Cutting an onion brings tears to the eyes, but you are bound to be surprised by how good it is for your health. Along with essential nutrients, onion contains phytochemicals that benefit the body in many ways.

Onion can be eaten in many ways, from salads to sandwiches or simply mixed with puffed rice, and it has many qualities. Here is what regular eating of raw onion can do for your health.

Onion contains 25 different kinds of flavonoid antioxidants, which help maintain good health by protecting against diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

The flavonoids in onion help lower bad cholesterol, and its thiosulfinates thin the blood while keeping its flow steady. This reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Research has found that people who regularly eat allium vegetables such as onion have a 79 per cent lower risk of colorectal cancer. Onion contains antioxidants that fight free radicals and help prevent cancer.

One onion contains 25.3 grams of calcium. Eating raw onion therefore reduces oxidative stress, raises antioxidant levels and prevents bone loss, which helps prevent osteoporosis and increases bone density.

The vitamins A, C and K in onion help clear pigmentation and protect against harmful UV rays. As a good source of vitamin C, onion helps build and maintain collagen, which plays an important role in the structure of skin and hair.

Raw onion can help control blood sugar, which is especially significant for people with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Two particular compounds found in onion, quercetin and sulphur, have anti-diabetic effects.

Source: Bangladesh Pratidin. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.