Why Are Onions Bad for You?

While onions offer many health benefits, consuming an excess amount can lead to gastrointestinal distress, such as irritable bowel syndrome and acid reflux.

Although onions are quite safe to consume, rarely they may harm your health if you have any underlying health conditions or when you consume them in excess.

• One of the most popular drawbacks of eating onions is their tendency to give you bad breath and body odor.
• Although rare, people may develop allergic reactions to onions, particularly onion seeds, in which symptoms present as itching, watering of the eyes, and skin rashes on coming in contact with onion or onion extracts.
• Onions may cause symptoms of gastrointestinal upset, such as heartburn, bloating, abdominal discomfort, nausea, and vomiting, in susceptible individuals, which may aggravate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in affected individuals. These symptoms are relatively more common when eating onions raw rather than cooked. Raw onions may especially make you more flatulent.
• Onions are generally recognized as safe when consumed in moderation during pregnancy. However, consuming onions in excess or as supplements must be avoided by pregnant and breastfeeding women due to a lack of data on its safety.
• Some studies suggest that onions may slow blood clotting. Hence, consuming onions as extracts or supplements must be avoided if you have bleeding disorders. Although enough scientific evidence is not available about the interaction between onion supplements and antiplatelet drugs, avoid taking onion supplements if you take antiplatelet medications or other blood thinners without getting your doctor’s approval.
• Certain animal studies and clinical trials have demonstrated that onions can lower blood sugar levels. Thus, monitor your blood sugar levels regularly if you take onion supplements and anti-diabetes medications.
• Because onions have been associated with a lower blood glucose level and bleeding tendency, it is better to avoid such supplements before surgery. You must inform your surgeon if you take any drugs or supplements, including onion supplements, before surgery.