It has always been recommended that one should consume fresh vegetables and fruits since these are rich in minerals, vitamins, flavonoids and anti-oxidant substances. Although onion makes one cry, still onion juice is highly advised to be included in the diet since it has many health, medicinal and nutritional benefits. It is used to treat various medical conditions such as honey bee sting, for improving sleep in case of insomnia, relieves pigmentation problems, and prevents hair loss and so forth.
Health Benefits of Onion Juice
Benefits of Onion Juice to Protect Against Allergies and Asthma:
Consumption of onion juice helps to prevent allergies and asthma due to presence of the compound quercetin, which inhibits histamine and other cell secretions that cause allergic reactions, while sulphur present in onion is effective as an anti-inflammatory agent. Quercetin relaxes the airway and provides relief from asthma symptoms.
Respiratory Health Benefits of Onion Juice:
Raw onion juice helps to treat cold and other respiratory problems due to the presence of sulphur containing compounds. Onions possess expectorant properties, which help to treat and prevent respiratory disorders. Volatile oil-dislodges mucus and prevents formation of new mucus. Onion juice helps to heal cough, bronchitis and congestion.
Digestive Health Benefits of Onion Juice Intake:
Inulin, a dietary fibre allows good digestion. In addition, onions contain special type of soluble fibre called oligofructose, which promotes growth of good bacteria in the intestine. Onion juice promotes healthy bowel movement to allow good digestion. Oligofructose may also prevent and treat types of diarrhea. These phytochemicals also scavenge free radicals and reduce risk of developing gastric ulcers.
Hair Health Benefits of Onion Juice:
Onion juice is considered to treat hair loss, thinning of hair, early greying of hair and baldness. Onions contains trace amounts of element ‘Sulphur’, which promotes hair growth. It helps to stimulate blood circulation and allows growth of strong and healthy hair roots. Applying onion juice to itchy scalp and hair containing dandruff is a good treatment since it acts as an antibacterial and antifungal agent. It helps to keep the follicle clear and healthy for good hair growth.
Benefits of Onion Juice to Maintain Bone Health:
Drinking of onion juice maintains good bone health by preventing excessive bone loss and increasing bone density. Women at a greater risk of suffering from osteoporosis should consume onion juice.
Onion Juice Benefits for Skin Health:
Onion juice nourishes the skin and makes it beautiful by increasing blood circulation in the tissue layer. It further prevents toxins and pollutants from stagnating and forming infections. Intake of onion juice is a good treatment for acne and ringworm.
Onion Juice Benefit as an Earache Treatment:
Individuals with ear ache problems can add onion juice to the affected ear. Presence of essential oils in onion juice rapidly relieves earache.
Medicinal Benefits of Onion Juice
Onion juice has a number of medicinal features and values.
Anti-cancer Benefits of Onion Juice:
Onion is made of different types of sulphides, which confers protection against neoplasms. Onions in diet can reduce gastrointestinal tract problems and prevent breast, colon, and esophageal carcinomas.
Medicinal Benefits of Onion Juice to Prevent Plaque Formation and Gives Cardiovascular Advantages:
Onion juice prevents plaque built up in the arteries, which is the main cause of heart attacks. Regular intake of onion juice also reduces high cholesterol levels, high LDL levels and increases HDL levels.
Medicinal Benefits of Onion Juice in Preventing Oral Infection:
Onion juice prevents oral infection and tooth decay problems.
Onion Juice Benefits to Cure Headache:
When thick paste of onion is applied on feet sole or on the forehead, it relieves of headache.
Other Uses and Benefits of Onion Juice
The experiments on laboratory animals have revealed other benefits of consumption of onion juice too, which are yet to be confirmed in humans. These are:
- Onion Juice Reduce Glucose Level: The finding is from animal studies that intake of onion juice has potential of lowering blood sugar. Onions are a rich source of chromium, a trace mineral which helps the tissue cells to respond properly to the insulin levels in the blood. Chromium in onion juice helps in facilitating the insulin action and thus, controls sugar levels in diabetes patients. The compound, Allyl propyl disulphide reduces glucose levels. However, further research is required to check the same in humans.
- Benefits of Onion Juice as Insect Repellent: It is known that onion juice can even act as an insect repellent.
- Onion Juice Benefits for Cataract: As seen in laboratory animals, drinking of red onion juice prevents cataract.
Nutritional Composition of Onion Juice
Onions are very low in fats and calories. 100 grams gives just 40 calories. Onions possess valuable medicinal applications because of the nutrients, vitamins, minerals and organic compounds contained in them. They contain sulphur compounds, and quercetin and traces of essential oils. Onions also contain mineral components such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, selenium, copper, phosphorous and chromium. They are a good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6, biotin, folic acid and dietary fibre such as inulin. A wide variety of Allyl sulphides and sulfoxides are also found in onions.
Conclusion
Although beneficial, onion juice should never be consumed in large amounts since it leads to gastric irritation. Further it should be consumed after consulting with doctors. These benefits are not conferred by hybrid onions but by intake of juice made from red or white onions. Further research is required in these onions, to identify the components, which confer medicinal and nutritional significance.
