Impressive Health Benefits of Onions

 Onions are highly nutritious vegetables that may have several benefits, including improved heart health, better blood sugar regulation, and increased bone density.

The medicinal properties of onions have been recognized for thousands of yearsTrusted Source. Athletes in ancient Greece supposedly used onions to purify their blood, while medieval and traditional doctors prescribed them to help treat headaches, heart disease, and mouth sores.

Onions contain antioxidants and compounds that may reduce your riskTrusted Source of heart disease by fighting inflammation and lowering triglyceride and cholesterol levels.

They contain a large amount of quercetin, a flavonoid antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that may help lower high blood pressureTrusted Source.

Antioxidants are compounds that inhibit oxidation, a process that may lead to cellular damage and contributeTrusted Source to diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Onions are an excellent source of antioxidants and contain at least 17 typesTrusted Source of flavonoids.

Red onions, in particular, contain anthocyanins, plant pigments in the flavonoid family that give red onions their deep color. These may protect against diabetesTrusted Source and certain types of cancer

Eating onions may help regulate blood sugar levels, which is significant for people with diabetes or prediabetes.

A small 2010 studyTrusted Source in 84 people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes found that eating 100 g of raw red onion significantly reduced fasting blood sugar levels after 4 hours.