Craving laccha pyaaz? 4 perfect reasons to eat onion salad with summer meals

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The king of all Indian salads are juicy and finely cut onion rings with masala and lemon juice. Slurp! They are so versatile that they go with everything – from butter chicken and naan to ‘ghar wale’ Rajma rice. The humble onion salad not only elevates the taste of any cuisine but is absolutely brimming with nutrients too. To know the benefits of eating onion salad in summer, read on!

Health Shots spoke to Nikita Oswal, Chief Nutritionist, Fat2FitCurves, who listed numerous benefits of eating onion salad everyday!

“Summer is on, and India’s heatwave is setting new records each day. Excessive heat can take a toll on your overall health. It is very important to take care of proper food and drink which can help you to beat the heat naturally. If you are a little careless, you can fall ill due to the summer heat. During these days, diet must include foods that can keep you cool naturally and add a few foods to your diet to keep the body system running smoothly. Onion is one of the most beneficial foods to avoid heat stroke and keeps your body internally cool. Onions should be eaten every day during this summer season,” says Oswal.

Some more lesser known benefits of eating onion salad are listed below:

1. Onions treat sunstrokes

Raw onions are quite popular during summer seasons as they have cooling properties. Onions have a compound called quercetin that can act against histamine. Its juice is also effective in treating sunstroke as well as sunburns.

2. Onions boost gut health

Onions are a rich source of fibre and prebiotics, especially the non-digestible type that is needed to maintain gut health. It keeps your digestion in good shape with the help of onions.

flax seeds for gut healthOnions come loaded with benefits for your digestive system. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

3. Onions can help regulate blood sugar

The benefits of eating oinions extent to the diabetics too. Oswal suggests that there are multiple flavonoids (a class of antioxidants) present in onions that help keep the blood glucose in control and also promote good health and immunity, which is especially significant for people with diabetes or pre-diabetes.

4. Rich in antioxidant compounds

Onions are loaded with plant chemicals including flavonoids, which have both an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. When consumed regularly and in sufficient quantities, these compounds like sulfur-containing may help protect against chronic conditions such as cancer and hypertension.

onion ringsThese awesome benefits of eating onions will make you eat them more! Image courtesy: Unsplash

Onion is a power-packed source of iron, antioxidants, essential vitamins and more. It is also rich in vitamin C and B including folate. Now that you know the benefits of eating onions, this summer, try to eat them often to stay cool and don’t miss out on the amazing nutrients they offer. brb* Looking for an onion salad recipe!