Why Are Onions Bad for You? Nutrition Content Chart, Benefits (2024)

  • Health Benefits Chart
    • What are the health benefits of onions?
  • Sulfur Content
    • Why do your eyes tear up on cutting onions?
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Why Are Onions Bad for You? Nutrition Content Chart, Benefits (1)

While onions offer many health benefits, consuming an excess amount can lead to gastrointestinal distress, such as irritable bowel syndrome and acid reflux.

Although onions are quite safe to consume, rarely they may harm your health if you have any underlying health conditions or when you consume them in excess.

  • One of the most popular drawbacks of eating onions is their tendency to give you bad breath and body odor.
  • Although rare, people may develop allergic reactions to onions, particularly onion seeds, in which symptoms present as itching, watering of the eyes, and skin rashes on coming in contact with onion or onion extracts.
  • Onions may cause symptoms of gastrointestinal upset, such as heartburn, bloating, abdominal discomfort, nausea, and vomiting, in susceptible individuals, which may aggravate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in affected individuals. These symptoms are relatively more common when eating onions raw rather than cooked. Raw onions may especially make you more flatulent.
  • Onions are generally recognized as safe when consumed in moderation during pregnancy. However, consuming onions in excess or as supplements must be avoided by pregnant and breastfeeding women due to a lack of data on its safety.
  • Some studies suggest that onions may slow blood clotting. Hence, consuming onions as extracts or supplements must be avoided if you have bleeding disorders. Although enough scientific evidence is not available about the interaction between onion supplements and antiplatelet drugs, avoid taking onion supplements if you take antiplatelet medications or other blood thinners without getting your doctor’s approval.
  • Certain animal studies and clinical trials have demonstrated that onions can lower blood sugar levels. Thus, monitor your blood sugar levels regularly if you take onion supplements and anti-diabetes medications.
  • Because onions have been associated with a lower blood glucose level and bleeding tendency, it is better to avoid such supplements before surgery. You must inform your surgeon if you take any drugs or supplements, including onion supplements, before surgery.

What are the health benefits of onions?

The onion, also known as the bulb onion, belongs to the lily family (Liliaceae) that also includes garlic, chives, and leeks, which are popular ingredients across various cuisines. They are low in calories and fats and high in fiber and antioxidants.

A medium-sized onion (about 2.5 inches diameter, 110 grams in weight) contains the following:

Table. The nutritional content of one medium-sized onion
NutrientNutrient Amount
Calories44 kcal
Water98 g
Fiber1.87 g
Protein1.21 g
Fats0.11 g
Calcium25.3 g
Iron0.23 g
Magnesium11 mg
Potassium161 mg
Sodium4.4 mg
Phosphorous31.9 mg
Vitamin C8.14 mg
Folate20.9 mcg
Vitamin A2.2 si

Onions contain B vitamins, vitamin E, zinc, sulfur, copper, lutein, and several other antioxidants that promote health. Consuming onions as a part of a balanced diet may give various health benefits including:

  • Healthy immunity
  • Weight management
  • Controlled blood sugar
  • Reduced inflammation
  • May reduce risk of certain cancers, such as gastrointestinal and endometrial cancers
  • Relief from arthritis
  • Improved blood lipid levels
  • Improved cardiovascular health
  • Improved bone health
  • Reduced skin scarring and irritation
  • Healthy hair

Depending on the onion plant or the onion growing season, onions can come in many different forms that offer various tastes and health benefits. The different types of onions include:

  • Red onions
  • Yellow onions
  • White onions
  • Green onions
  • Spring onions
  • Shallots
  • Scallions

Why do your eyes tear up on cutting onions?

Onions contain various sulfur compounds, including propanethial-S-oxide, which are volatile and escape as vapors when cutting onions. These sulfur-containing vapors form a dilute form of acid that causes eye irritation and tearing (lacrimation).

To minimize the irritation, you may hold onions in water for some time and then cut them using a sharp knife. Alternatively, keep the onions in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before cutting. Avoid cutting the root part of the onion as it contains most of the sulfur compounds that make your eyes well up with tears.

QUESTION According to the USDA, there is no difference between a “portion” and a “serving.” See Answer

References

Drugs.com. Onion. https://www.drugs.com/npp/onion.html

eMedicinehealth. Onion. https://www.emedicinehealth.com/onion/vitamins-supplements.htm

Food Data Central. Onions, raw. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170000/nutrients

Why Are Onions Bad for You? Nutrition Content Chart, Benefits (2024)

FAQs

Why Are Onions Bad for You? Nutrition Content Chart, Benefits? ›

While onions offer many health benefits, consuming an excess amount can lead to gastrointestinal distress, such as irritable bowel syndrome and acid reflux. Although onions are quite safe to consume, rarely they may harm your health if you have any underlying health conditions or when you consume them in excess.

Is onion bad for you? ›

Eating onions, especially raw onions, can have a few side effects, including: Gas and bloating. The same substances in onions that feed the healthy bacteria in your gut can be hard for some people to tolerate. Onions are among foods that sometimes cause trouble for people with irritable bowel syndrome.

Why do onions have nutritional benefits? ›

Onions are high in vitamin C, which may help regulate your immune health, collagen production, and iron absorption. It's also a powerful antioxidant that could help protect your cells from unstable, damaging molecules called free radicals. Onions are rich in B vitamins, including folate and vitamin B6.

What are the effects of onions? ›

Onion contains chemicals that seem to reduce swelling and lung tightness related to asthma. It also contains chemicals that seem to reduce cholesterol and lower blood sugar. People use onion to prevent scarring. It is also used for obesity, hair loss, asthma, insomnia, high blood pressure.

Are onions low in nutrients? ›

Onions are a nutrient-dense food, meaning that they are high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants while being low in calories.

Can an onion go bad? ›

Spoiled onions may develop dark spots, which will eventually begin to grow mold. You'll also want to avoid onions that have started sprouting, as this indicates they're beginning to go bad. You can also feel your onions to check how fresh they are. Onions with soft or mushy spots are starting to go bad.

How much onion a day is healthy? ›

In addition to limiting your intake of fats and sugars, eating onions can get your blood sugar-and your weight-on the right track. So here is a simple, powerful health-enhancing recommendation: Eat an onion every day. One medium-sized onion equals approximately one cup of onion when chopped.

Do onions need nutrients? ›

Nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients for onion plant growth and development. A typical onion crop will use about 150-200 pounds of actual nitrogen per acre during the growing season, with a majority of the nitrogen taken up after the plant has started to bulb.

Why are onions good for your brain? ›

Several studies have shown that onion flavonoid intake containing quercetin protects brain tissues against aging through the inhibition of apoptosis that induces brain degeneration (Chae et al., 2012; Wang et al., 2020; Dorrigiv et al., 2021).

What are the benefits of not eating onion and garlic? ›

First, she says, onions and garlic contain sulfur-containing chemical compounds called fructans and disulfides. These can irritate the esophageal lining, particularly in persons who are prone to heartburn or acid reflux. Removing them may lower the number and severity of heartburn episodes.

Is onion good for hair? ›

When added to the hair and scalp, onion juice can provide extra sulfur to support strong and thick hair, thus preventing hair loss and promoting hair growth. The sulfur from onions may also help promote collagen production. Collagen in turn helps the production of healthy skin cells and hair growth.

Is onion good for the eyes? ›

Rich in antioxidants: Onions contain antioxidants, such as quercetin and sulphur compounds, which can help protect the eyes from oxidative stress and age-related eye conditions. Anti-inflammatory properties: Onions have anti-inflammatory effects that may benefit those with eye inflammations or allergies.

Why shouldn't we eat onions and garlic? ›

As any sulfur-rich ingredient, onions and garlic are very heating. They aggravate Pitta on both physical and emotional levels. For someone suffering from acid reflux, ulcers, colitis, heartburn, intestinal inflammation, skin rashes or redness, etc. eating these two substances aggravates the aforementioned.

Does cooking onion destroy its benefits? ›

Boiling. Boiling onions for up to 3 minutes hasn't shown any dramatic loss of key compounds, but this begins to change as onions continue to boil. Cooking in general. As onions are cooked, they lose some of their sulfur compounds and quercetin, two of their most beneficial elements.

Is onion a blood thinner? ›

Research at the University of Wisconsin has shown that onions produce an anti-coagulant that thins the blood more efficiently than aspirin. The “catch” is that this blood-thinning effect is more pronounced in pungent onions that cause heartburn. Consumers often shy away from these strong-tasting onions or cook them.

Are onions good for your liver? ›

Onions have sulfur-containing amino acids, which aid in detoxing your liver.

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