Onions – sources, health benefits, nutrients, uses and constituents at NaturalPedia.com

06/21/2017 / By Tim Wesley

Perhaps you’ll cry some tears of joy once you realize how beneficial onions are to your body. Most people think of onions either as tear-inducing crops or an ingredient to most of the dishes they make at home but it’s time for you to look at these vegetables as health-boosters.

Onions belong to the same family as garlic, leeks, scallions, and chives and have more than 600 species found all over the world. These can be used as vegetables, ornaments, spices, or medicine. Onions come in different varieties: red, white, yellow, and green, each with their own flavor. They can be strong or mildly sweet.

List of known nutrients

Allium
Ascorbic acid
Bioflavonoids
Biotin
Chromium
Dialkyl sulfides
Folic acid
Germanium
Magnesium
Phosphorus
Potassium
Quercetin
S-allylcsteine
Selenium
Sulfur
Vitamin A
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B6
Vitamin C
Vitamin K

Medicinal uses for onions

Onions have been used since ancient times not just as food but as a form of treating health problems as well. Some of the benefits you can enjoy from eating onions include healthy skin, hair and heart and improved mood.

The sulfide content of onions — similar to the ones present in garlic — may lower blood pressure and lipids. Since they’re also rich in flavonoids, onions provide a certain type of protection against cardiovascular diseases. Thanks to their sulfur content, they possess natural anti-clotting properties and help suppress platelet-clumping.

Cancer prevention is one of the reasons you may want to eat more onions. Sulfides present in onions protect the body against tumor growth. Data has shown that mortality rates, caused by stomach cancer, in Central Georgia where a certain type of onion is grown are approximately one-half of the average data in the United States. Similarly, Chinese who consume more onions and other alliums have 40 percent less chances of developing stomach cancer than those who eat less. The same goes for Greeks who reported a high intake of onions, garlic, and other similar vegetables. One study published by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute also showed that onions may help prevent prostate cancer.

Furthermore, onions contain vitamin C, which is essential in fighting free radicals to promote cell health. This helps increase the body’s defense mechanisms against certain types of diseases like colds, flu, pneumonia, infections, and inflammation. Eating onions can reduce your risk of diabetes, atherosclerosis, bronchitis, and dysentery.

Body systems supported by onions

Onions are good for the brain as well. Folate helps the production of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine — hormones that help boost mood and aid in sleep. Adequate intake can also lead to more nourished skin thanks to vitamin C. The same vitamin C content boosts the body’s anti-inflammatory properties.

In addition, onions help improve the circulatory system by ensuring the blood vessels are free from clotting and that cholesterol levels are managed well. Moreover, frequent intake protects the esophagus from tumor growth and keeps the colon healthy, preventing cancer formation.

Ways to enjoy onions

Onions have a wide appeal. They are often used for various dishes. It’s astonishing how these are used in different ways in different parts of the world: raw, as salsa, on salads, as an ingredient in pastries, soup, or as supplement in savory dishes. These onion recipes should serve as a guide for you.

Where to learn more

Summary

Onions improve mood and sleep.

Onions prevent colon prostate, and esophageal cancers.

Onions protect the body from cell damage.

Onions can keep the skin healthy.

Onions prevent inflammation.

Onions reduce the risk of diabetes.

Onions can keep the heart strong.

Sources include:

AllRecipes.com

MedicalNewsToday.com

Vegetarian-Nutrition.com

WHFoods.com

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