The unforeseen health benefits of onions

The unforeseen health benefits of onions 

Even though they are known for causing bad breath and tears, let’s hear it for the unremarkable and always dependable onion.  This popular vegetable is unremarkable in its rather banal appearance and considered dependable since grocery stores always have an abundance of onions.

One other thing you can count on with onions is the surprising health benefits of this allium vegetable.  Not only do onions give food a flavorful taste, transforming any meal into an aromatic experience, they also provide your body with natural health-boosting chemicals called phytonutrients.  Yes, onions may not grab your attention with bright, flashy colors or have a pleasingly sweet taste, but this humble low-key vegetable nevertheless is an important part of a healthy diet.

Let’s take a look at how onions can provide therapeutic and antibacterial properties helping fight diseases and make you look your very best:

·      Onions boost your immune system

When you pick up an onion, did you realize you are holding a veggie packed with a variety of nutrients and phytochemicals that include anti-cancer compounds of quercetin, allixin, and organosulfur compounds of allicin, alliin, and allyl sulfides?

The compound quercetin has been shown to have anti-viral properties helping fight off colds and flu.  In addition onions also contain vitamin C which may help give you a boost before cold and flu season is in full swing.   Adding garlic and onions to your favorite soup when you have a cold not only makes it taste better but may possibly help you get better faster.

·      Onions lower risk of osteoporosis

Who would guess eating onions can strengthen your bones?  A 2009 study demonstrated just that.  Women who consumed onions at least once a day had a 5% greater bone density than women who consumed onions once a month or less.  In addition, women 50 years of age or older and who consumed onions frequently, had a 20% decreased risk of a hip fracture when compared to women who never ate onions.  

·      Onions regulate blood sugar levels

Onions have been found to help reduce high blood glucose levels and lower cholesterol levels in rats with diabetes when given with the antidiabetic drug Metformin. If you have diabetes or prediabetes, consider adding more onions to your diet to help reduce blood sugar levels naturally.

·      Onions promote healthy hair

Biotin, a B-complex vitamin, is found abundantly in onions.  This vital nutrient is not only keeps your hair shiny and strong, but if your body is lacking in biotin, it could result in unwanted hair loss and a dry scalp.

·      Onions strengthen nails

Once again, the B-vitamin of biotin found in onions, may help build nail strength.  Another member of the onion family called shallots which look and taste a bit different than onions, also are a good source of biotin helping keep nails strong and healthy.

·      Onions reduce heart disease

Maybe onions don’t come to mind as a heart healthy food but quercetin has been found to significantly reduce high blood pressure in hypertensive adults.  Moreover, this vegetable is considered to exceed the heart-protecting properties of red wine as they are involved in maintaining good blood pressure, inhibit hardening of the arteries, and keep arteries pliable and elastic. 

·      Onions improve oral health

We may avoid eating onions to prevent bad breath but they actually improve your oral health.  Simply chewing a raw onion can strengthen teeth and eliminate bacteria that can lead to tooth decay.  Two to three minutes of chewing on an onion can kill most germs in the mouth according to Naturalsociety.com.