Health Benefits of Onions

Though onions have a pungent smell and a tendency to bring tears to our eyes, onion is one of the most popular vegetables in the world! There are various types of onions like red onions, green onions, purple onions etc. Are onions good for you? Well, of course they are! Along with satisfying your taste buds, one more very important aspect of onions is that, there are many health benefits of onions. They help in curing a number of diseases and also reducing the possibility of diseases like cancer.

What Do Onions Contain?
Onion contains almost all the nutrients that are required by the body. The water content in onion is almost 80%. The nutrients found in onions are carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Minerals like phosphorous, zinc and potassium are present in onions as well. Onion also contains calcium and vitamins.

Health Benefits of Onions
The list of number of diseases onions can cure, or at least, prevent is quite long. Onions can help to prevent a number of ailments, ranging from asthma to sinus infections. Following are a few diseases which can be avoided, or cured using onions.

Prevention of Asthma: If you are suffering from asthma, onions are definitely good for you. For a simple home remedy on preventing an asthma attack, add half a tablespoon of onion juice with half a tablespoon of honey, and have the mixture three to four times daily. This mixture will help keep future asthma attacks at bay.

Preventing Osteoporosis: You may be surprised to know that one of the onions health benefits is prevention of osteoporosis. Recent research in Switzerland shows that onion contains a peptide called GCP which is said to prevent osteoporosis. So if you want to keep this dreaded bone disease at bay, eat onions!

Reducing Diabetes: Reducing symptoms of diabetes is one of the health benefits of onions. Onions have the ability to reduce blood sugar levels. Allyl propyl disulfide and diallyl disulfide in the onions are believed to lower blood sugar levels. They also help to increase the production of insulin. Consume onions with garlic to enhance the effect of onions for prevention of diabetes.

Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases: One more health benefits of onions is that they prevent Cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and arteriosclerosis. Onions contain a number of sulfides and flavonoids (quercetin) that can prevent heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases. Quercetin also helps to reduce the level of cholesterol. Quercetin is found more in red onions. So have more red onions than other onions, if you are suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

Prevention of Cancer: Cancer prevention is one of the best health benefits of onions. Onions contain antioxidants like quercetin and phenol which reduce the possibility of cancer, especially cancer in the head and neck region. Are onions healthy to eat? Well, if onions can help prevent cancer, then they are surely healthy to eat, isn't it?

Curing Sinus Infections: For centuries, the Chinese have been using onions to mitigate sinus infections. Reduction of sinus infections is one of the spring onion health benefits, as spring onions prove more beneficial in curing sinus infections than other onions. Chinese put the juice of spring onions in the nostrils with the help of cotton. However, just smelling cut onion is also helpful in cases of sinus infections.

Curing Insomnia: The easiest and cheapest way to bring back sleep is onions! Onions health benefits also include curing insomnia. Just put slices of onion in a jar and inhale the smell before going to bed. You will be asleep in barely fifteen minutes!

So the question, are onions good for you, should have been answered. Apart from these major onion health benefits, there are some other health benefits also, like reduction of feet swelling. Though all onions have health benefits, some types of onions are more effective for certain conditions. E.g. green onions health benefits include reduction in feet swelling and treatment of common cold better than other types of onions. Similarly, purple onion health benefits includes treatment of diarrhea better than other onion types. These are some of the many well-known onion health benefits. So, are onions healthy for you? After reading this article you can definitely say that onions are healthy for everyone!