It's obvious that onions are more than a garnish in the United States; the National Onion Association reports that Americans eat 20 pounds of onions per capita each year.

Platelets are created in your bone marrow and are an important component of blood clot formation. They are stored in the spleen, but eventually, the liver and spleen destroy old platelets.

To prevent the long-term complications associated with chronically elevated blood sugar levels with diabetes, it is important to choose the foods that will help you keep your blood sugar levels within target.

When you give blood, you are saving lives. According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds someone in America needs blood and 38,000 blood donations are needed daily. Evidence also suggests giving blood may improve your own cardiovascular health.

Having too high or low of a level of blood sugar or blood glucose can lead to various symptoms and health problems. This can include mild symptoms if your levels are off just a small amount occasionally. You can also develop chronic diseases if your levels are off on a regular basis.

Getting enough vitamin B-12 is key to maintaining your body's ability to produce enough blood. While a B-12 deficiency can lead to a type of anemia, a blood disease that affects your red blood cells, the vitamin is not generally associated with white blood cell production.

Although peanuts are often categorized as nuts, they belong to the legume family. Peanuts can be eaten roasted in their shells, in peanut butter or roasted in oil and seasoned. Try to stick with dry-roasted peanuts to avoid peanuts that contain extra fats and choose peanuts that are free of the harmful trans fat.

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and functions not only in the development and maintenance of bones and teeth but also in the health of nerves, muscles and the heart. Calcium deficiency can lead to serious health problems such as bone weakening, nerve damage and heart arrythmias.

White blood cell production relies on an adequate intake of vitamins A, C and E and beta-carotene, which are nutrients found in many vegetables. Cancer, autoimmune disorders and infections can result in a low white blood cell count, but a diet rich in vegetables can help increase your levels.

Conditions affecting your urinary tract can make daily tasks uncomfortable. Urine is normally sterile and does not contain blood cells. The presence of white blood cells -- WBCs -- in a urine sample indicates an abnormal condition within the urinary tract or kidney.

Healthy blood vessels are essential for proper circulation, as blood is pumped from the heart to carry nutrients to the cells throughout the body by way of the arteries and then returns to the heart through the venous system, according to Health911.com.

Blood infections, also known as sepsis, are very serious medical conditions that require prompt treatment. While the main cause of blood infections is an infectious organism in the blood, these organisms can enter the bloodstream in many ways. As a result, there are several causes of blood infections.