Chives - Health Benefits

Chives - Health Benefits

Allium schoenoprasum  
(common chives, onion chives) 
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Chives are bulbous hardy perennial plants of the genus Allium in the  Liliaceae, or Lily family, grown for their onion or garlic flavored leaves and for their pretty  and edible flower heads, rather than for their bulbs as with most other Alliums. They are  very easy to grow. The chives have thickened underground stems that may be semi-bulbous, with linear leaves growing straight up from the bulbs. The leaves of all the chive-like plants are linear, but those of common chives and giant Siberian chives are tubular, while those of garlic chives and Siberian garlic chives are flattened. Common or onion chives bears abundant rosy-lavender flower heads (rarely, white) resembling red clover in late May and June; garlic chives bears pretty white flower heads in flattened umbels in August/September.

Uses: The linear leaves are snipped and used primarily fresh, stirred into uncooked foods, such as soft cheeses or salads; or added to cooked foods during the last few minutes of cooking, or as a garnish. Overheating will destroy the flavor. Garlic chive flowers are edible in the bud stage or freshly opened (try in stirfry). The opened flowers are attractive cut flowers with a sweet aroma; flowers of both types dry well for winter bouquets. Snipped chive leaves should be used to flavor butter or oil, which must be frozen if kept more than a week or so (in the refrigerator); or seal  in plastic bags and freeze. It is not worthwhile to dry chives. Still, chives have been reported to have anti-cancer, anti-clotting, antibacterial, antiviral and decongestant properties. Studies have shown that a greater intake of allium vegetables is associated with lower risk of several types of cancers, especially stomach and prostate cancer.The leaves of chives have been found to have a high antioxidant activity and are also packed full of flavanoids.

In Chinese herbal medicine, chives are used to control bleeding and to treat fatigue. The leaves can be applied to insect bites, cuts and wounds and the seeds used for treating problems associated with the kidney, liver and the digestive system. Chives have also been shown to help lower cholestrol when included in a balanced diet. They are rich in vitamin A and C and contain a small quantity of iron.