If you’re anything like me, you’ll love the smell of onions frying in your kitchen.

In my mind, there’s very little dishes onions don’t go with. Whether it’s soup, stew, stir-fry, casserole or pasta, I’ll likely find a way to add onion to a dish. This is especially true during the winter months, when I often find my sinuses blocked and I’m in need of strong taste.

Of course, onions don’t just add flavor to your meals, but they’re also surprisingly healthy for you. Here we’ve compiled a list of five ways onions can not only improve your overall health, but also help you to appear more radiant …

1: Regulating Blood Sugar Levels

One study on rats with diabetes found that onion extract aided in reducing high blood glucose levels and lowering cholesterol levels, when given with the anti-diabetic drug Metformin.

So, if you suffer from diabetes or prediabetes, perhaps you should bring it up with your doctor. Adding more onions to your diet could help reduce blood sugar levels in a more natural way.

2. Your immune system

Onions not only contain anti-viral properties, but also have vitamin C. This can help give your immune system a boost before cold and flu season hits with full force.

It’s no wonder people have been adding garlic and onions to soup for centuries when they have colds – not only does it give it a stronger taste, but it can actually help you get better quicker!

3. Healthy hair

When it comes to B-complex biotin (needed to convert certain nutrients from the body into energy), onions can be a great source. A lack of biotin can lead to unnecessary hair loss and a troublesome scalp. Onions mean biotin, which in turn keeps hair strong and shiny.

4. Skin

Not only does biotin deficiency cause problems with hair, but it can also cause dry, scaly skin. Keeping biotin-rich foods (such as onion) in your diet is a good way to maintain healthy skin during the winter.

5. Nails

Beginning to see a pattern here? Well, it’s back to the biotin again. Supplements containing it have been known to help boost the strength of nails, meaning that when you take them you’re simultaneously looking after several parts of your body!

Well, I’m certainly going to aim to work more onions into my diet now!

If you learned anything in this article, share it on Facebook so it can be seen by your family and friends!