Chives (Allium schoenoprasum), are the smallest species of the onion genus. The plant is native to Europe, Asia, and North America and is commonly used as a herb. Chives can be found fresh at most markets year-round, and are one of the "fines herbs" of French cuisine, which also include tarragon, chervil, and/or parsley.

Here are the 7 health benefits of chives.

1.     Chives could help you sleep better.

Chives are a good source of choline. Choline is an important B-vitamin that helps your body with sleep, learning, and memory.

2.     Chives can help protect the body from prostate cancer.

A study from the National Cancer Institute in Shanghai, China suggested that allium vegetables, including garlic, onions, leeks, chives, scallions, and shallots, are rich in flavanols and organosulfur compounds, which can inhibit tumor growth and fight against prostate cancer.

3.     Chives have been linked to the reduction of esophageal and stomach cancer.

Regular intake of allium vegetables has been inversely correlated with the reduced risk of esophageal and stomach cancer.

4.     Chives can help assist in making your eyes better.

Chives contain more vitamin A than any other allium family member vegetables. One hundred grams of fresh chives contain 4353 IU of vitamin A or 145 percent of the daily recommended value. Also, the green leaves contain other flavonoid-phenolic antioxidants such as carotenes, zeaxanthin, and lutein. These compounds assist in proper eye health.

5.     Chives can help make your bones stronger.

Chives are a good source of vitamin K, which functions in retaining calcium in the bone matrix and fights osteoporosis. Sufficient vitamin K consumption may also reduce urinary excretion of calcium. One hundred grams of chives contain 177 percent of the daily recommended value of vitamin K.

6.     Chives house a ton of antioxidants.

Chives hold antioxidants like diallyl disulfide, diallyl trisulfide, and allyl propyl disulfide to convert to allicin by an enzymatic reaction when its leaves disrupted. Allicin can reduce cholesterol production in the liver cells.

7.     Chives can help improve your blood pressure.

Allicin, found in chives, also decreases blood vessel stiffness by releasing the vasodilatory compound, nitric oxide (NO), causing a reduction in the total blood pressure.