Discover Why Chives Should Be Part of Your Daily Diet
Being part of the allium family of herbs, chives are related to garlic and onions. While the stems are the only parts that are edible, chives do not have such a pungent and strong taste like their cousins do. Their taste is actually more on the delicate side, making it a fine extra to most dishes. You can add it to soups, omelets, salads and many other eye-catching dishes that will definitely please your taste buds.
Not only are chives extremely tasty, but they are also very beneficial for our health. Without any further ado, here is why you should add chives in your diet.
- They cleanse your digestive tract
Like its other cousins from the allium family, chives are rich in sulfur compounds. As a result, adding chives in your diet will zap out the microbes and toxins from your GI tract. This will improve your digestion and also eliminate a good number of digestive issues.
- They can lower the risk of cancer
Chives contain many kinds of antioxidants in their structure, one of them being quercetin. Many studies have shown that quercetin is effective against various types of cancer. Also, if the name “quercetin” rings a bell, it’s also because it’s a compound found in apples – particularly in the peels.
- They can make your vision sharper
Chives are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin – both of them being powerful antioxidants that can protect your eyes against the damage done by free radicals. If you include chives in your daily diet, you will be less exposed to developing conditions such as macular degeneration and cataracts.
- They prevent congenital disabilities
Do you have a little one on the way and want to make sure that he or she comes out without any birth defects? In this case, you may want to consume foods which are rich in folic acid – and luckily for you, chives are one of those foods! Studies show that a diet containing folic acid can prevent neural tube defects in infants.
- They’re great for your heart
Chives have many compounds that are beneficial for your body, and one of them is allicin. Present in the other members of the ‘family’ as well, allicin can help lower your cholesterol levels, preventing any future heart issues. At the same time, this compound can also keep close control of your high blood pressure.
- They prevent the apparition of osteoporosis
Vitamin K is a key nutrient of the chive herb, which is also something crucial for you if what you want is strong bones. The reason why vitamin K is so great for the prevention of osteoporosis is that it will make sure the calcium will stay in your bones rather than going directly into the bloodstream.
So are you convinced now that chives are a “must have” in your kitchen? They can help your eyes, your heart, your bones, your bowel, and they will keep you overall safe from any health risks.
