Onions (Allium cepa) are one of the common root greens. They’re generally utilized in cooking so as to add taste or in conventional drugs to deal with signs of illnesses such because the widespread flu (
They’re an awesome addition to your weight loss program. Their sulfur-containing compounds and antioxidants, similar to quercetin, have been discovered to provide onions therapeutic potential to scale back irritation, decrease blood strain, and help blood sugar management (
Nonetheless, there are a number of myths about one of the best methods and occasions to devour onions to achieve their well being advantages, and it’s possible you’ll really feel confused or overwhelmed by all of the conflicting opinions.
On this article, we dispel common onion myths, talk about how one can deal with onion breath, and suggest who ought to keep away from consuming onions.
There are many myths about onions, particularly surrounding one of the best time to eat them.
Fable: It’s greatest to eat onions at night time
Truth: Sulfoxides in onions could help sleep, however onions might be loved at any time of day.
Sulfoxides are the sulfur-containing compounds present in onions that confer a few of their well being advantages, similar to potential anticlotting, antibiotic, and anti-asthma properties (
These sulfoxides are activated when onions are lower or crushed. They’ve been proven to enhance sleep high quality in wholesome adults when taken as a concentrated complement extract (
Due to this fact, it’s believed that you’ll sleep better in the event you eat onions at night time.
Nonetheless, the sulfoxides discovered naturally in uncooked onions are in a lot decrease concentrations than these present in onion extract powders and dietary supplements. It’s unclear whether or not the low focus in uncooked onion improves sleep.
Moreover, there’s no analysis demonstrating a good thing about consuming onion at night time as in contrast with some other time of the day.
Fable: Eat onions simply earlier than sexual exercise
Truth: Onions enhance testosterone ranges in males however could not improve your sexual expertise.
Onions are lauded as aphrodisiacs — meals that stimulate sexual want — and have been proven to boost testosterone manufacturing in males (
Older research additionally present that recent onion juice will increase testosterone and ejaculation in male rats (
Due to this fact, consuming onions could enhance male sexual well being by promoting testosterone production. Testosterone is the reproductive hormone answerable for libido, efficiency, and even power ranges in males (
Regardless of these findings, nevertheless, consuming onions has not been discovered to boost sexual expertise straight.
There’s additionally no present analysis that signifies consuming onions boosts reproductive hormones in females.
Abstract
Sulfoxides in onions could help sleep, however you’ll be able to take pleasure in onions at any time of the day, not simply at night time. Onions additionally enhance testosterone manufacturing in males however usually are not more likely to improve your sexual expertise.
Purple, white, and yellow onions are low calorie meals that present small quantities of important minerals like calcium and magnesium (
They’re one of many richest sources of the polyphenol quercetin, a health-promoting compound with antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties (
Sulfoxides in onions can also scale back melancholy and stress and assist enhance sleep. Due to this fact, incorporating onions as a part of a balanced weight loss program might supply many well being advantages (
Sometimes, cooking vegetables reduces their nutrient content material. For that reason, many individuals suggest consuming greens uncooked or cooking them for under quick durations (
Nonetheless, the impact of cooking on greens’ nutrient composition is just not a real binary.
For instance, analysis on yellow and crimson onions has proven that cooking — particularly baking — will increase the provision of health-promoting polyphenols within the onions (
In keeping with one analysis overview, baking, sauteing, and microwaving are essentially the most helpful cooking strategies to keep up or enhance the content material of health-promoting compounds in onions (14).
Which means consuming uncooked onions is just not essentially superior to consuming them after they’ve been cooked — you may very well profit extra from consuming cooked onions.
Abstract
Cooking enhances the health-promoting polyphenol content material of onions. Due to this fact, cooked onions could supply extra well being advantages than uncooked onions when eaten as a part of a balanced weight loss program.
Regardless of the potential well being advantages of onions, not everybody ought to devour them often.
Cooked onions have been proven to induce an allergic reaction in some individuals by inflaming the pores and skin, which known as dermatitis, or by triggering an asthmatic occasion. Onion can also be an allergenic meals in individuals with sulfur allergy symptoms (
Onions include poorly absorbed compounds known as fermentable oligo-, di-, and monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs), which can set off stomach discomfort and bowel irregularities in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (
Due to this fact, it’s possible you’ll wish to restrict or keep away from onions in your weight loss program when you have a sulfur allergy, are allergic to onions, or reside with IBS.
Learn extra about potential downsides of onions here.
Abstract
Individuals who have an allergy to sulfur or to onions themselves or who’ve IBS could profit from limiting or avoiding onions of their diets.
You’ll be able to thank the health-promoting sulfoxides in onions for his or her pungent taste and aroma (
Nonetheless, onion breath can linger and could seem embarrassing. You’ll be able to scale back or stop it with the following tips:
- Cook dinner onions to scale back their pungent aroma.
- Brush, floss, and use mouthwash instantly after consuming onions.
- Chew peppermint gum after consuming onions.
- Gargle with salt water or a mix of water and lemon juice.
Abstract
You’ll be able to scale back or stop onion breath by cooking onions, brushing your enamel and utilizing mouthwash instantly after a meal with onions, chewing peppermint gum, or gargling with salt water or water with lemon juice.
Onions are common greens with a large number of culinary and conventional medicinal makes use of.
Onions could also be loved at any time of day and haven’t been proven to be helpful solely when consumed at night time.
They help improved testosterone manufacturing in males however could indirectly improve your sexual expertise.
Baking, sauteing, or microwaving onions could supply extra advantages than consuming them uncooked, however individuals with allergy symptoms to onions or sulfur, in addition to individuals dwelling with IBS, could profit from limiting or avoiding onion consumption.
