You might know this fact – that onions are one of the commonest foods on the planet. It might be your favourite ingredient, and you would like it added to most of your dishes. But then, how far do you know about the humble onion?
Whether used as a whole vegetable or in the form of a paste, onion imparts its characteristic flavor to soups, gravies, stews and other savoury recipes. Onions are extremely versatile and can be eaten raw, cooked, fried and dried. They are available in several varieties, brown, red, yellow, green and white, each having its characteristic size, aroma and flavor.
All said and done, there are a number of benefits onion has. Do you know what they are? If not, then this is a must read!
But besides having nutritive values, onion has some side effects also. The same onion which provides several health benefits can also cause side effects in certain cases.
Onion decreases blood sugar levels so diabetics should check their blood sugar before consuming it because it might lower their blood sugar level too much.
Although onion is used in treating several gastrointestinal disorders, excess consumption may cause gastric irritation, vomiting, nausea and burning. If you experience any such conditions regularly from onion usage, it is advisable to consult your healthcare provider.
Some people may experience face or skin irritation and rashes on applying onion juice on the skin. So it is advisable to test it on a small area of your skin before its application.
Pregnant and nursing women should limit the amount of onion consumption as it often causes heartburn during these stages.
Uncontrolled intake of onion can lead to heartburn. Thus, it can cause adverse effects to people with heart ailments. Quick medical attention is required in such a condition.
Onion often leaves a bad breath after its consumption due to its strong aroma which can be attributed to its high content of sulphur.
Onion may reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Thus, those taking medications for blood pressure, should exercise caution in its consumption.
Use of onion may inhibit blood clotting because of its anticoagulant property. Supplementing onion with other anticoagulant medications might increase the risk of bleeding and bruising. Hence one should be aware of this serious side effect of onion consumption.
People who are allergic to onion should not take aspirin and onion together as aspirin increases onion sensitivity.
Onion may decrease the capability to remove lithium from the body. So if you are taking any lithium medication supplement of onion, it may increase the lithium amount in your body. It is advisable to consult a doctor before taking any lithium medications while consuming onion.
You might love onions, and they might form indispensable ingredients in your dishes!
But then, everything has a limit, right? Anything in excess can harm your body. So try and be moderate, when it comes to onion consumption and beware of these onion side effects.
Do you consume onions regularly? Have you ever experienced any of the above side effects of onions? Share your experience with us in the comments section below!