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Red Onions vs White Onions
When it comes to onions, we have plenty of choices, red, yellow, or white. Have you ever wondered which type of onion is healthier?
Both types of onions are powerful superfoods with anti-carcinogenic, antiviral, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. Onions are packed with beneficial nutrients and compounds.
Many think that the only difference is the appearance and taste, but when you examine the nutritional differences of red onions vs white onions, one contains more health benefits than the other.
Red onions have a deep purple layer of outer skin and are most often used raw, in salads, sandwiches, or dips. White onions have a more mild flavor and an off white or white colored skin.
What’s the Difference Red Onions vs White Onions
There are quite a few commonalities between both red and white onions. Both types of onions are considered low on the glycemic index, with a rating of 10. They both also provide about 10 percent of the daily value for vitamin C and the same amount of calcium per serving.
Although white onions contain .5 more grams of fiber and a higher amount of sulfur, red onions have been found to contain a higher amount of many other beneficial nutrients.
So, pull out your red onions and whip up a dish to throw them in!
In general, the rule is that onions with a sharply strong taste, such as red onions, contain a higher amount of antioxidants. Red onions also win in the category of cancer prevention and blood thinning properties. Additionally, red onions contain less sugar compared to white onions, which is where they get their sweet taste from.
– Antioxidant Properties
Overall, red onions contain a higher amount of antioxidant compounds. They are higher in total flavonoids than white onions and yellow onions are considered to be in the middle. Red onions contain 415 to 1917 mg of flavonols compared to yellow ones, which only contain 270 to 1187 mg.
One of the most beneficial compounds in red onions is quercetin, which is a polyphenol compound. Quercetin is a powerful compound which is beneficial for scavenging free radicals in the body.
Red onions are also richer in anthocyanins which give them the red/purple color. Red onions were found to contain at least 25 different anthocyanins.
– Cancer Fighting
Due to the high amount of antioxidant properties contained in red onions compared to white, red onions provide stronger protection against cancer.
The quercetin and allicin in red onions have been shown to reduce inflammation and be beneficial for both the prevention and treatment of cancer.
Studies have shown that the consumption of onions reduces the risk of stomach, colorectal, oral, laryngeal, esophageal and ovarian cancer. According to one study, the risk of stomach cancer was reduced by 50% when half an onion was eaten daily.
– Blood Thinning
Both types of onions have blood thinning properties as they contain a high amount of flavonoids and sulfur compounds. However, red onions are an even more effective natural blood thinner as they are richer in flavonoids, which helps thin the blood.
How to Get the Most Benefit
The level of antioxidant flavonoids has been found to be much higher in the outer most layers of the onion. So make sure not to over peel, those outer layers have the most nutrients. According to a recent study peeling the first two layers of the onion removes 75 % of the antioxidant anthocyanins.
Make sure to get enough servings of onions into your diet, it is recommended that individuals eat at least 3 onions every week to get optimal benefits for preventing cancer.
For most benefit, make sure to include a variety of onions in your diet, but especially make sure to have at least one red onion a week!
Which do you include in your diet red onions or white onions?
Sources:
http://www.naturalnews.com/036751_onions_superfood_quercetin.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/035535_red_onions_inflammation_medicine.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18494496
please, my son is 4 years old he has been having this strong cough severally, we have tried all the medication with no avail, every one or two months the cough will surface. What can I do to give him total cure?
Thanks.
I love onions
I love white onions … I grab an avocado and chop my onions and a very big chunks I add a bit of lemon salt and olive oil and I can eat away all day long 😋😋😋😋
We are kindred souls…..
I rarely eat white onion, mainly because it is not as readily available as yellow onion.
In any case, yellow onion is by far my choice when it comes to cooking any meat.
Red onion is much more suited to salads. I actually despise the combo of red onion and meat so much I would rather detract the onion ( and I LOVEEEE ONION)
Unfortunately almost all takeaway stores and restaurants use red onion with their hot dishes now…soooo annoying — why!?
Red onion is COMMONLY understood to be used for cold dishes; yet so many people are scrapping yellow onion which goes PERFECT with hot dishes (it adds immense flavour to meat) for red onion – i really dont understand but it is most definitely restricting my eating experiece from outside.
Grrr it frustrates me
Yea, it’s really interesting!
Please help me.
am suffer Phyllode tumor, 4 surgeries done, now my continue bleeding start from right axilla. and dr. confused further treatment they told me that several surgeon will involve in this surgery and also i can not bear expenses. please if u have any home remedy inform me.. also a blood bloon in my right axilla.
Khalida from Karachi Pakistan
After understanding it’s effectiveness for strengthening bone tissues I have started consuming 150 grams daily red onions. I shall wait for the results but continue to eat daily as it helps for weight loss as well.
What types are all talking onions grow organically or a clean without chemicals sprey
I hated all onions till probably my mid 20s. I’m 30 now and love red onions, so much delishious flavor! I don’t care for the other colors, only red!
I never used to like onions either. Now, I love them too lol
All onions burns me when i try to eat them raw–what do i do? Today i tried yellow/white onion juice–i had a bad experience–i would not do it again. However i have hair loss and would like to be taking raw onion,either in juice form or as salad–do you have suggestion on how i can make it calmer for my digestive tract.
Mom (Suraiya Shaikh) from Vasai Road; Mumbai; India used to make White-Onion with Alsi (Flaxseed) add tulsi (Basil) leaves add khadi shakhar (Rock-candy or Rock-sugar) with few pappercorns along with Licorice…….Mom used to boiled untill it come downs to 50% than she used to finally add jaggery is very useful ……it fights against cough.
Also Mom used to keep cutted onion near my son’s pillow in round steel tiffin which has holes in it. so the adour of onion stop ur caugh.
So interesting!
My baby is often suffering from cold so what you suggest is true?…Have you ever felt it….plz share some other tips relate to cold will be very useful for my baby.
onions is also good 4 blood
Thanks a lot for sharing the nutriets of onions…i really luv red one
I always loved onions. raw. cooked. anything. I love them.
Depending on the pugnancy of the onion, I like to dip it in ketchup if it is really spicy. But I also like to use olive oil and cool them up with a bit of garlic.
That’s awesome!
Can onion boost one’s sexual erection and stamina
Can white onion boost erection?
It appears that frying (in a pan) doesn’t affect the nutritional value (flavonoids) of in onions when tested in a lab. Just like any ingredient, adding other ingredients and then throwing it out is where the loss occurs (like cooking in water).
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11349895
I love white onion & red onion because they are nutritious my children love white onion than red onion
How I like to eat fresh red onions!!!
Red Onions I luv it!!! I suffered 5 years of headache and dizziness but thanks a lot of red onions now I’m very fine… Happy life….
http://youtu.be/0T2kJ8ASw0o
“They call me Onions, but I’m just a regular kind of guy!”
TB patients can try this :- Chop the onion fine, immediately inhale the fumes deeply & hold your breath as far as you can. Do this 3 times at a moment & 3 times a day. I am sure this can kill the Multi-Drug Resistant TB too.
White Onion is seldom here I’m lucky my taste buds can tolerate Red Onion its all bout training our taste buds
I take fresh white onions ,cucumber, letuce and tomatoes and green tea with honey atleast trice in a week, wot health benefits do i stand to derive. tanx
I love white onions & yellow onions, but I HATE red onions. I think they taste like crap,
yet more & more eating places (fast food, delis, restaurants) keep switching to ONLY red onions,
giving me no choice but to either bring & add my own onions or eat somewhere else.
This is quite pathetic. As for red onions being “healthier”, I have a tough time taking that seriously,
since most of the “health” advice we’ve been subjected to for decades is oriented towards what’s best for females,
which is significantly different from what’s best for males. Interesting, also, that so many of the dieticians
& nutritionists who’ve basically made a career out of telling people what & what not to eat are…women.
Just a Suggestion Cross reference all material that crosses your path and then once solidified with credibility should you allow yourself to “blast off your negative vibe”; when regarding positive thoughts and suggestions. In regards to the health benefits of onions, it is not catering to only women. Human cells differentiate slightly between male and female and within our own body (DNA, RNA,) , respectively ( “I” refuse to go into detail). With that said eat your white or yellow and please stay home and avoid the red if you must. This was an post to remind eat healthful and remedy your ailments…amazing!!! 🙂
I believe most diseases or inherited health conditions are carried by X-genes, in both males and females. Y-genes generally are capable of self-healing, X-genes generally need treatments. So i guess society seems to embrace women’s point of view.
Disclaimer: No gender-biasness intended, observation only, no medical background, hahah.
Remember all the hoopla about eating eggs? All the nutritionists joins the bandwagon. And the Drs gave Eisenhower beef bacon rather than pork or turkey? Seems they all buy into the same info st the same time. I don’t care for the reds either. I let them out the refs on the salad and then I just discard them . I buy the sweet whites and enjoy them at home.
Be careful about buying into all the popular food trends. Additional research may prove to be different.
Onion is excellent for people who suffer from asthma or bronquitis. Definitively it cures it. In a juice extractor put an onion head and adds honey. Keep it refrigerated in a dark container. Take 1 spoon during the morning and other spoon during the evening for a month.
Sounds like a great easy remedy.
I used to have low erection, but since I started taking raw red onion about two months ago, I am ok. Thanks to the healing power of onion
I was wondering how many red raw onions you ate a day/week to get rid of your erection problem? Thanks.
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THE COMBINATION OF WHITE ONIONS AND GARLIC BLENDED INTO HONEY IS VERY USEFUL.IT FIGHTS AGAINST COUGH AND COLD.
IT BRINGS MUCOR FROM THE THROAT IN LARGE QUANTITY.IT AID DIGESTION AND SOFTEN BOWEL.
IT IS VERY USEFUL IN THE TREATMENT OF COUGH AND COLD.
have you ever experienced as a useful treatment for cold
I have been eating red onions for almost one month.now,
and now.my long headache problem is completely gone.
Thanks to what is in.the.onions.
That’s great!
I’m eating onions like an apple
how many do you it in a day.? is it the whole bulb?
Does it matter if you eat them raw or cooked?
When used raw they do retain more nutrients, however, they are still very beneficial when cooked, especially if only lightly cooked.
No I do eat them raw all the time ,, they are my apple
Are red onions better for the belly than white ones? I can’t eat anything with online in .thank you .
i may be alone in this but i always use yellow or white onions because the red ones are gross.
I assure you, you are NOT alone!
Well I would have to say I do the exact opposite. I find red onions taste way better than white.
If you use a red onion in meals that are hot it’s not the suggested way to use them.
They are much better raw in salads or sandwiches or just to eat like a apple.Some people never eat onions raw,but will eat them cooked.
I buy a variety of onions an will eat them at any meal. Funny how I hated them when I was a kid. My husband doesn’t care for red onions though. He says they are too strong.
My kids love onion juice with honey!
And its the BEST cure for colds and coughs. My daughter suffered with chest infections every two weeks for 2 years(she was aspirating due to drinks getting into her lungs).No doctor or medicine did anything for her. At 2 years of age she was the size of a 6-9 months child, we were seeing paediatrician every two weeks. After one the visits and another prescription of a stronger inhalator I went the home remedy way. She was taking onion juice with Manuka+25 for two weeks and on our next doc visit her lungs were clear for the first time in over a year! She gained 500gr in this 2 weeks which was more then in a year prior to it! Since then she had improved tremendously! Even she still gets liquids in her lungs, but at the first sing I give her the remedy and she is back to normal in 2-3 days 🙂
That is amazing, so glad to hear onion juice worked, what a great natural remedy!
I have allergy on white onion and garlic but when I eat raw red onion, I have no allergy reaction and now I see why after reading this.
Thank God for your baby 🙂
Can lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy drink raw onion juice too ???
I tend to get the yellow onions simply because they are more readily available in my local grocery stores. But sometimes I use red onions and I find them to be more pungent.