Catching the flu is often a case of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ during the cold winter months. At the first sign of flu striking, the natural reaction is to raid the medicine cabinet and ignore the possibility of any other alternatives. Yet what many people are unaware of is that many of these alternative remedies are often found in any kitchen. Arguably, one of the most commonly used ingredients in households is the onion, and it is this allium vegetable that has many health benefits.

The healthier an immune system is, the less likely it is to catch the flu. Onions can play a big role in boosting immunity to illnesses such as cold and flu thanks to its abundance of vitamin C. Certain phytochemicals in onions act as stimulants for vitamin C within the body which fight against harmful toxins. In addition, onions are rich in quercetin, a potent flavonoid and antioxidant that has antiviral properties.

As well as contributing towards a healthy immune system, onions can be very useful to have around when the flu does finally strike. The sulfur compounds in onions for example can help target the causes of a sore throat and chesty cough. Acting as a natural antibiotic, onions ward off both viral and bacterial infections that can develop into cold and flu if left untreated. The antioxidants in onions can also help relive a stuffy nose. A spoonful of onion juice or adding chopped onions to salads and other foods are both great ways of utilising the healing qualities of onions.

With these health qualities, this remarkable ingredient is amongst the most versatile in the world and one that certainly deserves to be a regular in every kitchen.

M&P Engineering is an industry leading manufacturer and supplier of food processing equipment and home to the world-famous large onion peeling machine. This versatile machine can top, tail and peel onions of 45mm to 115mm in diameter by using self-adjusting floating knife assemblies over a range of up to 25mm to any one setting. Benefits of this revolutionary machine include: low labour requirement, simple to operate and a high volume and quality output. In addition to the large onion peeling machine, M&P’s range of food processing equipment includes: depositors, fillers and fresh cut machinery. If working on a budget, M&P’s expert engineering team can also provide rebuilt and refurbished processing equipment which are available to view through the website.

If you would like to know more about any of M&P’s products, get in touch by calling us on 0161 872 8378 or contact us here.

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