Onions are among the most popular go-to spices and herbs in almost every dish, and it is highly understandable why it is. These eatable bulb-like perennial herbs produce that distinct savory aroma in food recipes.

They create that exquisitely piquant smack or taste in cooking. Hence, they are typically present in all kinds of food preparations, such as broiling, frying, stewing, grilling, or roasting.

That is why onions have become one of the most conventional and favored staples in cookeries. Apart from adding tasty flavor and smell in cooking, they also add pleasant texture and intricacy in the food recipes. Most of all, onion bulbs offer a great variety of health benefits. With that said, we list down below some of the essential strong points and details about onions.

Health benefits

For people who love to cook, it’s no longer a surprise that these cute little bulb-shaped spiced herbs do not only provide striking taste, fragrance, and consistency in cooking and other food preparations, but as well as, offer a lot of benefits health-wise.

So, we opted to list down for you some of the many health benefits that onion bulbs offer, and why they are more than just staple spices and herbs in cookeries.

Contribute to a healthy immune system

Nutrients-filled onions help in regulating and strengthening our body’s immune system. They are rich in ascorbic acid or Vitamin C, which are excellent immune-system-nurturing antioxidants. Therefore, onion bulbs protect our health by blocking the free radicals, which are cell-damaging molecules, causing disorder around the body, and thus, damage.

Aid skin’s elasticity and vitality

The Vitamin C found in these little bulb-looking herbs can also help in the proper production of collagen in the body and fixing damaged tissues. Among the most vital parts of the skin structure, is the collagen, which contains the protein property responsible for our skin’s elasticity called elastin.

So, why do we need to have our skin elastic? The answer to that lies beyond our skin’s rejuvenation. Elasticity helps in bringing back the vitality of our original skin after contraction or laceration. It restores the natural state of our skin.

Boost our metabolism

With the Vitamin B nutrients, these cute little bulb-looking spiced herbs boost our body’s metabolism. So, when our metabolism is doing perfectly well, then we expect a regular bowel movement. Thus, making us healthier, stronger, and more fit and active as body toxins are out.

Promote further normal functioning cells

The potassium in onion balls is an essential mineral in promoting further normal functioning of our cells in the body. When our cells are operating effectively, there will be proper regulation of our body’s fluid balance and nerve signal transmission. Furthermore, it stimulates the appropriate functions of our kidney and contractions of our muscles.

Advocate normal blood pressure

Onion bulbs contain a variety of minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients that back up the proper functioning of our body, and that includes lowering our blood pressure. Thus, advocating a normal blood pressure level. By saying that, onions also immensely helped in water retention and stroke prevention. Hence, the reason why onions are present in traditional medicine and home remedy.

Stimulate strong bones

Dairy food may get a lot of the credit for stronger bones, but herbs and spices, like onions, can also stimulate bone health by helping in making the bones stronger with all the nutrients they contain. Supporting to that fact are the studies conducted by various health experts on onions.

They revealed that onions helped in boosting the mineral density of the bones, creating well-built and structured bones, and thus, lessen the chances of hip fractures for older women. Consequently, preventing the development of osteoporosis, in the process.

Encourage glucose control

Health experts found out after conducting a series of studies involving people who are diabetic or prediabetic that adding onions to their food recipe highly contributed to glucose control. Experts also revealed that onions contain anti-diabetic properties. Moreover, the essential compound in onions proved to interact well with the body’s fat tissue, liver, pancreas, small intestine, and skeletal muscles that encourage glucose control regulation in the body.

Support the heart

Provided with all the nutrients, this favorite go-to spice of cooking enthusiasts also showed significant support to a healthy heart by reducing the risks of cardiovascular diseases.

Pushes for cancer prevention

This tiny super herb highly gets associated with lowering the risks of cancers. As it boosts our metabolism, it prevents the development of any cancerous cells. The compounds and anti-oxidants found in the onion promote cancer prevention.

Flourish overall body health

Adding onions to our recipe is also a great way to aid in the proper absorption of iron in the body. Our body needs to adequately absorb iron because our red blood cells need it to transport much-needed oxygen. It is as crucial as staying alive. Therefore, boosting energy in our body.

In other words, onion bulbs are more than just our most favorite spice, as they offer a great deal of health-giving advantages to our body and well-being. By adding a pinch or a ball of it into our food recipe, we can already receive healthful benefits that lead to the overall health of our body.

Risk/Side Effects (Disadvantages of Onion)

Nonetheless, like almost any herbs and spices, onion bulbs can also produce risks or side effects when mishandled or misused. So, we provided a list for you on the disadvantages of onion to help you further understand what you need to do, what to avoid, or how to use it in the process.

Irritating skin

Onions can create irritation to the skin, especially if they’re applied excessively as a topical substance. They can also result in eczema or other skin allergies after following contact with the skin. If you have an allergic reaction to onions, then do not use it. For other people, you may use it but with extra care and in moderation.

Hurtful to the eyes

In as much as onions produce that strong and sharp aroma, it is also painful to the eyes. Thus, causing your eyes to tears when they get exposed to the bulb-shaped spice. However, slicing or cutting onions near flowing water does the trick. So, you can slice your onions near the water faucet to avoid the tangy sensation to your eyes.

Stomachache

Eating onions directly and excessive intake may cause distress in your stomach. People who have high stomach sensitivity may not or minimize the consumption of onions. Better yet, add it to your favorite food recipe to avoid unnecessary stomachache.

Slow the blood clot

People with bleeding disorders should avoid using onions as medicine. Research studies revealed that onions have the possibilities to slow the blood clot, which helps in repairing wounds and other forms of bleeding. So, people who have bleeding disorders should not use onions as medicine, at any cost. Nonetheless, they can still have a mouthful of recipes with a bit of onion in it.

Hypoglycemia

Diabetic people shouldn’t eat more than the required amount of intake because it can lead to hypoglycemia. In as much as onions can help in improving our glucose level, they can also lower it down. So, regular checking of your blood sugar is advisable.

Nutrition info / nutrition facts

Onion bulbs do not only add spice, flavor, aroma, and texture to our food recipes, but they also have plenty of nutritional values that promote good health and overall well-being. By saying so, here are the essential nutrients that make this cute herb a super powerful spice.

Anti-oxidant compounds and properties (25 varieties of flavonoids, Vitamin E, and others)

Ascorbate or Vitamin C

Calcium

Potassium

Protein

Iron

Low in sodium

Low in calories

Fiber

Vitamin B (B9, B6, and others)

Anti-inflammatory

Onionin A

Prebiotics

This bulb-looking favorite spice in cookeries contains wide-ranging nutrients that help fight bacteria and improve our body’s overall health.

Which onion is healthiest?

According to the research studies administered by health experts, red onions showed as the healthiest onions in the family. Red onions have more or higher anti-oxidant effects and properties.

They contain less sugar and higher flavonoids compared to the other varieties. The red onion bulbs also provide higher cancer and blood-thinning protection. Most of all, they also have a better source of dietary fiber than the rest of all types of onions.

Is onion good for the liver?

A few good vegetables, like the perennial herbs called onions, are good for the liver. They have anti-oxidants and other nutritional compounds that can eliminate toxins out of the body. Red onions are famous and effective in food detox. You can caramelize an onion, add it to your food recipe, or whichever you like it to obtain the powerful anti-oxidant effects it offers.

What happens if you eat onions every day?

Daily intake of onions is great for the health, as these spice herbs offer a variety of health benefits to our body, such as skin elasticity, lower cholesterol, maintain normal blood pressure, and others. However, the proper amount is important in eating onions every day. People with diabetes should take extra caution in eating onions because it can make their blood sugar level really low.

Are onions good for diabetics?

Yes, a study conducted in 2012 revealed that among the many health benefits of onion bulbs is increasing the low levels of men’s testosterone, which is important for men’s sperm production as well as in building bone density and muscle mass. Testosterone can also affect men’s appearance and drive. So, if men want to increase their testosterone level, they should drink fresh juice of onions for one month.

Do Onions increase testosterone?

Yes, a study conducted in 2012 revealed that among the many health benefits of onion bulbs is increasing the low levels of a men’s testosterone, which is important for the men’s sperm production as well as in building bone density and muscle mass. Testosterone can also affect men’s appearance and drive. So, if men want to increase their testosterone level, they should drink fresh juice of onions for one month.

Do onions remove toxins from your body?

Onion bulbs have plenty of compound nutrients, including the sulphuric compounds that give off the strong smell, which can remove toxins from our body. Onions are rich in nutrients that enable the elimination of toxins from the body with its effective properties for metabolic and kidney functions. With onions, you will have a proper bowel movement and urinary flow. Thus, removing toxic wastes from your body.

Is onion good for skin?

One of the active substances or properties in onions is Vitamin C, which promotes proper collagen production that our body needs. The collagen contains a protein that provides our skin the elasticity to recover from any sort of lacerations or wounds. It rejuvenates the skin. So, onion is good for the skin. However, there are individuals who are sensitive to onions. In this case, they should as much as possible avoid using onions. Other people may also apply it excessively on their skin, which is not advisable, as it will create skin irritations.

Conclusion

Altogether, onion bulbs offer that exquisite, distinguished flavor, smell, and appearance to your food recipes. Hence, they are among the most excellent spices and herbs in the cookeries because of the mentioned qualities they possessed.

But more than that, these super-small perennial spice herbs are great sources too to many health benefits that keep our immune system healthy, our blood pressure normal, our blood sugar stable, our metabolism effective, our heart-healthy, and our kidney well-functioning.

Lastly, they provide the essential absorption of iron that our red blood cells needed to function well in order to effectively transport our much-needed oxygen in the body. Thus, giving us the strength and energy that we need to go through the day every day.

Nevertheless, for people with illnesses, such as diabetes and allergies, it is a must that you should consume onions with proper caution to your health condition because eating more than the allowable daily intake may trigger side effects and other health disadvantages that may compromise you, in the long run.