Aromatically pungent, these vegetables are often overlooked as nothing but a flavor booster for savory dishes, but they actually offer powerful health benefits for your entire body. They are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and flavonoids, as well as being high in fiber and low in fat for the ultimate health kick.
Here are some of the amazing benefits of eating onions:
- THEY STRENGTHEN YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
Each onion contains up to 18% of your recommended daily dose of Vitamin C, which makes them an excellent addition to your diet to keep your immune system strong. By eating more onions, you will also be increasing your antioxidant intake, which further helps to fight off germs, bacteria, colds and flu.
- THEY KEEP YOUR HEART HEALTHY
Studies have shown that onions are natural blood thinners, which helps to reduce clotting and clumping which can lead to cardiovascular diseases and attacks. They also contain quercetin, which is a flavonol that prevents plaque buildup in your arteries.
- THEY ARE A NATURAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
The flavonol quercetin contained in onion flesh offers your body the antidote to chronic inflammation, assisting to relax blood vessels and relieve tension and swelling where it is needed most. The sulfur compounds also assist in reducing inflammation, being known to relieve the symptoms of arthritis.
- THEY ARE SUPERCHARGED WITH ANTIOXIDANT POWER
Containing some of nature’s most potent antioxidants, the Vitamin C and quercetin in onions helps to combat free radical damage and boost the vitality of the cells in your body. The rich source of sulfur also offers antioxidant power, helping to eliminate and prevent ageing, disease and decay throughout your body.
- THEY ARE AN EXCELLENT SOURCE OF FIBER
One large onion offers up to 10% of your recommended daily dose of dietary fiber, which helps to keep your digestive health in check. Fiber is essential for good health as it helps to cleanse out waste and toxins, while giving you more satiation after every meal.
- THEY HELP YOU TO LOSE WEIGHT
The dense source of fiber is already enough to promote weight loss, but onions further assist you to shed the layers by offering zero fat, low carbohydrate value and just the right amount of essential vitamins and minerals to get you on the path to a lean and healthy physique. All of these nutrients help to manage fluid levels, fat storage and metabolism, which promote weight loss.
- THEY ARE A GREAT SOURCE OF B-VITAMINS
Vitamin B6 is essential for a healthy metabolism, brain, heart and for keeping hormones in balance, and one large onion contains up to 10% of your recommended daily amount of this vitamin. It is also responsible for assisting your body to convert food into energy, promoting nutrient absorption and leading to your ultimate wellbeing.
- THEY BALANCE BLOOD SUGAR
Onions contain sulfur and a compound known as allyl propyl disulphide, which work together to lower blood sugar levels, and to keep it balanced. By regulating blood sugar you will help your body to reduce the risk of developing diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, as well as feeling stable and energized without any spikes or dips.
- THEY DETOXIFY YOUR BODY
Methionine and cystine are two sulfur containing compounds found in excellent doses in onions, and they work to detoxify your body from heavy metals. The rich supply of Vitamin C also helps to release toxins, giving your body a total cleanse from the inside out, and preventing damage from free radicals and heavy metal exposure.
- THEY ARE NATURALLY ANTI-BACTERIAL
The sulphides in onions offer your body the support it needs to fight off bacteria, starting right at ingestion. By eating onions, you offer you teeth and gums a total cleanse, despite the onion breath, as well as cleansing your digestive tract of any harmful bacteria.
- THEY HELP TO FIGHT CANCER
Studies have revealed the anti-cancer properties that the antioxidants and flavonols in onions contain, with quercetin being the most powerful ingredient. This unique compound prevents cancer cells from thriving, and is in its richest form in raw, red onions.
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