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Onions - effective aid for colds and weight loss... Can onions harm the liver?

David Janitzek

David Janitzek

2026-03-19
5 min. read
Onions - effective aid for colds and weight loss... Can onions harm the liver?
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Ideally suited for cold symptoms, appreciated by sailors in the fight against scurvy... It is widely recognized for its beneficial characteristics... Available data suggest that onion syrup is one of the most popular methods of treating cold symptoms at home... Will it also be effective for weight reduction?

Cucumbers

The common onion (Allium cepa) of the lily family is a biennial plant. It has a number of health benefits, with a particular focus on reducing inflammatory reactions. In medicine, extracts are mainly from fresh raw materials, used internally in the treatment of Kuna, such as Magnetic Acid, as a component of the internal gland. It is easy to grow and store.

An onion for a cold

The active compounds, i.e. flavonoids (spirozide, quercetin), mineral salts (iodine, fluorine, iron, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, zinc) and phytonic compounds affect the action: strengthening, mildly urinating, stress-reducing, disinfecting, anti-inflammatory. Phytocides as natural compounds easily secreted by onions inhibit the development of many microorganisms. They are mainly sulfuric compounds. Available data also provide information that anti-cold-cellulants are the most commonly used method of anti-cancer treatment in the treatment of bacterial infections. They can also be used as an anti-bacterial agent.

Onions for weight loss

One of the valuable ingredients in onions is quercetin. As indicated by the available literature, Quercetin has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, it affects the control of fat tissue by inducing apoptosis of fat cells (adipocytes), may inhibit their formation (adipogenesis) and increase their lipolysis [11, 12]. In a study by Kim et al., the effects of quercetine-rich extract on inflammatory state mediators in overweight and obese women were assessed. The study was conducted on 37 women, over a 12-week period.

Does onion harm the liver?

Eating too many onions can be a bit of a burden on the liver due to their high sulphur content. Additionally, onions are a heavy vegetable and therefore are not indicated for liver disease. Moreover, in rare cases of liver disease, swelling, feeling fullness in the abdomen occur. The ingredients in onions may exacerbate the above conditions, so onion may be unfavorable. However, there is no direct effect on the damage to the liver [2, 3]. Furthermore, in the study of the body's pre-existing liver disease conditions, it has been observed that red blood cells are actively deforming in the liver, and that other fatty liver components that have already been indicated to be present in the body.
David Janitzek

David Janitzek

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