Allium and allyl disulphide,
two phytochemical
compounds in onions have
been found to lower the
risk of several types of
cancer, assist in regulating blood sugar, reduce
inflammation and heal
infections. Here’s a
quick look at the incredible
onion benefits for health: 1. Fight Cancer As per a study conducted
by the University of
Guelph, red onions are the
most effective in
destroying breast and
colon cancer cells (3). These onions have high
levels of quercetin and
anthocyanin – two
compounds that contribute
to this characteristic.
Onions activate the pathways that provoke the
cancer cells to kill
themselves. They make the
environment unfavorable
for cancer cells to
communicate, and this inhibits their growth. It was also found that
people with the highest
consumption of onions had
the lowest cancer rates
(4). As a preventative measure, you can have
your burgers garnished
with red onions. [ Read: Healthy Foods To Prevent Cancer ] 2. Improve Heart Health The flavonoids in red
onions can contribute to
heart health (5). Onions are also rich in
organosulfurs, which can
help prevent heart disease.
According to one Argentine
study, intake of the
organosulfur compounds found in onions can cut the
risk of cardiovascular
disease (6). Onions contain thiosulfinates that act as
natural blood thinners and
reduce the risk of heart
attack and stroke. The quercetin in onions
also has the potential to
fight heart disease. It
offers both antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory
properties that promote heart health (7). Onions are also a part of the
French Paradox – they are
an important part of French
cuisine and are thought to
be responsible for the low
incidences of heart disease among the French despite
their high-calorie diet. Onions can also improve cholesterol levels, and this ultimately benefits the
heart. As per a report by
the Cambridge University
Press, the flavonoids in
onions help lower the
levels of LDL (the bad cholesterol) in obese
people (8). Onions also prevent the
blood platelets from
sticking each other, which
can lead to clotting and
eventually, heart attacks.
They also can prevent high blood pressure, thereby averting heart danger.
Another study on rabbits
showed that onions could
prevent atherosclerosis.
They achieve this by
enhancing fibrinolytic (a process that results in the
removal of small blood
clots) activity (9). 3. Lower Blood Sugar
Levels Image: Shutterstock One study has proven that
onion extract can help lower blood sugar levels (10). The study was conducted on diabetic rats,
and the results were
encouraging. One of the
sulfur compounds in onions
(S-methylcysteine) and
quercetin can have beneficial effects on blood
sugar. However, it was
found that onions exhibited
the positive effect only
when taken along with
metformin, the antidiabetic drug. In yet another study,
polyphenols (especially the
ones in onions) were found
to play a role in glycemic
control (11). 4. Promote Healthy
Digestion The digestive benefits of
onions can be attributed to
inulin, a fiber present in
the vegetable. Inulin acts
as a food source for the
beneficial bacteria in the intestines. Consuming this
fiber helps your body
maintain good levels of the
healthy bacteria. However,
the thiosulfinates in onions
can cause harm to these beneficial bacteria (as they
have antibacterial
properties). Hence, if you
are sensitive to the
antibacterial properties of
onions, do consult your doctor. Another soluble fiber in
onions, oligofructose
(which is a sub-group of
inulin), was found to
prevent and treat different
types of diarrhea (12). And the phytochemicals in
onions can cut the risk of gastric ulcers. The natural prebiotics in
onions can also help ease
constipation (13). They are also believed to help treat
stomach ache and stomach
worms, though more
research is warranted. Onion is known to cause
migraine and flatulence in
some people (14). Consult your doctor if this happens. 5. Maintain Bone Health Preliminary research
suggests that onions can
prevent age-related
osteoporosis. According to
Swiss researchers, a
compound in white onions (called GPCS) can reduce
bone loss (15). Though the study was conducted on
rats, it does hold promise
for humans. Another study revealed
that women who ate
onions regularly had 5
percent more bone mass
than those who ate less
(16). Onion consumption was also found to have a
beneficial effect on the
bone density of women
older than 50 years. According to the Arthritis
Foundation, quercetin in
onions can inhibit the
activity of leukotrienes,
prostaglandins, and
histamines (all of which cause inflammation) in
osteoarthritis and
rheumatoid arthritis (17). Onion intake was also
found to help treat joint
pains. [ Read: Foods To Eat For Healthy Bones ] 6. Prevent Inflammation
And Other Allergies We have already seen
quercetin (and other
flavonoids) in onions can
help prevent inflammation.
Onions also treat allergies
by preventing the cells from releasing histamine. Cooking with onions can
help open and drain your sinuses. And the antihistamine properties of
quercetin can also aid in
reducing nasal congestion
(18). Even eating a raw onion at night can help
relieve congestion – the
sulfur-compounds in the
onion can break down the
mucous. Onions also possess
antibacterial properties. As
per one study, onion
extracts acted against
Streptococcus mutans and
Streptococcus sobrinus, the bacteria responsible
for dental caries and other
allergies (19). Onions also possess antibiotic effects
that can accelerate wound
healing (20). 7. Improve Immune
System Onions contain selenium
that stimulates immune
function. The mineral also
prevents excessive
immune response, which
can have adverse effects. Immune cells deficient in
selenium develop and
reproduce inefficiently, and
here’s where onions come
into the picture. Such cells
also have difficulty in producing the important
proteins and transporting
calcium. Onions are also considered
herbal medicine in Russia,
where they are used to
treat cold and flu (21). We also want to talk about
a popular remedy here –
sleeping with onions
underneath your feet,
placing them in your socks.
Does this have benefits? Certain sources say that it
eradicates infection and
hydrates your body. Doing
so can also strengthen your immune system. The reason behind this could
be that the feet contain the
nerve endings of all the
organs of the body. Placing
onions beneath the feet
transfers their beneficial properties to your interiors.
However, there is no
research on this – and we
don’t know how far the
information is true. You can also make onion
tea for treating colds. This
tea gives you an immunity
boost and helps prevent
ailments. Making the tea is
as simple as cutting an onion, boiling it in water,
and drinking the juice. This
acts as a quick remedy for
your cold and other
illnesses. You can also add
other ingredients like ginger for taste. Even onion-honey syrup
works wonders for
common cold symptoms.
Just slice an onion and add
it to a saucepan. To this,
add half a cup of honey. Gently heat until the
onions turn translucent and
soft. Take a spoonful of
this syrup every 3 to 4
hours. For prevention, you
can take 1 or 2 spoonfuls during the flu season. You
can also use white onion
with honey for similar
results. The anti-inflammatory
properties of onions can
also help improve asthma.
This effect can be
attributed to quercetin (an
average onion contains 50 mg of it). 8. Cure Ear Disorders As per one report, though
research is limited, most
parents swear by onions to
cure ear ailments. They
insist that onion juice can
work great to relieve earache. One way to do this is to heat up the onion,
extract some of the juice,
and pour a few drops into
the infected ear. And this
remedy, believe us, goes
back to the 19 century. All you need to do is place
the onion in an oven at
450 F. Let it be for 15 minutes or until it becomes
soft. Take out the onion –
once it’s cool, cut it in half
and squeeze the juice into
a small bowl. You can
strain the juice once, and using a medicinal dropper,
pour a few drops of the
juice into your infected ear
(22). An alternative is to place
onion packs on the
infected ear. Though the
remedy is not scientifically
proven, some people
believe they might work (23). 9. Promote Respiratory
Health According to an American
study, patients with respiratory issues like
asthma and allergic rhinitis can benefit from certain
fruits and vegetables,
onions being one of them
(24). The anti-inflammatory
properties of onions can
also help soothe
respiratory ailments. If you
are suffering from a
respiratory illness, you can simply include onions in
your diet (in addition to
your medication) for
quicker relief (25). Include onions in your salads and
other foods. 10. Improve Sleep Image: Shutterstock Onions contain prebiotics,
which, as per a study, can
improve sleep and even
reduce stress. When the
beneficial bacteria in the
gut digest the prebiotic fiber, they multiply and
improve gut health – and
more importantly, release
metabolic byproducts.
These byproducts can
influence brain function and induce sleep (26). [ Read: Natural Sleep Aids For Insomnia ] 11. Enhance Eye Health The sulfur in onions
improves the health of the
lens of the eye. It
stimulates the production
of a protein named
glutathione, which acts as an antioxidant. Higher
levels of glutathione mean
a reduced risk of
glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts. The selenium in onions
supports the vitamin E in
the eye (which protects the
cells in the eye). As per an Iranian study,
onions can inhibit the
growth of normal eye flora.
This highlights the
possibility of onions being
a potential cure for common eye infections like
conjunctivitis and
blepharitis (27). In the study, onion juice was
used as eye drops – which
resulted in the benefits.
You can try that too, but
we recommend you consult
your health care provider first. Onion extracts can also aid
in preventing the
development of corneal
haze (28). 12. Are Good For Oral
Health Onions contain
thiosulfinates and
thiosulfonates (the sulfur
compounds) that help reduce bacteria that cause
tooth decay. And eating them raw is best – as
cooking might destroy
some of these beneficial
compounds. The vegetable is also rich
in vitamin C that can keep
the teeth healthy (29). It is
also believed that onions
can relieve tooth pain.
However, there is less research on this. But one downside of
onions is that they can
cause bad breath (30). Hence, wash your mouth
thoroughly after consuming
onions – especially if you
are heading to a social
gathering. 13. Aid In Cholera
Treatment Onions were found to have
an inhibitory effect against
V. cholerae, the microbe
responsible for cholera.
This can be attributed to
the antibacterial effects of the vegetable (31). 14. Prevent Blood Clots Onions contain a
compound called rutin,
which can help prevent
blood from clotting. In
numerous mice studies,
rutin was found to be the most potent anti-thrombotic
compound (32). Clots occur in the arteries and
veins – in arteries, the clots
are platelet-rich while in
veins they are fibrin-rich. The rutin in onions helps
block an enzyme (protein
disulfide isomerase), which
is released very quickly
when blood clots form (33). 15. Give An Energy
Boost The fiber in onions slows
digestion and keeps the
energy levels stable. The
inulin in the vegetable
helps maintain your
stamina levels. [ Read: Best Foods To Increase Your Stamina ] 16. Improve s*xual
Health Onions are one of the
herbal medicines used in
western Uganda for
managing s*xual
impotence and erectile
dysfunction (34). Even otherwise, the vegetable is
known to have benefits for
men. Taking onion juice
with honey is known to
increase fertility in men. 17. Enhance Brain Health Research suggests that the
antioxidants in onions bind
with the harmful toxins in
the brain and flush them
out of the body. And the
sulfur-containing compounds in onions can
slow down age-related
memory loss. The extracts
of onions have been found
to maintain the
hippocampus. However, a part of these memory
fighting properties might
be lost upon cooking.
Hence, try your best to eat
the fruit raw. Another sulfur-compound
in onions, named di-n-
propyl trisulfide, improves
memory impairment (35). Onions are also believed to
treat dizziness, epilepsy,
and vertigo – though we
have limited research on
this. 18. Help Cure Fever Image: Shutterstock Onion can be included as a
food ingredient to cure
fever (36). It can also prevent or treat nose bleeding, given its natural fumes, which can help the
blood clot (externally). 19. Reduce Oxidative
Stress According to a Chinese
study, taking onion juice
can help modulate
oxidative stress (37). In yet another study, it was found
that onions can also lower
diabetes-induced oxidative
stress. The quercetin in
the vegetable can prevent
diseases related to oxidative stress. It also
protects the DNA against
damage from oxidative
stress (38). Another Argentine study
attributes the ability of
onions to reduce oxidative
stress to their anti-
inflammatory and
antioxidant properties (39). 20. Ease Menopause
Symptoms Onions help during
menopause as they
support the liver and get
rid of the waste hormones
(40). Taking enough calcium is also imperative
during this period. Onions
contain calcium too and
can help in this regard
(41). Back To TOC What Are The
Benefits Of Onions
For Skin? This is where we see the
benefits of an onion face
mask. Check out different
ways of using onion for
skin care. 21. Make Skin Glow Onions are packed with
vitamins A, C, and E – all of
which contribute to skin
health. They protect the
skin from premature aging
that is caused by free radicals. And since the
vegetable is a powerful
antiseptic, it can also
shield the skin from
bacteria that cause issues.
And by the way, research says that vitamin C is
important for imparting a
glow to the skin. This onion face mask does
the trick – all you need are
2 tablespoons of gram
flour, 1 1/2 tablespoons of
onion juice (freshly
extracted), 1/2 teaspoon of milk, and a pinch of
nutmeg. Mix all the ingredients till
you get a thick paste. You
can add extra milk if the
pack becomes too thick.
And in case the smell of
onions is too much to take, you can add a few drops of
lavender essential oil to
the pack. Cleanse your
face, and apply the mask
evenly to your face and
neck. After the mask dries (which might take about 20
minutes), remove it by
gently massaging it off the
skin with milk. This mask not only adds
glow to your skin but also
exfoliates it. 22. Fight The Effects Of
Aging Onions possess enormous
anti-aging benefits. The
antioxidant vitamins A, C,
and E fight against the
damage caused by the
harmful UV rays as well as prevent free radical
damage that is responsible
for causing premature
aging of our skin. Onion is
one of the richest sources
of quercetin, the most powerful antioxidant that
can keep your skin wrinkle-
free. Vitamins and sulfur,
on the other hand, protect
your skin and keep it soft
and supple. The anti-aging qualities of onion can be
attributed to the presence
of sulfur-rich
phytochemicals. Massaging your skin with
fresh onion juice helps
increase blood circulation
and improves the overall
appearance of your skin by
imparting a more youthful and radiant appearance to
it. [ Read: Nutritious Foods To Fight Aging ] 23. Treat Acne Image: Shutterstock The antimicrobial,
antibacterial, and anti-
inflammatory qualities of
onion can work wonders
on your skin. It is a
powerful antiseptic that protects your skin from
acne-causing bacteria and
other skin infections.
Onions can be used in the treatment of acne and
pimples. For this purpose, you can
mix 1 tablespoon of onion
juice or extract with 1
tablespoon of olive oil and
apply it to your face. Leave
it on for 20 minutes and then wash it off. Apart
from topical application,
the regular consumption of
onion can also give you
miraculous results in the
case of acne. Certain individuals claim that
rubbing onions on your
face can give good results.
You can probably give it a
try and check – there is no
harm anyway. And for treating acne
scars, you can use onion
extract. Or you can look for
creams that have onion
extract as one of the
ingredients. 24. Remove Dark Spots
And Treat Skin
Pigmentation Onion juice is excellent for getting rid of dark spots and pigmentation. The rich
variety of phytonutrients
and antioxidants in onion
nourish your skin while
removing the skin
impurities. You can prepare an onion
face mask by mixing equal
quantities of onion juice
and fresh yogurt. You can
also add a few drops of
any essential oil for a pleasant aroma. Massage
your face with this mixture,
using gentle circular
movements for 10 to 15
minutes. This should be
done daily for best results. 25. Treat Stings And
Bites Onions can be used to
soothe stings and bug
bites. All you need to do is
place an onion slice on
your sting or bite. The anti-
inflammatory properties of onion help in reducing the
burn, itchiness, and
swelling caused by the bites of insects and bugs. 26. Help Get Rid Of
Moles You can use onion juice to
get rid of moles too. The
acidity of the onion juice
and the chemicals in it can
heal moles as well. All you
have to do is dab some fresh onion juice on your
mole. Allow it to absorb
the juice. In most cases,
the treatment was found to
remove the mole in a
month. But since each mole is
different, do talk to your
doctor if you don’t see the
right results. Back To TOC What Are The
Benefits For Hair? Here, we talk about onion
hair packs. But hey, even
consuming raw onions can
have benefits for your hair
– they can improve hair
health and appearance. Here’s a
quick glimpse at their
incredible advantages of
onion for hair. 27. Promote Hair Growth Image: Shutterstock The number one reason
onion juice is good for hair
growth is it contains sulfur,
which is also found in
amino acids. And keratin
(an important protein) is also sulfur-rich and is
required for strong hair.
When applied to the scalp,
onion juice provides this
extra sulfur for stronger
and thicker hair. This sulfur can also stimulate
collagen production –
which, in turn, aids in the
production of healthy skin
cells, and, hair growth (by
default, treating hair thinning too). Applying onion juice to hair
and scalp can increase
blood supply to the hair
follicles, enhancing hair
growth. It can also give
you voluminous hair. In one study, participants
who washed their hair with
onion juice had
experienced more hair
growth than those who
hadn’t (42). However, more research is required.
But then, using onion juice
on your hair is not harmful. You can simply massage
fresh onion juice into your
scalp and hair. Leave it on
for 15 minutes, post which
you can wash as usual
using a shampoo. [ Read: How To Use Onion Juice For Hair Growth ] 28. Help Treat Dandruff Onion juice can work as a
great dandruff healer. It can kill the bacteria that
promotes the growth of
dandruff. And an onion
hair pack does the job
pretty well. You need onion juice and
fenugreek seeds. Take 3
tablespoons of fenugreek
seeds and soak them in
water overnight. The next
day, grind them into a fine paste, and to this, add 2
tablespoons of fresh onion
juice. Mix well and apply
the pack to your scalp.
Leave it on for 30 minutes,
post which you can rinse with lukewarm water. Apart from dandruff,
onions can help treat other
scalp infections as well.
Use this remedy for
treating scalp infections
and enhancing scalp health. This remedy also
acts as a wonderful hair
conditioner. Even onion paste can do
the job. Crush half an
onion and make a paste
(after adding water). Apply
to the scalp. Leave it on for
about 20 minutes and rinse with water. In case onions make you
uncomfortable, you can
replace them with garlic.
Simply mix garlic juice
(from crushed garlic
cloves) with coconut oil and apply to your hair and
massage as usual. You
can shampoo later. Garlic
also works great for hair
care. 29. Help Reverse Gray
Hair Though there is no
research on this, certain
proponents claim its
efficacy. Just add 5 onions
to a liter of water and boil
for about 10 minutes. Strain the mixture after it
cools down. Apply it to the
scalp along with the
shampoo. If the smell of
onions doesn’t bother you,
you can also wash your hair the next morning. You will first see the sheen
of your hair improving in 2
months. The graying also might start getting
reversed. 30. Maintain Hair Color You can apply onion juice
on your hair to impart a
nice coppery shade as well
as to make your hair
glossy. However, if you
wish to maintain the natural color of your hair,
you can blend an onion
with an adequate amount
of mustard oil and apply it
to your hair. The mustard
oil will suppress the color- lightening effect of onion. 31. Eliminate Head Lice The sulfur in onions helps eliminate head lice. You just have to grind 4 to 5
onions to make a paste.
Transfer this paste to a
sieve and press with a
spoon to extract the juice.
Now, massage your head with juice, post which you
can cover your head with a
shower cap. Leave it on for
about 2 hours. Shampoo
your hair with lukewarm
water. Dry your hair, and using a nit comb, remove
the head lice. You can repeat the
treatment daily for 3
consecutive days. After
this, you can do it once a
week for 2 months.
