Onion Rings for Labor Day
Dr. Don Colbert – If you’re a gardener, you may have onions coming out of your ears in September. Or, maybe you just like all things onions, from raw slices to the best onion recipes. If so, here’s a new option for delicious onions just in time for Labor Day: Keto Onion Rings. C’mon. Who doesn’t like onion rings!?!
This onion option is so delicious and fun, you can share them on Labor Day day or enjoy them by yourself all year round. Here’s how to make Keto Onion Rings, and why you should eat more onions in general.
Keto Onion Rings
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet onion cut into rings
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Sea salt
- Fresh ground pepper
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 tablespoon organic heavy cream
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone liner.
- Place the almond flour, Parmesan cheese, baking powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl.
- In another medium bowl, beat the eggs and heavy cream.
- To Bake the Onion Rings: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Use the lined baking sheet. Arrange rings in a single layer. Spray onions with cooking oil spray. Bake for 10 minutes. Flip and respray with oil. Bake for another 10 to 12 minutes, until crispy and brown.
-
To Use an Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F. Arrange the onions in a single layer, cooking in batches as needed. (If desired, you can line your air fryer with air fryer liners.) Spray the onions with cooking spray and cook for 5 minutes. Use a spatula to carefully reach under the onions and flip. Respray and cook 5 minutes longer.
Reasons to Eat More Onions
Onions are a fabulous food that supports human health in many ways. Here are a few:
1. ONIONS ARE PACKED WITH NUTRITION
2. ONIONS ARE LOADED WITH ANTIOXIDANTS
In addition to vitamin C, onions contain over 25 varieties of flavonoid antioxidants (2). Antioxidants are important to the human diet because they fight free radicals and oxidative stress, which cause damage to cells and tissues.
Red onions, like other red and purple fruits and vegetables, contain anthocyanins.
Diets high in antioxidants, and specifically anthocyanins, are associated with reduced risk of heart disease. One study of almost 44,000 men found that consuming up to 613 mg anthocyanins per day correlated to a 14% lower risk of heart attacks (3). Another study, of 93,600 women, found that those with a high intake of anthocyanins per day were 32% less likely to experience a heart attack than those with the lowest intake (4).
3. ONIONS SUPPORT HEART HEALTH
Beyond the associations of reduced risk of heart attacks, onions contain compounds that support healthy triglyceride levels, cholesterol levels, and anti-inflammation mechanisms. Together, these support heart health.
One heart-healthy compound found in onions is quercetin. It’s highly anti-inflammatory. One small study of 70 overweight individuals with high blood pressure showed that a daily dose of quercetin-rich onion extract significantly reduced systolic blood pressure by 3-6 mmHg versus placebo (5).
Other studies have shown onion’s positive effects in supporting healthy cholesterol and triglycerides. (6, 7, 8).
4. ONIONS SUPPORT HEALTHY BLOOD SUGAR
If you want better blood sugars, onions are a great food for you.
Animal studies and human studies have found that raw onion promotes reduced fasting blood sugars (9), onion extract supports fat loss and healthy blood sugars (10), and that quercetin specifically plays a role in blood sugar regulation (11).
What’s more, onion’s sulfur compounds may also encourage optimal blood sugars.
When you think of bone-health foods, you may not think of onions. But, did you know that their fight against oxidative stress helps them support bone health?
Studies back it up.
One study of postmenopausal women found that consuming 3.4 ounces of onion juice daily for 8 weeks improved bone density (12). Another study, also with postmenopausal women, found that those who ate onions daily had 5% greater overall bone density than those who rarely ate them (13). Lastly, one study correlated eating onions with a 20% lower risk of hip fracture in older women (14).
6. ONIONS ARE HEALTHY FOR THE DIGESTIVE TRACT
Onions support digestive health in 2 ways: 1) Their fibers are great for the healthy bacteria and strength of the gut. 2) Onions are highly anti-bacterial and fight potentially dangerous bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Bacillus cereus (15).
Onions contain soluble, insoluble, and prebiotic fiber. Prebiotics are fibers that the healthy bacteria in the gut consume as food, making them stronger. When the bacteria consume the prebiotics, the byproduct is short-chain fatty acids, which further fortify the gut and overall health.
Bottom Line
If you’ve got a garden or farmer’s market full of fresh onions, it’s time to add them to your daily diet and support your whole-body health. Our Keto Onion Rings are a great way to share them in a delicious, company-worthy recipe. This Labor Day, take time to rest and enjoy great, healthy foods!
To read the original article click here.
For more articles from Dr. Colbert click here.
