Onion is well known for cooking. It gives a delicious flavor in any dish. There are many types of onions, including red, white, and yellow. It has a natural pungent odor, and it has a typical sweet taste. We all know that chopping or slicing onion makes your eyes teary due to its chemical content. In terms of onion’s health benefits, it is known as “super-healthy food” because it is a good source of different vitamins and nutrients that our body needs. Onion is good for you because it has medicinal properties like it can help you fight against various cancer types, improve your mood, and maintain hair and skin glow.
1. Packed with Nutrients
Onion nutrition like B vitamins, namely folate (B9) and pyridoxine (B6), is also loaded with Vitamin C. Onion is good for you because it is low in calories, high in vitamins and minerals are making it nutrient-dense. Vitamin C found in onion can help in the immune system’s normal functioning, collagen production, and tissue repair. Vitamin B content in onion plays a vital role in metabolism and red blood cell production.
2. High in Antioxidants
One of the onion benefits is it is high in antioxidants. Antioxidants can fight free radicals that can prevent the growth of damaged cells. Onion is good for you as it is high in anthocyanins content, usually found in red onions. A study shows a reduced risk of having a heart health disease by eating and consuming foods that are rich in anthocyanins. A study conducted in 43,880 men shows a positive result of a 14% lower risk of non-fatal heart disease because of the habitual intakes of 613 mg or more per day of anthocyanins.
3. It can help to Prevent Cancer
Other significant health benefits of onion are its cancer-fighting properties. Onion comes from Allium family plants together with chives, garlic, and leeks. Studies found out that cancer-fighting properties like sulfur compounds and flavonoids were found in the Allium family, especially in onions. Many studies showed that consuming a high amount of allium vegetables like onions in the diet resulted in a 22% reduction in stomach cancer than those consuming the least amount of onion.
4. Regulate Blood Sugar
Diabetes is a common disease nowadays. If you have diabetes, you need to watch and maintain your blood sugar level. Foods that are high in carbohydrates and sugar are not part of the diet for people with diabetes. Onion is good for you because there is a study showing that onions’ consumption may reduce blood sugar. Onion benefits health through plant compounds like quercetin and sulfur compounds that have antidiabetic effects.
5. May Boost Digestive Health
Onion nutrition offers a sufficient amount of fiber and prebiotic. Foods that contain prebiotics are significant for optimal gut health. Short-chain fatty acids are shown to boost immunity, reduce inflammation, strengthen gut health, and enhance digestion. You can increase probiotics in the body like Lactobacillus and bifidobacteria strains that have a good effect on digestive health by eating foods that are rich in prebiotics.
6. Easy to add in your Diet
Most of the dishes now make use of onions to improve the taste. You can easily add onion in your diet by simply incorporating it in many dishes, as it tastes well with any viand. Some prefer eating onion as raw, especially in salad, burgers, or side dishes in steak. Onion is good for you as it is packed with nutrients and vitamins. You can double the quantity of use in any dishes because onion can add savory flavor.
7. May Boost Bone Density
One of the health benefits of onion is it can support bone health. A study was conducted in 24 middle-aged and postmenopausal women who consumed 3.4 ounces or 100ml of onion juice daily for eight weeks and improved bone mineral density and antioxidant activity. Another interesting study in older women who usually consume onion in their diet experienced a decreased risk of fracture in the hip area by 20 percent compared to those who never eat onion. Medical professionals believe that onion’s ability to stop oxidative stress can promote bone health.
