
May help control blood sugar
Red onion extract (Allium cepa) may have the ability to reduce blood sugar in diabetics. A study published in the journal Environmental Health Insights in 2010 investigated the effectiveness of red onion extract in reducing blood sugar in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The experiment involved giving diabetics 100 grams of raw onion per day. The results showed that their blood sugar levels were reduced. In patients with type 1 diabetes, fasting blood sugar levels were reduced by 40 mg/dL, and in patients with type 2 diabetes, blood sugar levels were reduced by approximately 120 mg/dL. Therefore, it may be suitable for taking as a dietary supplement to help manage type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Precautions for eating shallots
Precautions for consuming shallots are as follows:
Allergic symptoms
Some people can have a severe allergic reaction to onions after eating raw or cooked onions. A case report published in the journal Allergologiaet Immunopathologia in 2000 found that a 44-year-old woman who had no allergic reaction to cooked onions had an allergic reaction after eating raw or slightly cooked onions. Symptoms can include severe itching, hives, confusion, double vision, temporary loss of consciousness, sweating, and a rapid heartbeat.
This was also confirmed by a study published in the journal Advances in Dermatology and Allergology in 2019, which found that cooked onions can cause severe allergic reactions, possibly because they contain heat-stable allergens.
Irritation of eyes and mouth
Onions contain the enzyme alliinase, a compound that affects flavor. When cut or bitten, onions release a gas that can cause burning eyes or mouth irritation.
A 2002 study published in the journal Nature investigated the onion enzyme that causes tears. It found that onions contain the enzyme alliinase, a compound that contributes to the distinctive flavor of onions, and may have produced a gas that causes tears when cut into them.