Onions (Allium cepa) are one of the crucial standard root greens. They’re generally utilized in cooking so as to add taste or in conventional medication to deal with signs of illnesses such because the widespread flu (
They’re a fantastic addition to your food plan. Their sulfur-containing compounds and antioxidants, akin to quercetin, have been discovered to present onions therapeutic potential to cut back irritation, decrease blood strain, and help blood sugar management (
Nonetheless, there are a number of myths about the most effective methods and instances to devour onions to realize their well being advantages, and you might really feel confused or overwhelmed by all of the conflicting opinions.
On this article, we dispel standard onion myths, talk about tips on how to deal with onion breath, and advocate who ought to keep away from consuming onions.
There are many myths about onions, particularly surrounding the most effective time to eat them.
Fantasy: It’s greatest to eat onions at evening
Truth: Sulfoxides in onions could help sleep, however onions may 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, akin 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 for those who eat onions at evening.
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 evening as in contrast with some other time of the day.
Fantasy: 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 reinforce testosterone manufacturing in males (
Older research additionally present that contemporary 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 vitality ranges in males (
Regardless of these findings, nonetheless, consuming onions has not been discovered to reinforce 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 may take pleasure in onions at any time of the day, not simply at evening. Onions additionally enhance testosterone manufacturing in males however usually are not more likely to improve your sexual expertise.
Pink, 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 might also cut back despair and stress and assist enhance sleep. Due to this fact, incorporating onions as a part of a balanced food plan might provide many well being advantages (
Usually, cooking vegetables reduces their nutrient content material. For that reason, many individuals advocate consuming greens uncooked or cooking them for under brief durations (
Nonetheless, the impact of cooking on greens’ nutrient composition will not be a real binary.
For instance, analysis on yellow and crimson onions has proven that cooking — particularly baking — will increase the supply of health-promoting polyphenols within the onions (
In response to one analysis evaluation, baking, sauteing, and microwaving are probably the most helpful cooking strategies to take care of or enhance the content material of health-promoting compounds in onions (14).
Meaning consuming uncooked onions will not be 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 provide extra well being advantages than uncooked onions when eaten as a part of a balanced food plan.
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 folks by inflaming the pores and skin, which known as dermatitis, or by triggering an asthmatic occasion. Onion can also be an allergenic meals in folks with sulfur allergy symptoms (
Onions include poorly absorbed compounds referred to as fermentable oligo-, di-, and monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs), which can set off belly discomfort and bowel irregularities in folks with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (
Due to this fact, you might wish to restrict or keep away from onions in your food plan in case 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 appear embarrassing. You’ll be able to cut back or stop it with the following pointers:
- Cook dinner onions to cut 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 combination of water and lemon juice.
Abstract
You’ll be able to cut back or stop onion breath by cooking onions, brushing your tooth and utilizing mouthwash instantly after a meal with onions, chewing peppermint gum, or gargling with salt water or water with lemon juice.
Onions are standard 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 evening.
They help improved testosterone manufacturing in males however could circuitously improve your sexual expertise.
Baking, sauteing, or microwaving onions could provide extra advantages than consuming them uncooked, however folks with allergy symptoms to onions or sulfur, in addition to folks residing with IBS, could profit from limiting or avoiding onion consumption.
