Calories in White Onions

Onion belongs to the genus Allium, and it is a common food item which is added to fresh salads, cooked food, and spicy mouth-watering dishes. Onions vary in size and taste. The smallest variety of onions is known as the cocktail onion. The skin of the onion can be white, pink, or red. Freshly picked onions are referred to as green onions. Dry onions have a longer shelf life. Baby onions, boiling onions, cipollini, yellow onions, pearl onions, etc., are some of the popular varieties of onions. White onions are those onions which have white skin and white flesh. The flavor of white onions is sharper and more pungent than yellow onions, but they have comparatively tender and thinner skin than their cousins, the yellow onions.

How Many Calories in White Onions

White onion calories may vary according to the variety and size of the onion.

• A medium white onion (100 g) contains: 42 calories
• 3 oz. raw white onions contain: 36 calories
• 1 oz or 28 g of boiled white onion contains: 12 calories
• 1 cup chopped white onion (160 g) contains: 64 calories
• 1 serving of thick white onion soup contains: 50 calories
• 1 tbsp. of chopped white onion contains: 4 calories
• ½ cup chopped white onion contains: 32 calories

White Onion Nutrition Facts

As the calories in onions are low, they are included in all types of weight loss diets. About 1 cup (160 g) chopped white onion contains only 1 g fat. Onions are low in fat, cholesterol and sodium. They contain 15 g carbohydrates, 2 g proteins, and 3 g dietary fiber. They are a good source of vitamin C, calcium and iron. The volatile sulfur in onions makes you cry. To avoid these teary eyes, you should peel the onions in cold water.

White Onion Health Benefits

Onions exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. They help lower swelling in the feet. They are a good source of polyphenols and flavonoids. Red onions are richer in these elements than white onions. Onions have been used as a medicine since thousands of years. Onion juice, when taken with honey in equal proportions, helps reduce the severity of an asthma attack. Studies show that a peptide called GCP, which is found in onions, helps prevent osteoporosis (low bone density). Two important elements, allyl propyl disulfide and diallyl disulfide in onions, help stabilize blood sugar levels. Onions, especially red onions, help lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases like hypertension and arteriosclerosis. Antioxidants quercetin and phenol from onions help cancel the harmful effects of free radicals in the body, and thus protect you from various diseases and disorders, even cancer. Onion paste applied on the skin helps lower high fever. One or two drops of spring onion in the nostrils helps lower the symptoms of sinusitis. It is believed that inhaling onion before going to bed helps cure insomnia.

White onions are used to make French onion soup. White onions turn brownish when you sauté them. They carry a strong flavor and are an invariable part of Mexican food. Asians also consume white onions on a large scale. Some of the varieties of white onions are quite sweet. Onions which are more pungent than the sweet white onions, enjoy a longer shelf life. Onions need to be stored in a cool, dry, and airy space, and not in the refrigerator. All the above information on the calories in white onions, besides their other benefits, should encourage you to include them in your diet and cooking. Onions belong to the group of low calorie healthy foods, as they exhibit several medicinal properties.