Description
Chives, a member of the onion family, have long, tubular leaves and globe shaped, mauve flowers that bloom in the summer. They also may be grown indoors. The chopped stems are usually eaten, but the flowers are also edible. They are sometimes used to stimulate appetite and promote digestion, especially when poor appetite is due to a cold. Chives are added liberally to salads and cooked dishes for medicinal purposes. Like onions, garlic, and leeks, chives contain health-promoting allicins, compounds that are believed to help prevent cancer and treat high blood pressure. Chives contain many essential minerals, including cardiac-friendly potassium, bone- strengthening calcium, and blood-building iron. And unlike most other members of the onion family, chives are high in folic acid (a B Vitamin), Vitamin A, and Vitamin C.
