Medicine in your spice rack, Onion

Okay, onions are more of a vegetable than spice, but including more onions in your diet may help you keep some forms of cancer at bay. The strong smell of the onion is an indicator of its potent sulphur compounds. Sulphur compounds are beneficial as natural anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial chemicals. Onions also contain the enzyme alliinase, which is what triggers the tears when you cut into them. Onions have been revered as food and medicine since the early days of Greek and Indian civilization.

An Italian study found that adults who consumed a half-cup of onions each day were 65% less likely to develop breast and ovarian cancer than those who did not eat this veggie. Clinical studies have shown that onions decrease blood lipid levels, prevent clot formations and lower blood pressure. Onions have also demonstrated the ability to lower blood sugar levels with comparable results to prescription drugs.