Health Benefits of Onions

We all know that onions are important ingredients for some dishes, but do consuming onions bring health benefits? The short answer is yes. There are many health benefits of onions. From reducing the risk of heart attack, boosting immune system to cancer prevention. If you want the long answer, read below.

Lowering blood pressure and the risk of heart attack

Lowering blood pressure and the risk of heart attack is the first on our health benefits of onions list. Onion can help make your heart healthier by lowering heart attack risk and lowering blood pressure. Onion contains sulfur, a natural blood thinner and which helps in preventing blood platelets from aggregating. The risk of heart attack increases as the blood platelets cluster. This means if you are consuming onion, the risk of heart attack can be lowered. Onion also contains quercetin, a substance which helps in preventing plaque buildup in the arteries which result in lowered risk of heart attack.

Immune system

Another health benefits of onions, they boost your immune system. The polyphenols onions contain protects the body from free radicals because it acts as antioxidants. Eliminating free radicals from your body can encourage a strong immune system. Not only help you develop a strong immune system, onions are also known for reducing allergic reactions. It stops your body from producing histamines, which is responsible for making you sneeze, itch and cry when you are having an allergic reaction.

Anti cancer

Quercetin inside onions has other properties besides reducing heart attack risk. It is thought to be a powerful anti cancer agent. It inhibits the cancer cells in endometrial, prostate, colon, ovarian, breast and lung tumors.

Blood sugar regulations

Onions contain chromium. Chromium is a substance that assists in blood sugar regulations. Sulfur in onions also helps in regulating blood sugar level as it is triggering the insulin production. Study shows that people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes who ate red onions both showed lower glucose levels for up to four hours.

Digestion

Onions contain fiber, which helps in promoting a good digestion and keep you regular. Not only that, onions are also contain a type of soluble fiber called oligofructose, that promotes the growth of good bacteria in your intestines.  Oligofructose also treats and prevents types of diarrhea. Another health benefit from onion for your digestion is that the phytochemicals in onions which reduces the risk of developing gastric ulcers by scavenging the free radicals.

Bone density in older women

Last health benefits of onions on our list are they improve bone density in older women. A study in 2009 shows that older women who are going through or already have finished menopause who consume onions daily, have their bone density improved. Compared to women who never ate onions, women who frequently ate onions have 20 per cent lower risk of hip fracture.

Is there any risk of consuming onions?

Nothing is risk free, no matter how matter how beneficial they are. This is true even for onions. Although there are many health benefits of onions, there is risk on consuming it. The risk is not especially serious, but it can still cause problem for some people. Eating onions can cause bloating and gas. Onions can also worsen heartburn for those who already suffer from gastric reflux disease or chronic heartburn, especially if the onions are raw. Eating a large amount of green onions can also interfere with blood thinning drugs. Why? Because it is high in vitamin K, which can decreases blood thinner function. There is a case of allergic reaction to onion, but this is a rare case.

Consuming onions are beneficial for your health, as you can see from the many health benefits of onions above. But, remember to consume it in moderation and also, understand your health condition. That way, you will be able to reap the benefits while at the same time avoiding possible problem from consuming onions.