Onions make everything taste better. Whether you eat them raw or cooked, its easy to add onions to your meals. There are so many varieties that there is an onion for any dish.
Onions are part of the Allium family of vegetables that includes garlic, chives, scallions, and leaks, according to Cleveland Health. But did you know that onions are also good for your health? In fact, people have used onions for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Here are seven reasons why onions are so beneficial.
Packed Full of Nutrition
Onions are very nutrient dense, according to Healthline, so they pack quite of punch of health even in small quantities. Onions are high in vitamin C which helps your immune system and B vitamins that play an important role in red blood production, metabolism, and nerve function. Onions also contain potassium and fiber.
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Antioxidant Rich
Antioxidants inhibit the oxidation that could lead to cell damage that contributes to chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. Onions are a good source of antioxidants and contain at least 17 flavonoids including quercetin which is an anti-inflammatory compound and onioninA, a sulfur containing compound that gives onions a strong smell and makes you cry when you cut them. Red onions contain anthocyanins, the flavonoid that gives them the deep red color. A 2019 review of studies suggests that eating anthocyanin rich foods could lower the risk of heart disease.
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Could Help Lower Cancer Risk
The organosulphur compounds in onions could help reduce your risk of developing certain types of cancer including colorectal and stomach, according to Cleveland Health. That’s because it may stop the growth of cancer cells, thus causing them to die off. Increasing your onion intake to 35 pounds per year could lower your risk of cancer by up to 80 percent, according to a 2019 study published in the Asia- Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology
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Promotes Heart Health
Quercetin, one of the flavonoids found in onions, has many heart health benefits including blood thinning properties that help prevent blood clots that can be a cause of heart attacks and strokes, according to WebMD. Quercetin also helps to lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and help to relax blood vessels.
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Contains Antibacterial Properties
The same quercetin that is an antioxidant and contributes to heart health also contains antibacterial properties, suggests Cleveland Health. Eating onions could slow or even stop the growth of the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers, staph infections, and E.coli infections. Storing onions for at least three months actually increases the amount of quercetin in them.
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Could Boost Bone Density
While most people know that dairy helps to support bone density, it may surprise you to know that onions can too. That’s because high antioxidants levels help to decrease bone loss. A 2009 study published in the Journal Menopause, studied 507 women who were perimenopausal and postmenopausal. The study found that the participants who ate at least one onion a day had a 5 percent greater bone density than women who ate onions less frequently.
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Good for Gut Health
Onions are good for your gut, according to Healthline, because of the large amount of fiber and prebiotics in them. Prebiotics are nondigestible types of fiber that can be broken down by beneficial or good gut bacteria that strengthen gut health and help digestion.
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