Chives, the onion family, have many health benefits

Chives are an herbal plant that belongs to the onion family (allium). Indonesian people know this plant as 'kucai leaves' or 'chives'. Usually, these leaf slices are used as a complement (garnish) on chicken porridge or a mixture of spring rolls.

Plants that have latin Allium tuberosum turns out to save a lot of health benefits. Including one of them is believed to help fight cancer cells. However, is this one claim true? Come on, find out the answer in this article.

The difference between chives and leeks

Many people find it difficult to distinguish between chives and green onions because they are both long and green. Although it is difficult to distinguish, you can actually tell the difference between leeks and chives with the naked eye.

Here are the differences between the two that you need to know:

• First, chives have smaller leaves compared to leeks.
• Second, chives tend to be thinner than chives. Apart from being denser, leeks generally have a larger cavity.
• Third, the entire surface of the chives from end to end is dark green. While on the leeks, the bottom until the roots are white.

Nutritional content in the chives

Chives are a nutrient-dense food. This means, these leaves are low in calories but rich in beneficial nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Yes, herbal leaves are rich in vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and also choline. If processed in the right way, these leaves certainly offer many good benefits for your body.

Benefits of chives for health

In general, here are some of the benefits of chives that you need to know:

1. Lowering cholesterol

These leaves contain allicin, an organosulfur that is claimed to help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Allicin in this herb is responsible for releasing nitric oxide, which helps reduce stiffness in blood vessels and lowers blood pressure.

This herb also contains quercetin, a compound that is believed to reduce the risk of plaque buildup in the arteries. Studies show that people who are on a diet high in flavonoids, such as quercetin, have lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

2. Good for bones

Chives have abundant vitamin K content. Vitamin K is important for maintaining healthy bones because it helps prevent bone loss.

Vitamin K increases the production of a bone protein called osteocalcin. Osteocalcin is what plays an important role in maintaining bone mineral density.

3. Prevent cancer

Various studies have found that vegetables belonging to the allium family (including chives) are known to have anticancer properties.

In a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers found that men with a high intake of allium vegetables had a lower risk of developing prostate cancer.

Other research has also shown that the anticancer properties of allium vegetables can help protect you from the risk of esophageal (esophageal) cancer and stomach cancer.

However, further research with a wider scope is still needed to ensure the benefits of chives to prevent cancer.

4. Maintain brain health

The choline content in chives actually provides many benefits for the body. The reason is, choline is one of the important nutrients that can help maintain brain health, including sharpening memory and regulating mood.

This is reinforced by a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2011. The study reports that high choline intake helps improve cognitive function of the brain and storage of verbal and visual memory.

5. Improve eyesight

These leaves contain carotene lutein and zeaxanthin. Both compounds are believed to help reduce oxidative stress in the eyes and slow down the development of cataracts.

Consuming these leaves and a variety of other foods that are also rich in nutrients can help improve your eyesight.

6. Helps relieve stress

Folate can help relieve depression by preventing the formation of excess homocysteine ​​in the body. Excess homocysteine ​​levels in the body are associated with heart attacks, strokes and blood clots.

Not only that, excess homocysteine ​​levels can also interfere with the production of the hormones serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. These three hormones not only regulate your mood, but also your desire for sleep and your appetite. So, you can imagine, right, if your body is deficient in folate?

The good news, chives are one of the foods that contain folate. You can also get folate intake from other foods such as spinach, celery, beans, broccoli, and others.

Which must be considered before eating chives

For some people, consuming these leaves may not cause any problems, aka the body is still fine. However, it's a different story if you have a history of allergies to these leaves.

You should avoid consuming these leaves if you already have an allergy to onions of any kind. Including garlic, shallots, onions and other types of onions. This is done to prevent dangerous allergic reactions to your body.

For some people, an allergic reaction can cause red, itchy skin rashes. Some people may also experience a stuffy or runny nose, swelling of the lips, face, tongue, throat, or other parts of the body.

Eating too much of these leaves may also cause certain organic compounds in the body to be too high. As a result, you may experience stomach upset or other digestive disorders.

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