Onions are vegetables that belong to the Allium genus of flowering plants that also includes garlic, shallots, leeks and chives and they are a good source of nutrient, minerals, and vitamins.
Onions play a significant role in your hair, skin and internal organs as well, whether eaten raw or cooked.
You will be amazed at what can be gotten from onion, as in fact, the medicinal purpose has been recognized since ancient times by a lot of health practitioners.
Table of Contents
Health Benefits of Eating Onions
There are various kinds of onion but they all contribute the same benefits to the body. Below are reasons why you should have onion included in your meal often.
1. Eating Onions Benefits The Heart
Onion contains compounds that can naturally protect the heart. The red onion, in particular, contains flavonoids that contribute to a healthy heart (1).
The quercetin in onions also has the potential to fight heart disease (2) and offers both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Onions help the heart function even more by preventing the blood platelet from sticking together which can lead to blood clotting.
2. Onions Contain Compounds That Fights Cancer
The powerful antioxidant contained in onions makes it highly recommended by a doctor in the fight against cancer (3).
Onions will create a pathway that will make the cancer cells to kill each other and also it has been recorded that people who consume onions the most have the lowest cancer rates.
The prevention properties contained in onions is not against cancer alone but also prevents the spread of harmful bacteria in the gut.
3. Helps Lower Blood Sugar Level
A study has shown that onion helps lower the risk of diabetes considerably (4). The sulfur compound in it makes it easy to reduce the amount of sugar in the system and providing it with nutrients in the process.
This is one 10 step guide to help lower your blood sugar levels.
4. Prevents Inflammation
Another surprising benefit is how it protects the skin and organs from inflammation, it will also treat allergies by preventing the cells from releasing histamine (5).
Eating onions constantly will help prevent congestion and reduce the risk of nasal congestion.
5. Improves The Immune System
Onions contain properties called selenium that stimulate immune function (6). The mineral also prevents an excessive immune response in the system which will also enable the cells to work properly within the body.
Onions can accelerate wound healing (7).
6. Fights Aging And Makes Skin Glow
Whether it is raw onion or cooked onion, the anti-aging properties in it are potent to fight premature aging, thereby giving you a smooth and glowing skin. Onions combined with honey can also be used as a homemade remedy for acne and skin inflammation.
Massaging your skin with onion can also help improve blood circulation. Here are seven fruits for healthy and glowing skin.
7. Helps Improve Sleeping
Onion naturally improves gut health thereby allowing the beneficial bacteria in your gut to be digested by probiotics, they multiply and improve gut health but more importantly, they contain probiotics which can induce sleep and reduce risk of sleeping disorder (8)
8. Onions Aid In Cholera Treatment
Some of the properties discovered in onions aid with the treatment of cholera, the antioxidant in it also provide treatment against unhealthy bacteria in the gut.
9. Improves Eye Health
Onions limits Eye defects and even the tears you shed while slicing those onions are a way to release some toxic enzymes from the eye (9).
These are the best foods for your eyes and make sure to read this list of bad foods for your eyes as well.
10. Treats Acne
The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities of onions will help reduce the risk of clogged pores which can limit your acne drastically. Onions is a powerful antiseptic against acne, pimples and other skin irritations.
We have several articles here on thrive naija to help combat acne, make sure to give a few of them a read.
- Cystic Acne: Causes, Treatments (5 Cystic Acne Home Remedies)
- 11 Simple Home Remedies For Acne You Can Try Today
- Why Am I Breaking Out On My Cheeks?
- Peanut, Groundnut Causes Pimples (Acne): Myth or Fact?
- What is Rosacea Acne: Causes, Signs & Symptoms, Treatments
- 4 Things That Cause Your Skin to Breakout (How to Fix Them)
- 7 No-Brainer Causes Of Pimples On Face In Adults
- How To Prevent Pimples Naturally At Home (8 Home Remedies)
Onions are safer are more effective when stored properly, to prevent your onions from becoming rotten and preserve them for a long while, you should read How to Store Onions: The Complete Guide.
