Not sure why you should eat onions? | Here are 8 health benefits to convince you

Onions complement our food and make our taste buds tingle. However, that is not all they are good for. They have various benefits that are very beneficial to our health. I will be looking closely at the top 8 health benefits attached to eating onions.

Onions belong to the lily (Liliaceae) family, the same as garlic. Onions have different nutrients some of which include potassium, folates, vitamins A, C, and E, calcium, magnesium, and so on.

Can everyone eat onions?

Most people can eat onions. At the same time, some are allergic to them although allergies to onions are very rare.

Those allergic to onions can experience digestive problems some of which include heartburn and wind.

Onions contain FODMAPs, a type of carbohydrate and fiber that some people’s digestive systems cannot tolerate.

Best way to eat onions?

Onions can be eaten cooked or raw. Personally, I prefer eating my onions cooked but according to a clinical nutritionist, Dr. Lovneet Batra, eating raw onion is better because it contains more sulfur and antioxidants.

Health benefits of eating onions

There are various health benefits to eating onions but in this piece, I will be discussing the top 8 benefits.

1. It improves immunity

Onions contain antioxidants that can help boost the immune system. A study published in the journal of Mediators of Inflammation claims that onion’s chemical composition is so strong that it helps in immune enhancement and also has anti-cancer properties.

2. Onions improves the heart health

Onions reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. They are a rich source of flavonoids and thiosulfinates. Flavonoids in onion help reduce bad cholesterol in your body while thiosulfinates are known to keep the consistency of the blood right, much like a blood thinner.

3. They can give you good vision

Onions contain selenium that helps in the production of vitamin E. This in turn helps fight any eye problem. As a matter of fact, some eye drops contain extract of onions.

4. Onions improves sexual performance

According to a study published in the journal Biomolecules, onions can help battle erectile dysfunction. Also, it helps increase the level of testosterone in men. If your partner is not doing well sexually, get him to start eating onions.

5. They help in easing menopause symptoms

The presence of calcium in onions helps in easing postmenopausal symptoms. So, therefore, eating raw onions will help get rid of menopause symptoms.

6. It can improve your oral health

This will come as a shock to most of us because some avoid onions due to the bad breath it leaves us with. However, thanks to the presence of vitamin C in onions, it is very good for our oral hygiene.

7. Onions can give you healthy bones

One onion is believed to contain at least 25.3 mg of calcium and we know calcium helps in building strong bones. Adding onions to your meal guarantees healthy bones.

8. It fights respiratory problems

Due to the presence of flavonoids, when patients with asthma eat onion, they breathe easily. This is because it has a relaxing effect on the muscles of the isolated trachea. Also, onion is an anti-allergen.