Health Benefits of Chives
Chives and their benefits
Chive cultivars
Giant Siberian or Allium ledebourianum, Chinese or garlic chives or Allium tuberosum and Siberian garlic types or Allium nutans are some of the different cultivars of chive.
Nutritional Value of Chives
One table spoon of cut chive consists of one calorie of energy with no fat, no carbohydrate and no protein content. The daily requirement of 3 percent of vitamin C and A is available in a single cup of cut chive. A single serving of chive consists of small amount of folate, calcium, vitamin K, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and cholate.
Benefits of Chives in organ health
Bone health
Vitamin K plays an important role in the maintenance of bone integrity and bone mineral density. Vitamin K in chive can produce osteocalcin that is useful in improving bone mineral density.
Eye health
Lutein and zea-xanthin are carotenes that are helpful in reducing oxidative stress and prevent macular degeneration.
Helps in solving digestion problems
The discomfort in the digestive system is reduced effectively by the allyl sulfides and other organic compounds present in the chive. Chive can destroy harmful bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and enhances the nutrient uptake capacity of the GIT.
Health of the heart
Allicin is the organic compound present in the chive that lowers the blood pressure and helps in reducing the cardiovascular strain. Quercetin is another compound in chive that lowers the cholesterol levels and plaques in the arteries avoiding atherosclerosis.
Bright skin
Beta carotene in chive helps in the removal of acne on the skin and in the increase of skin radiance.
Role of chives in preventing disease
Immunity enhancer
The efficacy of immune system is enhanced by the high levels of vitamin C present in chive. Vitamin C also improves the elasticity of blood capillaries. The production of white blood cells and collagen are increased by the vitamin C present in chives thus boosting the efficiency of the immune system.
Cancer Prevention
Quercetin, vitamin K and C in chive helps in preventing breast cancer, prostate, lungs, colon and ovarian cancer.
Birth Defects
Folic acid in chive prevents neural tube defects in the infants.
Body detoxification
Chive has free-radical scavenging and anti-bacterial qualities. It detoxifies the body by stimulating urination that can get rid of salts, water, fat, toxins, smooth running of organ systems and clearing of toxins that are harmful.
Cold relief
Chive gives relief to the throat congestion, flu, cold and yeast infections.
Anti-inflammatory
Its anti-inflammatory action reduces the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis.
Enhances circulation
Folic acid increases blood circulation by clearing the blocks in the blood vessels.
Chive as nutritious food item
Rich in B-complex and minerals
Leaves are rich in copper, manganese, calcium, zinc and iron as well as B-complex vitamin.
Vitamin A
100g of fresh leaves consist of 4353 IU of vitamin A of DRV.
Choline
Choline in the chive is an important nutrient that aids in sleep, memory, learning and muscle movement.
