Although all vegetables are beneficial to our health, some in particular provide certain health advantages to our bodies. One of these is the onion.
Our daily lives now cannot function without onions. An average person consumes about twenty pounds of this pungent vegetable annually, whether it be consumed raw, cooked, pickled or powdered. Yellow, red, white, purple, green, Spanish, or Vidalia onions are just a few of the many varieties of onions available.
Along with garlic, shallots, leeks, and chives, onions are members of the flowering plant family known as the “Allium genus.” Onions are a rich source of numerous vitamins, minerals, and powerful plant compounds that have been shown to have numerous health benefits. Onions have actually been used as a remedy for sore throats, headaches, and heart conditions since ancient times, according to research.
Here are 7 incredible health benefits of onions:
- Onions are loaded with antioxidants: The process of oxidation causes cellular damage and the development of diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. As a result, onions are regarded as a superb source of antioxidants. Red onions, in particular contain anthocyanins, an unique plant pigment from the family of plant phytonutrients that gives red onions their rich color. According to numerous studies, persons who eat more foods high in anthocyanins have a lower risk of developing heart disease.
- Helps control blood sugar: According to a study, diabetic rats fed a diet containing 5% onion extract for 28 days, saw a fall in fasting blood sugar levels and had much less body fat than the control group. Certain substances present in onions, like quercetin and sulfur compounds, have anti-diabetic properties. Thus, eating onions may help in a big way to control blood sugar levels, which is particularly important for people with diabetes.
- Helps boost bone density: Although dairy products have long been credited with improving bone health, many other foods, including onions, also contribute to strong bones. According to a research, taking 3.4 ounces (100 ml) of onion juice every day for eight weeks enhanced the bone mineral density and antioxidant activity in middle-aged and postmenopausal women. Onions may help prevent osteoporosis by lowering oxidative stress, increasing antioxidant levels, and reducing bone loss.
- May boost digestive health: For optimal gut health, our bodies require a high source of fiber and prebiotics, and onions are one of the best sources of both. Short-chain fatty acids like acetate, propionate, and butyrate are produced by gut bacteria as they feed on prebiotics. The prebiotics fructooligosaccharides and inulin are plentiful in onions. These aid in boosting immune system function and increase friendly gut bacteria’s numbers.
- Onions can give you good vision: Conjunctivitis is a fairly common eye illness that can affect anyone, including children and the elderly. Onions can improve your vision as they contain selenium that helps in the production of vitamin E which prevents this eye infection. In fact, some organic eye drops also include onion juice extracts.
- It can improve your oral health too: Many of us avoid eating onions because they give us a terrible breath. However, it turns out that onion is beneficial for oral hygiene because it produces vitamin C.
- Onions can provide healthier hair: Onions’ antibacterial properties can prevent dandruff and lice from infesting your hair. Nowadays, the majority of Ayurvedic hair oils are produced using onion extract.