5 Health Benefits of Onions

Onions

They make you cry, but we’ve got news that will definitely wipe the tears away: onions are great for your heart, your body, your soul…well, maybe not the soul part, but it’s definitely a leader in keeping us healthy.

Top 5 Health Benefits of Onions

1. Helps with Digestion Problems

Along with garlic, onions are a member of the Allium plant family, plants that have been associated with a lower risk of colon cancer and of relieving gastrointestinal symptoms.

2. Skin of Onions

Before you throw away the onion peel, know that you’re missing out on key nutrients! The skin actually contains dietary fiber and phenolic (aka anticarcinogenic) compounds. Cut the whole onion, including the skin, and add them to your chicken roast.

3. Can Help with Healing

Some studies have shown that onion extract can help prevent scarring after injury.

4. Antioxidant Properties

Onions contain quercetin, an antioxidant that can help prevent allergies, prostate inflammation, cataracts, and many more health issues.

5. Helps with Mood

Onions contain folate, which may help with mood disorders by preventing formation of homocysteine in excess, which prevents blood and some other nutrients from reaching the brain.

How do you like to eat onions? Try them in soups (they’ll melt in your mouth), salads (they’ll add a slice of flavor), and chicken roast meals, and you’ll get flavor with a healthy boost for your body.


Sources:

Mandal, A., “What are Antioxidants?” News Medical; http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-are-Antioxidants.aspx, last accessed April 15, 2013.

“Garlic and cancer prevention,” National Cancer Institute web site, January 22, 2008; http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/garlic-and-cancer-prevention, last accessed April 2013.