Onions and HDL Cholesterol – Scientific Report

Cholesterol is a vital substance used to construct cellular walls; however, excessive cholesterol levels are proven to increase your risk of heart disease. There are two types of cholesterol: LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol and HDL, or “good,” cholesterol. If you have high LDL cholesterol levels your risk of developing atherosclerosis, or plaque accumulation along artery walls, is dramatically increased; however, high HDL cholesterol inhibits plaque accumulation and rising HDL cholesterol levels.

According to initial research, the compounds found in onions have been shown to significantly affect the levels of LDL and HDL levels to promote a healthy cardiovascular system. However, if you must lower your cholesterol levels make sure to do so under the directly supervision of your physician as you may be required to undergo pharmaceutical therapies.

Active Constituents in Onions:

While the onion is typically considered a tasty ingredient in a wide variety of food dishes, this vegetable has a plethora of compounds known to have medicinal properties. The two most potent compounds found in onions include: phytochemicals and quercetin.

The National Onion Association reports that quercitin is a high concentration of antioxidants, which work to eliminate free radicals and repair any damage these rogue atoms have caused.

According to the Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension, the active compounds in onions have been shown to hinder blood clots, enhance blood circulation and reduce hypertension, or high blood pressure.

Onions for Cholesterol Control:

While there are not a plethora of studies available to describe the effectiveness of onions on cholesterol levels, the studies that have been performed are quite promising.

According to the Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension Service, researchers found that participants in a study who consumed onions at least every day experienced a 30 percent increase in HDL, or “good,” cholesterol levels.

Other studies have found that the high concentrations of the compound quercetin hindered the oxidation process of LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol, which help prevent the negative effects of this type of cholesterol.

Daily Intake:

To utilize onions as an effective cholesterol remedy, researchers suggest eating ½ of a raw onion per day. However, you do not need to consume the entire half in one sitting. To ensure you consume onions with the most quercetin, select an onion with the strongest odor.


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