Do Onions Reduce Cholesterol?

The onion is the most widely farmed plant in the Allium genus, and it is found in nearly all of our foods. Though onion is a common ingredient in many dishes, it also has health benefits that many people are unaware of.

Does Onion Help To Reduce Cholesterol Or Not?

Onions are high in vitamins and minerals that help to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Onions have long been utilized in traditional old medicine to cure minor ailments like headaches and mouth sores.

Onions also offer antioxidant and antibacterial characteristics, as well as the ability to aid digestion in the body, which will strengthen your immunity. Onion has a lot of health benefits that range from treating diabetes to helping in the fight against cancer. In this article, we will discuss whether onion helps to reduce cholesterol or not.

There are two types of cholesterol, LDL, and HDL or commonly known as bad and good cholesterol. The LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is the bad cholesterol. The LDL cholesterol plays a huge role in contributing to fatty build-ups in the arteries which might increase the risk of heart attack and stroke in your body. There are many natural ways and medications that help in controlling and reducing LDL in your body. Onion is one among them.

Does Onion Reduce Cholesterol In Your Body?

Studies on onions show that onions have properties that might aid in lowering the cholesterol levels in your body.

Onions are rich in flavonoids, a phenolic natural substance that is well known for its health benefits and is used in many pharmaceutical and medicinal applications. 

A study published by the British Journal of Nutrition, states that onions may help in lowering LDL cholesterols in obese people who are at risk of heart diseases. In a study published by Food and Function Journal States, research conducted on hams has found that red onion had helped to decrease the LDL cholesterol levels in hams who were fed red onion powder and also maintained the HDL levels without affecting it in any way.

A recent study has also shown that onion has a compound called quercetin, which is a type of flavonoid that helped to reduce cholesterol levels in rodents who were fed a fat high diet. Controlling and treating diabetes can also help to decrease cholesterol levels in your body as diabetes can cause raise LDL levels and lower HDL levels in your body. A study done on rats with diabetes who were fed onion extract has shown a decrease in LDL cholesterol levels.

How Does Onion Reduce Cholesterol?

As already discussed the compounds of onion have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties that help to reduce bad cholesterol in your body. The flavonoid compound that is present in onion helps you to lower LDL cholesterol in your body suppress LDL cholesterol synthesis in your body and also protect your body from harmful oxidants.

Onion also contains a lot of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that are effective in reducing cholesterol in your body.

Which One Is More Beneficial: Raw Or Cooked Onions?

Onions, whether raw or cooked, provide numerous health benefits. Raw onions, on the other hand, have higher sulfur compounds and nutritional extracts, according to studies. The uppermost layers of the onion, which contain the most flavonoids, should be incorporated into your diet. Raw onions can easily be added to your salads and burgers.

Conclusion

The onion is more than just a flavor enhancer for your food. It aids in the treatment of a variety of diseases and ailments. Onion eating is a natural technique to lower LDL cholesterol levels in the body without impacting HDL cholesterol levels. Including onions in your regular diet will have a significant positive impact on your overall health.