Onions do more than just add a little zing to soups, casseroles, and omelets! Read on to find out about the amazing health benefits of onions that you might not even be aware of.
Onions Are Good for Heart Health
If you want to keep your heart healthy, keep eating those onions! Onions are able to thin the blood, which reduces your chances of forming a blood clot and at the same time are able to help lower levels of unhealthy LDL cholesterol. Both of these factors can reduce your risk of developing heart disease, making onions an important part of a heart-healthy diet.
Onions Can Slow Down The Ageing Process And Strengthen Your Immune System
Onions are a great source of antioxidants such as quercetin, sulfur and vitamin C. These antioxidants have been shown to reduce stress on your cells and slow down the aging process. They are also good for strengthening your immune system, making it less likely that you will come down with the flue or other infections.
Onions Are Diet-Friendly
Trying to shed those extra pounds? Try adding onions to your diet. They have no fat or cholesterol and an entire cup of onions is only 64 calories! These can be tossed to healthy dishes like salads or vegetable stir-fries to help add zest to your food and help you achieve your weight loss goals.
Onions Detoxify Naturally
Looking for a gentle way to detox? Then consider adding extra onions to the diet. Onions are rich in sulfur-containing compounds and amino acids that help the body to get rid of toxins such as heavy metals, which can build up in your system and leave you feeling tired and sluggish.
Onions Can Even Improve Your Mood
Believe it or not, onions are not just good for physical health but emotional health as well. This is because they can help block compounds in the body which can interfere with serotonin levels. Serotonin is the “feel good” hormone which can help fight off feelings of stress, anxiety or depression.
Onions Are Rich in Healthy Minerals
Apart from iron, onion is rich in other minerals, too. The two most important are calcium — which your body needs for strong bones and teeth — and magnesium, which can help you deal with stress and give you a good night’s sleep.
Onions Are Effective Against Some Cancers
Onions are a rich source of a compound called allicin. In several studies, allicin has been shown to have anti-cancer properties, especially against cancers of the stomach and colon and helps by slowing the growth of tumors.
Onions Have Strong Antiseptic Properties
Compounds in onions have been shown to have strong anti-viral and antibiotic properties and can help you fight infections. They are particularly good against e.coli and can help the body to fight off urinary infections like cystitis, a common and painful infection of the bladder.
Onions Can Help Treat Anemia
Anemia is caused by low iron levels and can leave you feeling tired and worn out even after a good night’s sleep. An iron-rich diet can help improve this condition and build up red blood cells. Onions are very high in iron, making them a good choice if you suffer from this condition.
Onions Can Help with Hair Loss
Onions aren’t just useful when you eat them! One study showed that when people applied juice from an onion to their scalp for several weeks, this application could help with hair loss naturally. This could prove to be a great at-home remedy if your hair is thinning!
If you are wanting a great, simple recipe to get more onions in your diet, click here.
The takeaway here is that onions are quick to prepare and add to a variety of dishes, even if you have a busy schedule. And the health benefits for doing so are numerous, making it a small but easy way to help improve your health even on those really hectic days!
