Diabetes is a condition that impairs the ability of the body to process blood sugar normally, thereby leading to an excess amount of glucose in the blood. Glucose is your brain’s main source of fuel as well as an important source of energy for the cells that make up your tissues and muscles.
Without careful management, diabetes can cause sugars to build-up in the blood thus increasing a person’s risk for dangerous complications such as heart attack and stroke.
There are three major types of diabetes:
Type I diabetes – occurs when the body fails to produce insulin.
Type 2 diabetes – affects the way the body uses insulin and has a strong link with obesity.
Gestational diabetes – occurs in women during pregnancy when the body becomes less sensitive to insulin. Luckily, it resolves after giving birth.
Symptoms of diabetes include:
- Extreme hunger
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Irritability
- Slow-healing sores
- Blurred vision
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
- Frequent infections, such as gums or skin infections and vaginal infections
- Presence of ketones in the urine (ketones are a byproduct of the breakdown of muscle and fat that happens when there’s not enough available insulin)
Diabetics should be very careful about choosing the foods they should eat. Fiber-rich foods must be included on the list as it enables the low release of sugars in the bloodstream which leads to the prevention of abnormal spikes.
Onion is one of the foods that can regulate blood sugar level and proven to be beneficial for diabetics, especially during summer.
Nutritional Composition of Raw Onions
One cup of chopped onion contains approximately:
64 calories
2 grams of protein
15 grams of carbohydrate
3 grams of fiber
0 grams of cholesterol
0 grams of fat
7 grams of sugar
10% or more of the daily value for manganese, vitamin C, and vitamin B-6.
Additionally, onions also have small amounts of magnesium, iron, calcium, folate, and potassium as well as the antioxidants sulfur and quercetin.
Benefits Of Onion During The Summer
During summer weather, onions work wonders to prevent diseases. It contains antioxidant elements that get rid of free radicals and fights inflammation in the body. It can protect you against symptoms of heat stroke and boost skin and hair health. Due to its compound quercetin which has anti-histamine properties, onions can also help prevent allergies, rashes, and acne due to heat on the skin.
Benefit Of Onion For Diabetes
Onion or onion juice can help keep your blood sugar in control and at the same time, promote good health and immunity. According to studies, onions have compounds that can help regulate sugar spikes.
A study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research showed that quercetin supplements in dosage 500 mg or above daily for eight weeks can lower blood glucose levels in metabolic syndrome patients who are at high risk of developing diabetes. In addition to this, juice extracted from onions was found to have the ability to soothe sunburns and heat stroke during summers.
Some other benefits you can obtain from consuming onions are as follows:
· May Boost Bone Density
· Have Antibacterial Properties
· May Boost Digestive Health
· Maintains Heart Health
· Loaded with antioxidants
· Relieve cough and cold symptoms
How to Include Onions In a Healthy Diabetes Diet
Consumption of fresh onions can help reduce blood glucose levels among type-1 and type-2 diabetics, according to a study published in the journal ‘Environmental Health Insights.’
You may also include red onions in your sandwiches, salads, savory porridges, soups and stews for you to be able to reap its benefits.
