Not only delicious food, the benefits of onions for health are also not small. Various nutritional content in it is known to be good for preventing osteoporosis and cancer, as well as maintaining heart health.
Onions are one of the types of onions that are easily found in Indonesia. Just like onions and garlic, onions are also often used as a spice to add flavor to dishes.
Nutritional Content in Onions
The benefits that onions can provide cannot be separated from the nutritional content in them. The following are some of the nutrients contained in onions:
- Carbohydrate
- Protein
- Fiber
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Iron
- Zinc
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B6
Not only that, onions also contain organic sulfur compounds and various types of antioxidants, such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, and antioxidants. quercetin.
Benefits of Onions for Health
Due to its diverse nutritional content, there are several benefits that can be obtained from consuming onions, including:
1. Healthy digestion
Onions are one of the plants that are rich in fiber. Thanks to this content, onions are good for consumption to smooth bowel movements and prevent constipation.
The fiber content in onions also has prebiotic properties that can support the growth of good bacteria in the intestines and nourish the digestive tract.
2. Maintain heart health
Several studies show that the nutritional content in onions can prevent blood clots and reduce the buildup of fat in the blood vessels.
Not only that, onions are also rich in content quercetin, one type of antioxidant that can lower high blood pressure.
The combination of these benefits makes onions good for consumption to maintain heart health and prevent various types of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke.
3. Control blood sugar levels
Not only lowering the risk of heart disease, onions are also believed to control blood sugar levels while increasing insulin levels in the body. These benefits make onions good for consumption by people with type 2 diabetes.
4. Maintain bone health
The next benefit of onions is to maintain bone health. This is supported by several studies that prove that regular consumption of onions can increase bone density.
In fact, there are also studies that show onions can reduce the risk of hip fractures in women who have entered menopause.
Thus, onions can be consumed to maintain bone strength and prevent bone loss or osteoporosis.
5. Counteract the effects of free radicals
Various types of antioxidant content in onions are known to be able to protect body cells from the effects of exposure to free radicals that trigger various diseases, such as cancer.
In addition, several studies also mention that onions have the potential to inhibit the development of degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
However, the effectiveness and safety of onions to inhibit the development of degenerative diseases still needs to be studied further.
6. Fights bacterial infections in the body
Not only counteracting the effects of free radicals, the antioxidant content in onions is also believed to have the potential to fight various kinds of disease-causing bacteria, such as bacteria E. coli, S. aureus, and B. aureus.
However, further research is still needed on the effectiveness and safety level of consuming onions to treat diseases caused by these bacterial infections.
In addition to offering the various benefits above, onions are also believed to be useful for relieving fever, treating flu and cough symptoms, treating canker sores, and overcoming asthma.
To get the maximum benefits of onions, you can consume them by processing them into various types of dishes, or adding them to soups and salads.
You are not advised to eat onions by frying, because this method can eliminate the nutritional content of onions that are beneficial to health.
In addition, you also need to meet your daily nutritional needs by eating other healthy foods, such as vegetables, fruits, and foods that contain protein and fiber.
If you still have questions about the benefits of onions or want to know a diet that suits your needs and health conditions, don't hesitate to consult a doctor.