Onions are versatile and nutritious vegetables that offer numerous health benefits. They are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making them a valuable addition to a healthy diet. Do you know about the health benefits of onion? If not, then this guide is completely for you.
Before getting to know the benefits, let’s start with its nutritional value.
Health Benefits of Onions
1. Improves Heart Health
Quercetin in onions has been shown to lower blood pressure in hypertensive individuals. Regular consumption of onions may help reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, which is beneficial for heart health.
2. Cancer Prevention
Another benefit of eating raw onions is fighting cancer. All vegetables belonging to the Allium genus family, such as garlic and onions, can significantly reduce the risk of cancer. Although, beneficial for several types of cancer, stomach and colorectal cancers are the primary ones. Those who consume onion-rich foods have the lowest cancer rates.
3. Improved Digestive Health
Onions are a good source of inulin, a type of prebiotic fiber that feeds beneficial gut bacteria, improving gut health and digestion. Onions stimulate the production of digestive enzymes, which can enhance nutrient absorption.
4. Improve Respiratory Health
Patients with allergies and asthma can benefit from specific vegetables and fruits, including onions. It ensures soothing respiratory ailments. If you are experiencing a respiratory illness, you can include onions in your diet for quick relief. Moreover, you can add onions to other foods and salads. Onion contains prebiotics that reduce stress and improve your sleep.
Related: All you need to know about the DASH diet
5. Maintains Bone Health
The compounds in onions can prevent age-related osteoporosis and reduce bone loss. Onion benefits women in a variety of ways. Women who eat onions regularly have five percent more bone mass than those who eat less. Onion consumption is helpful for the bone density of women older than 50 years. It also helps treat joint pain widely.
Get to know the tips for Healthy Bones!
6. Blood Sugar Regulation
Eating onions is vital for people with diabetes, as it may help control blood sugar. Even ordinary people can improve their body functioning by managing their blood sugar levels with onions. Quercetin and sulfur compounds in onions possess antidiabetic effects and help regulate blood sugar levels, making them beneficial for people with diabetes or those at risk of developing the disease.
7. Boost Immune System
Treating colds is another unknown benefit of onions for your health. The immune function of your body can be stimulated easily with onions, as they contain selenium. It is considered an herbal medicine that treats colds and flu. Placing onions in your socks or underneath your feet hydrates your body and eradicates infections. Drinking onion tea is one of the quick remedies to treat illness and colds. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory properties of onions help improve your overall health.
Nutritional Value of Onions
Onions are low in calories but high in nutrients. A 100-gram serving of raw onion contains:
- Calories: 40
- Water: 89%
- Protein: 1.1 grams
- Carbs: 9.3 grams
- Sugar: 4.2 grams
- Fiber: 1.7 grams
- Fat: 0.1 grams
Onions also contain small amounts of essential vitamins and minerals, including:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B6
- Folate (B9)
- Potassium
- Manganese
Did You Know?: Onion Fun Facts
- The most common onion colors are red, yellow, and white. One onion contains 45 calories. 75% of the world’s production of onions is due to yellow onions.
- About 125,000 acres of onions are planted in the US every year, and there are less than 1000 onion farmers in the United States.
- The thickness of the onion’s skin helps in predicting the severity of the winter. Thick skin indicates a rough winter ahead, and thin skin indicates a mild winter.
- According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest onion was grown by V. Throup of Silsden, England, and weighed around 10 pounds and 14 ounces. Interesting!
- The state vegetable of Georgia is the Vidalia onion, and the state vegetable of Texas is the Texas sweet onion.
- The country that eats the most onions is Libya, where every human eats 66.8 lbs of onion every year.
- Americans eat almost 18.8 pounds of fresh and stored onions every year.
Here is a detailed explanation of the health benefits of onion:
Potential Health Benefits of Onions
This table contains the potential benefits as well as the relevant research studies.
Conclusion
Onions are a nutrient-dense food with numerous health benefits, ranging from improved heart health and cancer prevention to enhanced digestive health and immune system support. So, incorporating onions into your diet can contribute to your overall well-being and help prevent various chronic diseases.
Stay happy and healthy!!!!!!!!!
