Health benefits of onions

You are probably using onion on a regular basis in your diet, but do you know anything about its curative powers? Onions are part of the allium family of vegetables and herbs, which also includes chives, garlic, scallions and leeks. The possible health benefits of consuming onions include lowering the risk of several types of cancer, improving mood and maintaining the health of skin and hair. Onions are a nutrient-dense food, meaning that while they are low in calories they are high in beneficial nutrients like vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Onions are also a source of the strong antioxidant vitamin C that helps to combat the formation of free radicals known to cause cancer. (1) Colon cancer: High fiber intakes from all fruits and vegetables are associated with a lowered risk of colorectal cancer. (2) Prostate cancer: Researchers found that men with the highest intake of allium vegetables had the lowest risk for prostate cancer(3) Esophageal and stomach cancer: Frequent intake of allium vegetables has been inversely related with the risk of esophageal and stomach cancer. Several survey-based human studies have demonstrated the potential protective effects of consuming alliums, as well as reports of tumor inhibition following administration of allium compounds in experimental animals. (4) Sleep and mood: Folate, found in onions, may help with depression by preventing an excess of homocysteine from forming in the body, which can prevent blood and other nutrients from reaching the brain. Excess homocysteine interferes with the production of the feel-good hormones serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which regulate not only mood, but also sleep and appetite as well. (5) Skin and hair: Adequate intake of vitamin C is needed for the building and maintenance of collagen, which provides structure to skin and hair. ...

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