Strong-flavored onions can be harsh on your social life, but they are potentially great for fighting cancer. Researchers at Cornell University have found in preliminary lab studies that members of the onion family with the strongest flavor -- particularly New York Bold, Western Yellow and shallots -- are the best varieties for inhibiting the growth of liver and colon cancer cells.
"No one knows yet how many daily servings of onions you'd have to eat to maximize protection against cancer, but our study suggests that people who are more health-conscious might want to go with the stronger onions rather than the mild ones," said study leader Rui Hai Liu, MD, PhD, a chemist with Cornell's department of food science in Ithaca, N.Y.