Why are Onions Good for You?

Why Are Onions Good for You?

Onions belong to the Allium family of plants, which also includes chives, garlic, and leeks. These vegetables have characteristic pungent flavors and some medicinal properties.

Onions vary in size, shape, color, and flavor. The most common types are red, yellow, and white onions. The taste of these vegetables can range from sweet and juicy to sharp, spicy, and pungent, often depending on the season in which people grow and consume them.

Farmers have cultivated allium vegetables for centuries. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, China is the biggest producer of onions worldwide.

It is common knowledge that chopping onions cause watery eyes. However, onions may also provide potential health benefits. These may include reducing the risk of several types of cancer, improving mood, and maintaining skin and hair health.

This article discusses the possible benefits of onions, their nutritional content, and how to include more of them in the diet.

Why are onions good for you?

Medically reviewed by Miho Hatanaka, RDN, L.D. — Written by Megan Ware, RDN, L.D. on November 15, 2019

Benefits

Nutrition

Risks

Why does chopping onions cause tears?

Diet

Onions belong to the Allium family of plants, which also includes chives, garlic, and leeks. These vegetables have characteristic pungent flavors and some medicinal properties.

Onions vary in size, shape, color, and flavor. The most common types are red, yellow, and white onions. The taste of these vegetables can range from sweet and juicy to sharp, spicy, and pungent, often depending on the season in which people grow and consume them.

Farmers have cultivated allium vegetables for centuries. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, China is the biggest producer of onions worldwide.

It is common knowledge that chopping onions cause watery eyes. However, onions may also provide potential health benefits. These may include reducing the risk of several types of cancer, improving mood, and maintaining skin and hair health.

This article discusses the possible benefits of onions, their nutritional content, and how to include more of them in the diet.

Benefits

Onions might have positive effects on several different aspects of health.

Cancer Prevention

The antioxidants in onions may help counter free radical compounds.

Researchers have examined allium vegetables extensively about cancer, especially stomach and colorectal cancers.

Cancer prevention

A 2019 study in the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology compared 833 people with colorectal cancer with 833 people who did not have the disease.

The researchers found that the risk of colorectal cancer was 79% lower in those who regularly consumed allium vegetables, such as onions.

Experts do not fully understand the exact mechanism by which some compounds in onions inhibit cancer. Some hypothesize that onions inhibit tumor growth and cell mutation.

One cup of chopped onions also provides at least 13.11%Trusted Source of an adult’s recommended daily intake of vitamin C. As antioxidants trusted Source, this vitamin helps counter the formation of free radical compounds with links to cancer.

One review from 2015Trusted Source found a general relationship between increased consumption of allium vegetables and a reduced risk of cancer, especially cancers of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract.

The authors note that there are compounds called organosulfur in onions, some of which suppressed aspects of tumor growth. However, they conclude that not all organosulfur has antioxidant properties.

Further research is necessary to confirm which compounds in onion have protective effects against cancer.

The review also highlighted gaps in the research to date. The authors suggested that onions and other allium vegetables prevent cancer in isolation but work in tandem with other lifestyle factors to reduce the risk.

They also advised that while research has revealed some associations between allium vegetable consumption and reduced cancer risk, the amount that a person needs to consume to get the maximum benefit is not yet clear

.

Skin and Hair

As a good source of vitamin C, onions may support the building and maintenance of collagen.

Collagen provides structure to skin and hair.