Why Choosing Red Onions is the Better Option
By Brandi Swieter
Onions come in a variety of colors. Red, white, and yellow make up the most common choices, with people often unable to determine which they should buy. Some might think than any of the colors work just as well as the others, but that is actually not the case. It’s the red onion that makes the better option, and here’s why:
Less Sugar
Red onions have a stronger taste because they do not contain as much sugar as white onions do. Those who prefer the sweet version are getting a bigger helping of sugar in the mix. The healthier solution is the red onion, without as much sugar to cause problems.
More Antioxidants
Antioxidants work to fight off free radicals in the body. This means they can fight off disease and even slow the growth of some cancers. Fruits and vegetables darker in color tend to contain more antioxidants than other choices. This is true for red onions, with the red (almost purple) color containing more flavonoids than the white or yellow.
Better Blood Thinning Properties
Rather than taking blood thinner medications, people can help themselves by consuming more onions. Red, in particular, have better blood thinning properties. Their additional antioxidants and flavonoids, as well as sulfur compounds, work to thin the blood and keep it flowing as needed. White onions don’t have such a strong effect.
Extra Cancer-Fighting Agents
Red onions have extra cancer-fighting agents, moreso than the white or yellow versions. They contain quercetin and allicin, both of which help to prevent and treat cancer. Stomach cancer, along with oral, laryngeal, colon, ovarian, and esophageal, tend to see the most reduction rates from consuming onions. Eating just half an onion each day can reduce chances of developing these cancers by 50 percent.
Leaving on the Outer Layers
Many people peel off several layers of onions before using the rest in their meals. Red onions tend to have their outer layers left, especially when used in salads. These outer layers actually contain the majority of the antioxidants, making it important to consume the outside and not just the inside. Only peel off the outermost shell and leave the rest of the layers intact for better benefits.
No matter which onions are chosen, they all contain plenty of health benefits that make consuming them worthwhile. The red onion, however, has just a few better qualities that make it the best onion option of them all. Choose this color more often for added advantages.
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