Scallions Overview

Scallions or green onions have long green stems with a thin white bulb. They are harvested early, before the bulb is able to swell and expand, which sets them apart from other members of the same plant family.

Both parts of the green onion are edible and can be used in cooking. The green tops have a mild, onion-like flavor while the white base is slightly more intense in its taste.

Scallion is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamine, dietary fibre, vitamin B2, vitamin K, phosphorus, copper, potassium, chromium, manganese, zeaxanthin, iron, magnesium, folic acid, folate, lutein and beta-carotene. Scallion also contains antioxidants such as flavonoids, allium, quercetin and allyl propyl disulphide.

Scallions add flavor and crunch to dishes. This thin spring onion variety is almost entirely edible, with the exception of the roots. This vegetable contains a range of nutritional benefits, including healthy macronutrients and vitamins. It is also low in calories and fat and may provide some additional
health benefits.

Nutrition Value of Scallions

Amount Per 100 grams

• Calories 32
• Total Fat 0.2 g
• Cholesterol 0 mg
• Sodium 16 mg
• Potassium 276 mg – 7% RDA
• Total Carbohydrate 7 g – 2% RDA
• Dietary fiber 2.6 g – 10% RDA
• Sugar 2.3 g
• Protein 1.8 g – 3% RDA
• Vitamin A 19% RDA
• Vitamin C 31% RDA
• Calcium 7% RDA
• Iron 8% RDA
• Vitamin B-6 5% RDA
• Magnesium 5% RDA

Nutrition Health Benefits of Scallions

Nutrition Health Benefits of Scallions

1. Eye Care

Scallions help to produce a protein called Rhodopsin due to thelarge amounts of Vitamin A that they contain. Rhodopsin isnecessary for the retina to absorb more light and a regularproduction of it helps to prevent blindness and sharpen yourvision. Regular consumption of scallions will also help prevent cataracts and corneal ulcers.

2. Aids in Weight Loss

Thiamine (vitamin B1) present in scallions prevents body weightgain and inhibits accumulation of fat. It further works bysuppressing the appetite. This reduces the overall food intake.Thus, fewer calories enter into the body.

Studies have also revealed that scallions contain ferulic acidand quercetin. These healthy compounds prevent the build-up of fat in the body. Hence, more fat is used as a source of energy and less is stored.

3. Regulates Blood Sugar Level

Scallions are beneficial for diabetics because of its highantioxidant potential. High blood sugar level increasesoxidative stress (inability of the body to detoxify harmfulsubstances such as free radicals), which further leads to theprogression of diabetes.

Antioxidants present in scallions neutralize free radicals,reduce oxidative stress and prevent the complications ofdiabetes.

They work against alpha-glucosidase, an enzyme that convertscarbohydrate into simple sugars upon digestion. Such an inhibition delays carbohydrate digestion and slows down the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream. This prevents sudden rise in the blood sugar levels post a meal.

4. Blood Clotting

Due to its abundance with vitamin K it helps with blood clotting. Blood clotting is important to prevent excessive bleeding as a result of injury. It allows your platelets and plasma, two components of your blood, to form a clot when you’re injured, which can help you avoid further blood loss. A deficiency in vitamin K can cause symptoms like easy bruising and bleeding, typically from the gums or the nose.

5. Heart Health

Scallion has vitamin A and C which have antioxidant properties which are beneficial for healthy cellular tissue and DNA as they fight free radicals. Vitamin C also aids in lowering the blood pressure by acting as a diuretic, removing excess fluid from the body which helps reduce the risk of the heart disease.

Consumption of scallions helps in the restoration of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide helps in dilating arteries and thus, it ensures smooth blood flow all throughout the body. This prevents rise in the blood pressure.

Angiotensin-II is an enzyme that causes constriction of arteries and blood vessels and leads to subsequent increase in the blood pressure. Healthy compounds present in scallions inhibit such an enzyme and help in the relaxation and widening of the arteries.

Scallion is an excellent source of essential minerals and vitamins such as folate, magnesium, potassium, allicin and allyl sulfides etc. These vitamins are beneficial for the healthy functioning of the cardiovascular system, for example; the folate in this vegetable helps to reduce the homocysteine circulation levels while the potassium helps to regulate the blood pressure level.

6. Strengthens Bones

Scallion onions contain a lot of amount of Vitamin K and Vitamin C, which are essential to improve the bone density. In about 12 grams of scallion onions, you will get approximately 20 micrograms of Vitamin K and 1,6 milligrams for Vitamin C. These two vitamins are beneficial to support the growth and development of the bone. This helps reduce the risk of developing arthritis and osteoporosis.

7. Regulates Blood Sugar Levels

Scallion onion contains sulphur which is beneficial to treat people with diabetes. Sulphur helps lower blood sugar level in the body, it also helps stimulate the sensitivity of insulin and increase the insulin level.

8. Skin Care

Scallion has allicin which improves skin health. Thay help protect the skin from the early ageing and can protect the skin from wrinkling. They also make the skin glow and increase the skin tone.

Vitamin C acts as a bleaching agent which makes the skin glow naturally it laso helps fight against the free radicals that will improve the health of the skin.

9. Prevents and Treats Anemia

Scallion has a great amount of iron which helps produce the hemoglobin and red blood cells. Anemia occurs as a result of body not having enough supply of red blood cells.

10. Wound Healing

Scallion help speed up the healing process of wounds, especially the open wounds. Scallion onions contain sulphur compounds that can be used to treat various open injuries from cuts to wounds. They also has anti bacterial properties that will kill various bacterial in the wound.