Whether you love them or hate them, onions are an anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer superfood. Onion nutrition includes powerful antioxidants that help protect the body from inflammation, disease and even neurodegenerative disorders. Thanks to their protective properties, onion health benefits include the ability to fight cancer, protect the heart, defend the body from respiratory infections and more.
Onion Health Benefits
1. Help Fight Cancer
Onions are known as a cancer-fighting food, thanks to the powerful antioxidants they contain. Onions health benefits include the ability to prevent cell damage. The sulfur compounds they contain help prevent the growth of tumors and cancer development. Research has shown a link between the frequency of consuming onions and other allium vegetables and a reduced risk of several cancers. (1)
2. Protect the Heart
Onion health benefits include cardiovascular protection. The antioxidants they contain help reduce the risk of blood clots and naturally lower blood pressure. Onion nutrition works to improve blood circulation and reduce oxidative stress to prevent damage caused by free radicals.
3. Help Maintain Strong Bones
Onion heath benefits include the ability to protect the bones from fractures by increasing bone mineral density. Studies have shown a link between frequency of onion consumption and increased bone density in women. Onion nutrition includes bone-building substances that help treat osteoporosis and reverse bone loss. (2)
4. Help Prevent or Manage Diabetes
Research has shown that onion health benefits include the ability to help fight diabetes. Onion nutrition includes chromium, which works to control blood glucose levels. Studies suggest adding onions to your diet may help reverse diabetes. (3)
5. Lower the Risk of Arthritis and Asthma
Onion health benefits include the ability to reduce the risk of arthritis. Onion nutrition includes quercetin, a compound that works to inhibit inflammation and prevent joint pain. As a powerful anti-inflammatory food, onion health benefits also include the ability to reduce the risk of asthma.
6. Defend the Body Against Respiratory Infections
Thanks to the phytonutrients it contains, onion health benefits include the ability to defend the body from respiratory infections. The phytonutrients in onions help strengthen the immune system, fight inflammation and speed healing. Eating onions on a a regular basis may help increase the body’s ability to fight colds and other respiratory illnesses. The anti-inflammatory properties of onions help reduce mucus in the nasal passages, lungs and respiratory system to improve breathing and promote healing.
7. May Help Improve Fertility in Men
Studies suggest than onion health benefits may include the ability to improve fertility in men. The antioxidants that onions contain help protect the body from disease. According to research from Azad University in Iran, animal studies showed that onions have the ability to help increase total testosterone levels, as well as sperm concentration, viability and mobility. (4)