Onion Health Benefit (Allium cepa ) also known as the bulb onion or common onion is a vegetable that is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. Onions are cultivated and used around the world. As a food item, they are usually served cooked, as a vegetable or part of a prepared savoury dish, but can also be eaten raw or used to make pickles or chutneys. They are pungent when chopped and contain certain chemical substances which irritate the eyes.
Nutritional Value, Ingredient of Onion
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
|---|---|
| Energy | 166 kJ (40 kcal) |
|
Carbohydrates
|
9.34 g
|
| Sugars | 4.24 g |
| Dietary fibre | 1.7 g |
|
Fat
|
0.1 g
|
|
Protein
|
1.1 g
|
| Vitamins | Quantity%DV† |
| Thiamine (B1) |
4%
0.046 mg |
| Riboflavin (B2) |
2%
0.027 mg |
| Niacin (B3) |
1%
0.116 mg |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) |
2%
0.123 mg |
| Vitamin B6 |
9%
0.12 mg |
| Folate (B9) |
5%
19 μg |
| Vitamin C |
9%
7.4 mg |
| Minerals | Quantity%DV† |
| Calcium |
2%
23 mg |
| Iron |
2%
0.21 mg |
| Magnesium |
3%
10 mg |
| Manganese |
6%
0.129 mg |
| Phosphorus |
4%
29 mg |
| Potassium |
3%
146 mg |
| Zinc |
2%
0.17 mg |
| Other constituents | Quantity |
| Water | 89.11 g |
| Fluoride | 1.1 µg |
|
|
|
|
|
| †Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA Nutrient Database |
|
Onion Health Benefit
Possibly Health Benefit of onion
- Scarring – Most research shows that applying gel containing onion extract to the skin, alone or with other ingredients, for at least 10 weeks improves the appearance of scars. Applying onion extract along with other ingredients for less time doesn’t seem to work.
- Hair loss (alopecia areata) – Early research shows that applying onion juice to the scalp for 8 weeks might improve hair growth in people with hair loss due to a condition called alopecia areata.
- Diabetes – Early research shows that eating 20 grams of onion while dieting reduces blood sugar in people with diabetes better than dieting alone after 8 weeks of treatment.
- High blood pressure – Research shows that taking onion extract for 6 weeks slightly reduces systolic blood pressure (the top number) in people with high blood pressure. Early research also shows that taking a combination product containing onion and other ingredients for one week lowers systolic blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. But neither supplement seems to improve diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number).
- Obesity – Early research shows that taking onion skin extract for 12 weeks reduces body weight by a small amount in people who are overweight or obese. But the improvement might not be clinically meaningful.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) – Eating large amounts of raw red onion (80-120 grams daily) does not improve cholesterol or blood sugar levels in people with polycystic ovary syndrome compared to eating smaller amounts (20-30 grams daily). Eating large amounts might actually increase body mass index (BMI) by a small amount.
- Prostate cancer – People who eat more onions don’t seem to have a reduced risk of prostate cancer.
- Stretch marks – Early research shows that applying a skin cream containing onion extract, gotu kola, and hyaluronic acid for 12 weeks improves the look of stretch marks.
- Scarring – Most research shows that applying gel containing onion extract to the skin, alone or with other ingredients, for at least 10 weeks improves the appearance of scars. Applying onion extract along with other ingredients for less time doesn’t seem to work.
- Hair loss (alopecia areata) – Early research shows that applying onion juice to the scalp for 8 weeks might improve hair growth in people with hair loss due to a condition called alopecia areata.
- Diabetes – Early research shows that eating 20 grams of onion while dieting reduces blood sugar in people with diabetes better than dieting alone after 8 weeks of treatment.
- High blood pressure – Research shows that taking onion extract for 6 weeks slightly reduces systolic blood pressure (the top number) in people with high blood pressure. Early research also shows that taking a combination product containing onion and other ingredients for one week lowers systolic blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. But neither supplement seems to improve diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number).
- Obesity – Early research shows that taking onion skin extract for 12 weeks reduces body weight by a small amount in people who are overweight or obese. But the improvement might not be clinically meaningful.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) – Eating large amounts of raw red onion (80-120 grams daily) does not improve cholesterol or blood sugar levels in people with polycystic ovary syndrome compared to eating smaller amounts (20-30 grams daily). Eating large amounts might actually increase body mass index (BMI) by a small amount.
- Prostate cancer – People who eat more onions don’t seem to have a reduced risk of prostate cancer.
- Stretch marks – Early research shows that applying a skin cream containing onion extract, gotu kola, and hyaluronic acid for 12 weeks improves the look of stretch marks.
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Upset stomach
- Fever
- Colds
- Cough
- Swelling (inflammation) of the mouth and throat.
- Wounds
- Loss of appetite
- Preventing hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
References
- Allium cepa L.”. World Checklist of Selected Plant Families(WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – via The Plant List.
- Garlic and Other Alliums: The Lore and the Science. Royal Society of Chemistry. ISBN 0-85404-190-7.
- AllergyNet — Allergy Advisor Find”. Allallergy.net. Archived from the original on 15 June 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion
- https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-643
- “Allium cepa“. In Flora of North America Editorial Committee. Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). 26. New York and Oxford – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
- https://www.livescience.com/45293-onion-nutrition.html
- Allium cepa var. cepa“. Germplasm Resources Information Network(GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 10 December 2017.
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