Why eating red onions might just be the best thing for your health

THE humble vegetable contains plenty of vitamins and minerals to help boost your body.DICED in a side salad, sprinkled as a garnish or chopped through a pasta dish – red onion might just be one of the best raw ingredients you can eat.

Eating red onions in their natural raw state could keep your body healthy on a daily basis and prevent chronic disease in the long term. Why? Because red onions are absolutely packed with vitamins and minerals, including folate, thiamine, calcium, magnesium, potassium, manganese and vitamins C, K and B6.So, not only are they pretty and colourful on your plate, they could help give your body a health boost. Plus, if you run it under the tape before you chop it up, it won’t smell quite as strongly (or make your eyes water) as a white onion.

It’s important – where possible – to eat red onions in their raw state as cooking them in any manner can kill off the goodness.We take a look at just some of the healing properties that the humble veggie has.

Stops cancer cell growth

Red onions are full of sulfur compounds that protect the body from ulcers and various cancers. They can also fight bacteria in the urinary tract. The most important of these compounds is called quercetin – an antioxidant compound that could provide protection against cancer, heart disease and allergies.

Controls diabetes

If you are diabetic, you should eat raw red onions as these help increase insulin levels. In Europe and Asia, red onions and raw garlic are often encouraged amongst diabetics.

Cures sore throats

It might sound fairly disgusting, but gargling some onion juice will help ease the raw feeling that comes with having a sore throat. The antioxidants and vitamins found in red onions will also ward off illness.

Helps with constipation

Red onions are a fibrous vegetable, which helps your digestive track move things along. One onion contains roughly 1.5 grams of fibre.

Brings down high cholesterol

Flavonoid compounds – the same compounds that give the onions their striking pigmentation – reduce the low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol in obese people at risk of heart disease.

Helps ease arthritis

The amazing little flavonoids also have anti-inflammatory abilities and therefore can be useful in the treatment of arthritis and other such conditions.

Good for heart health

Not only do red onions lower cholesterol, they can also fend off heart disease and discourage clot formation. They can also help to maintain blood flow and reduce inflammation to the blood vessels.

So, not only are they pretty and colourful on your plate, they could help give your body a health boost. Plus, if you run it under the tape before you chop it up, it won’t smell quite as strongly (or make your eyes water) as a white onion.

It’s important – where possible – to eat red onions in their raw state as cooking them in any manner can kill off the goodness.We take a look at just some of the healing properties that the humble veggie has.

Stops cancer cell growth

Red onions are full of sulfur compounds that protect the body from ulcers and various cancers. They can also fight bacteria in the urinary tract. The most important of these compounds is called quercetin – an antioxidant compound that could provide protection against cancer, heart disease and allergies.

Why eating red onions might just be the best thing for your health THE humble vegetable contains plenty of vitamins and minerals to help boost your body.

Health benefits of onions

Meanwhile BBC states

Onions are loaded with plant chemicals including flavonoids, which have both an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. When consumed regularly and in sufficient quantity, these compounds may help protect against chronic conditions such as cancer and diabetes. In fact, onions contain over 25 different flavonoids and are one of the richest sources in our diets.

Onions also have sulfur-containing compounds, which have been demonstrated to be protective against certain cancers. Studies suggest eating onions may help reduce your risk of heart disease by lowering blood pressure, managing cholesterol levels and reducing inflammation.

May support bone health

Including onions in the diet is associated with improved bone density. This may be because of their antioxidant properties, which reduces oxidative stress and appears to reduce bone loss.

A study looking at the effect on peri- and post-menopausal women reported that frequent onion consumption decreased the risk of hip fracture. A further study on middle-aged women showed onion juice consumption reduced bone loss and improved bone density.

May support gut health

Onions are rich in fibre, especially the non-digestible type that is needed to maintain gut health. Although we can’t digest prebiotic fibre, the bacteria that live in our gut do and they use it as fuel to help increase their numbers and produce by-products called short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Research shows that these SCFAs are important for maintaining the health and integrity of the gut and supporting our immunity and digestion.

Antibacterial

Used in folk medicine for the relief of coughs, colds and catarrh, studies support that onions have valuable antibacterial properties against the likes of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphyloccus aureus. What’s more, it’s older, stored onions that appear most potent. Once again, it seems quercetin is of value here, because it has the power to inhibit the growth of Helicobacter pylori and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Are onions safe for everyone?

An allergy to onions is rare, but some people do have a sensitivity to them. As a result, those who are allergic may experience digestive issues, including heartburn and wind. Onions contain FODMAPs , a type of carbohydrate and fibre that some people find their digestive system cannot tolerate. – BBC