Leek is one of the most cultivated and widely distributed unique plants, about the miraculous properties of which everyone knows. This plant is necessarily present in the diet of people who care about health.
Composition (vitamins and trace elements, calorie)
Leek is extremely rich in nutrients. This biennial plant with spicy and aromatic properties belongs to the Onion family.
Did you know? It is believed that the probable homeland of leek is the Eastern Mediterranean.This onion is distinguished from bulb onions by the absence of onion: instead, its ending is represented by a thickened stem, in which lies its entire nutritional uniqueness.
There are two types of leeks: summer and winter. In summer there are thin and long stems, in winter they have a short thickish form. This plant acts as a spice with a pleasant, slightly sweet, mild taste, characterized by a characteristic odor due to its essential oils containing sulfur.A significant amount of potassium in its composition makes the leek a diuretic. It is also rich in sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, vitamins B2, B1, C, E, PP, A, contains folic acid, sugar and protein.
Other types of onions: bulb onion, chives, green, red, onion-batun, shallot, Indian.
100 grams of a plant contains 2 grams of proteins, 8 grams of carbohydrates, absolutely no fats, and the remaining 88 grams are water.
Caloric content of this product - 33 kilocalories per 100 grams. This really special plant in its chemical composition contains many components: all of them together have a huge benefit for the normal functioning of the human body. 
Important! One hundred grams of leeks satisfy more than 30% of the daily requirement of vitamins C and A. It is also characterized by a unique feature: when this plant is stored, the amount of vitamin C in it does not decrease, but on the contrary increases. Therefore, the consumption of this onion in the spring is especially valuable.
Leek in medicine
This type of onion is able to improve the activity of the gallbladder, the liver, can help with rheumatism, gout. It restores vitality with fatigue, depression, physical exhaustion, helps with insomnia. This plant fills the body with essential nutrients for spring avitaminosis, helps to restore cardiovascular activity and avoid atherosclerosis, especially in combination with honey.
Due to the rather high iron content in its composition, it contributes to the production of hemoglobin, which can cure anemia almost independently, without medication. 
Its property is highly valued to have a beneficial effect on a person's ability to memorize and assimilate information, as well as to increase concentration of attention and the general state of memory. People of mental labor and the elderly should especially appreciate this property.
Folic acid, which is present in the leucorrhoea, is indispensable during pregnancy, because it is she who can prevent pathology in the prenatal development of the child. Also, the plant has an antimicrobial effect, which helps with inflammation of the urinary tract, arthritis, diseases of the upper respiratory tract and colds.
Even in oncology, it has been proved that leeks are able to slow down the development of cancer cells, tumors, especially in ovarian cancer in women and the prostate, than is useful for men. 
Also, it is extremely useful for vision impairment. Phytoncides onions are able to fight even with serious viral diseases. Due to sulfur in its composition green onions are very useful in various diseases of the joints. Onions also have anti-allergic effects. It also purifies the blood, when it is applied, the mechanical damage to human skin heals faster, and also the immunity increases significantly, cholesterol decreases if the onions are systematically eaten.
Did you know? Especially leek is valued in China for its cough, antipyretic, antibacterial, expectorant and antifungal properties. In addition, the Chinese have long used the positive effect of this onion on calming the nervous system, as well as using it to relieve indigestion.
Leek in cosmetology
In modern cosmetology, all the beneficial properties of leeks have long been appreciated. Based on it, they prepare miraculous face masks, which have become a cleansing natural soft and harmless peeling for the skin. Also beneficial such masks act on the hair, activating their growth. This onion gruel made from fresh vegetable is rubbed into the roots, which results in a magnificent view of silky hair, in which there is not even a hint of dandruff. 
Fresh onion gruel will also improve the condition of nails, strengthening them. The tool is applied to the nails, wrapped with a film and wait for half an hour. After a few such procedures, a positive result will be clearly noticeable.
Baked onions help in the treatment of corns. But the gruel of fresh onion will also help get rid of the problem.
Important! Grated fresh leek is able to help people who want to get rid of freckles and pigment spots that suffer from unattractiveness. It is also noted that onions help with sunburn.This plant seems to be able to help with any cosmetic problem.
Leek Slimming
One of the amazing properties of leeks - the ability to beneficially affect all metabolic processes in the body, which, together with a very low calorie content and an absolute lack of fat in the composition, becomes indispensable for people who want to lose weight - eat leeks and lose weight. 
Regularly eat such an amazing plant, add to a variety of dishes, and the result will not take long. This not only leaves the kilograms, but also improves health: increases peristalsis, the body is replenished with useful trace elements and vitamins, the work of the gastrointestinal tract is improved, the metabolism returns to normal, thanks to potassium in the composition of onions, the water balance is normalized.
Because of their low calorie content, dietetics often use carrots, gooseberries, cucumbers, medlar, nectarines, watermelons, Brussels sprouts, beans, pineapples, yoshta, and lemon.
Chrome in onions helps reduce appetite and cravings for sweets. A huge amount of dietary low-calorie fiber allows you to quickly feel satiety. After all, in order to lose weight from onions, you can cook a lot of different dishes (salads, soups, as part of baked vegetables), which will allow you not to feel any discomfort when using it, but only pleasure.
If there is a choice between tasty, but no more, food and leek, which is not only tasty, but also useful, and maybe even diverse, then the right decision is obvious. 
Also, we must not forget that when eating leeks, not only extra kilos, but also unnecessary toxins, slags and other harmful substances leave the body.
Harm and contraindications
But nothing in our world is perfect, and even such a phenomenal product with its beneficial properties as leek has its drawbacks, contraindications and harmful properties.
If you overdo it with eating leeks for food, then you can bring not good, but harm to health and for the whole body. Excessive enthusiasm for this plant can increase the pressure, the acidity of the stomach and again disrupt the work of the digestive system.
It is especially necessary to abandon the use of onions for people suffering from acute inflammatory process of the stomach or from duodenal ulcer, because by stimulating the acidity of the plant can further harm the digestive organs. It also contributes to a decrease in blood sugar levels, which is absolutely not necessary for people already with a fairly low rate. 
Onions can cause rejection of mother's milk if a woman who is breastfeeding consumed it: the baby simply may not like the taste of such milk. Essential oils in onions can increase sweating, which does not always please a person who is in a public place.
Interesting facts about leek
A lot of interesting facts are known about leek: it often becomes unclear where the truth is, and where is fiction or embellishment of reality.
In combination with celery, onions were used several centuries ago to increase sexual desire. Thanks to this plant, the builders of the pyramids replenished their vitality and kept it in good shape, as the ancient records show. Leeks come from Egypt and Mesopotamia, where it was started in the second millennium BC. Statements of traditional medicine say that you should smell a bow when you have a headache, and it will pass.
Did you know? Leek is the national symbol of Wales, one of the kingdoms of Great Britain. In England, there is a club called the Leek Society.
Leek is the most valuable product, which, if used properly, can be the key to a beautiful appearance and excellent well-being. All the most useful grows only in their native land.
