Health Benefits, Vitamins and Minerals in Onion

The onion is a member of the lily family, a close relation of garlic. It is often called the "king of vegetables" because of its pungent taste. The smaller onions are more pungent. They are the ones that make your eyes water when you cut them, when the organic sulphur is released. Onions contain more than one hundred sulfur-containing compounds.The onion plays a role of a tonic in boosting immunity as it is rich in assimilable iron,calcium and vitamins ,particularly B1 (thiamine), B2(riboflavin), and C.The best way to benefit from an onion is to eat it raw as in salads and juice for children.

Health Benefits of Onion

• Consumption of onion (either in raw form or in cooked form) helps to lower blood pressure naturally. It helps in thinning the blood, dissolve blood clots and clear the blood of unhealthy fats.
• Onions are a source of vitamin C and dietary  fiber. As a vegetable, onions are low in fat and calories.
• Chromium in onion helps diabetics' cells respond appropriately to bringing down the insulin level and improve glucose tolerance.
• Just by eating half a medium raw onion daily can significantly lower cholesterol and help prevent heart attacks.
• Onions are rich sources of a number of  phytonutrients. These phytonutrients have been found to act as antioxidants to lower blood pressure and prevent some kinds of cancer.
• The high content of iron in onion makes it beneficial for the treatment of anemia.

Amount

•  One small onion cooked without salt contains  0.8 grams of fiber.

Protein  -  0.82 grams

Calories  -  26

Minerals Contained

• Potassium - 100 mg
• Phosphorus - 21 mg
• Calcium - 13 mg
• Iron - 0.14 mg
• Magnesium - 7 mg
• Sodium - 2 mg
• Zinc - 0.13 mg
• Copper - 0.04 mg
• Manganese - 0.092 mg
• Selenium - 0.4 mcg
• Also contains small amounts other minerals.

Vitamins Contained

• Vitamin C - 3.1 mg
• Niacin - 0.099 mg
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.025 mg
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.014 mg
• Vitamin B6 - 0.077 mg
• Pantothenic Acid - 0.068 mg
• Folate - 9 mcg
• Vitamin A - 1 IU
• Vitamin K - 0.3 mcg
• Vitamin E - 0.01 mg
• Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.