People knew about the healing power of leeks in the distant past - the vegetable was served at the table of wealthy Greeks, Romans and Egyptians. In taste and aroma, it resembles onions and garlic, but with more sophisticated notes. Read about what part of the plant is edible, what is prepared from it and how is it used in cosmetology and alternative medicine, read in our article.

Did you know? In ancient times, leek was taken to improve the vocal cords. Even Emperor Nero often included a vegetable in his diet to preserve his voice for public speeches.

Description and description of leeks

Leek, or pearl onion - a biennial herbaceous culture, a unique representative of the onion subfamily. Thanks to the ability to adapt to any weather conditions, this vegetable is cultivated everywhere today. The pearl onion has a cylindrical white leg, often referred to as a false onion. The stem is light green. The leaves are deep green, flat, fibrous and fairly stiff, as if they were waxed.The taste in the white part is unusual, spicy-sweet. The smell is pleasant, unobtrusive. The energy value of leek is about 60 kcal per 100 g. The product consists of 90% water, but at the same time it acts as a real storehouse of valuable organic substances. 100 grams of fresh leek contains carbohydrates (8.2 g), protein (2 g) and a small amount of fat.

Important! With excessive enthusiasm for leeks during lactation, milk may have an unpleasant aftertaste for the child, which will lead to the refusal of the crumbs from eating. Accordingly, it is better for nursing mothers to refrain from using this vegetable.

The top and bottom of the plant are rich in vitamins:

• ascorbic acid;
• tocopherol;
• vitamins B1 and B2;
• nicotinic acid and beta-carotene.

Also found in the plant:

• organic acids;
• cellulose;
• starch;
• sugar;
• minerals - iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, sodium, nickel, phosphorus.

The properties of leeks for the body

Next, we consider the product from the positive and possible negative sides.

Beneficial features

Clinical studies have shown that pearl onions stimulate the secretory activity of the gastrointestinal glands and increase cravings for food. It is indicated for nervous and physical exhaustion. Doctors recommend introducing this vegetable into the menu for patients with atherosclerosis, arthritis, rheumatism, anemia, liver and gall bladder pathologies, cystitis, and colds.

• In addition, regular consumption of raw vegetables contributes to:
• improved metabolism;
• strengthening the nervous system;
• energy recovery, memory improvement;
• increase the body's defenses;
• protection against the harmful effects of various viruses and bacteria;
• removing excess fluid from the body.

Contraindications

Despite the usefulness of leeks for the human body, abuse of this plant threatens with various unpleasant phenomena. Due to the increase in blood pressure and acidity in the stomach, the vegetable is contraindicated in patients with hypertension and pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, the leek is able to provoke an allergic reaction: a rash, accompanied by intense itching.

Important! Do not wash the leek before storing it in the refrigerator. Wrap the vegetable in a polyethylene bag. If the onion is wet, blot it with napkins first: it will be stored in this form for about 7-8 days.

How to choose and use leeks

Only young specimens need to be purchased: their distinctive feature is stems about 4 cm thick. The lower part should be dense, white in color, and the upper part should be bright green, without fading areas. Due to the short shelf life of fresh leeks, it is better not to stock up on them, but to buy a small amount each time before use.

Be especially careful when washing the vegetable: cut off the leaves and roots, then cut the stem lengthwise into two halves and wash away the accumulated soil under a stream of water. Consider what part of the plant can be eaten - usually a white tender leg. Thanks to its amazing aroma and lack of bitterness, it improves the taste of many dishes.Green leaves, due to their rough structure, are hardly used in cooking (with the exception of young specimens). Chefs also recommend cutting out the stiff middle of the stem. Next, briefly dwell on how to use green shoots. Despite the fact that the leaves of leek are too stiff for use for food purposes, they should not be thrown out.

These parts have found interesting applications: they are dried and added to the garnish bouquet - a bunch of dry herbs, composed of various spices. A fragrant bouquet is lowered into a dish cooked on the stove, and shortly before the end of cooking, it is removed from the pan. The dish will get an unrivaled taste.

Did you know? David Welsh during the next battle, which took place on the onion field, ordered his soldiers to tie leeks to their helmets to distinguish them from enemies. The battle was won, and the leek was declared a symbol of Wales.

Where is leek used

Pearl onions are successfully used in modern alternative medicine, cosmetology and nutrition.

In folk medicine

Vegetable is indicated for purulent formations (abscesses) on the skin. The white part of the onion, chopped with a blender or grater, is applied to the boil, covered with a film and bandaged with gauze. After 2-3 hours, the edema will subside, and the pus will stretch. The same slurry helps with calluses, mosquito and bee stings, and sunburn. In the latter case, the mask is kept in a sore spot for about an hour, then washed off with water. And to fight against calluses, the mass should be held in the problem area for more than an hour.To provide a healing effect with angina, gargle daily with juice from leek. The course of treatment should last at least 2-3 days. With pneumonia, the product can be used as an additional therapeutic agent. A broth is brewed from the chopped vegetable, then breathe in pairs. For each new inhalation, a fresh portion is taken.

In cosmetology

On the basis of the presented vegetable, nourishing face masks are prepared. A leek turned into a slurry can serve as a natural peeling - a mask with a mildly burning effect will harmlessly cleanse the skin of the face. Onion also has value for hair, stimulating its growth and giving it smoothness.

Important! The readiness of the fried leek is determined not by the rosy color, but by the structure - the prepared vegetable is always soft.

A gruel is prepared from a fresh vegetable, which is then rubbed into the roots of the hair. Leek strengthens nails. The grated vegetable is applied to the fingertips, and gently wrapped on top with a plastic film. After 30 minutes, you can wash off the mass. After doing a few procedures, you will notice a positive effect.

In cooking

The vegetable in question is universal - it can be eaten raw, boiled, fried, added to salads, sauces and snacks. In order for a product to reveal its rich taste and aroma, one should know several secrets of its preparation. Firstly, a young stalk can simply be dipped in salt and eat as an appetizer, or added to salads from fresh vegetables. Secondly, leeks can be replaced with onions in first courses, pies, casseroles and other treats.

Nevertheless, leek is considered a noble product with a delicate aroma, so it is better to complement gourmet dishes. For example, a vegetable can be added to mustard and egg sauce. Such a dish can be presented as a cold snack. Stewing onions with cherry tomato, green beans and garlic, you get a delicious vegetable stew. A mixture of chopped leek, cod fillet, potatoes and parmesan, used as a filling for a pie, will not leave indifferent even gourmets.To boil leek, cut the edible portion and cook it in salted water for at least 5 minutes. To make mashed potatoes, cook the product for 10-15 minutes. You can cut the onion in circles and freeze in the freezer to use the vegetable in the winter. Add the workpiece to the dish during cooking, that is, without preliminary defrosting.

Growing recommendations

Cultivation of leeks can be done even by beginners in gardening. The main thing is not to neglect the basic recommendations of professional farmers:

1. Propagate the vegetable by seeds or seedlings. The land must be carefully prepared for sowing or planting seedlings. Leek needs fertile and moist soil.
2. The correct choice of predecessors in the garden is also important. Well, if earlier on the site grew cabbage or Moths. An unacceptable predecessor threatening the death of a vegetable is onion.
3. It is not recommended to irrigate the culture often - just one procedure every 5 days is enough.
4. The soil on the bed should be regularly loosened and freed from weeds.
5. Culture requires the systematic introduction of complex fertilizers such as Nitrofoski or Kemira.

As you can see, the scope of leek is quite extensive. Thousands of people around the world have appreciated the fragrant vegetable. Do not refuse even this useful plant - it will enrich your daily diet and improve your health.