What if just one lifestyle change could help you avoid getting cancer or diabetes or

heart disease or high blood pressure?

This one change could cut your risk of chronic disease and add years to your life.

Well, the simple solution to so many of these problems is to eat a healthy diet.

In other words, one centered around whole plant foods.

According to the Nutrition Facts podcast, I'm your host, Dr. Michael Greger.

Today we discover some of the health benefits of eating onions.

Onions are potentially a good source of antioxidants, though interestingly the antioxidants are

concentrated in the outer layers immediately under the papery peel.

Unfortunately, most consumers discard these most nutrient-rich, outermost layers, thus losing

a viable part.

Here are some numbers. More than 10 times more antioxidants in the outer layer of white

onions compared to the core.

You'll also note that yellow onions in general have more antioxidants than white and red

onions beat them both based on three different antioxidant testing methods.

That's why I always try to buy red.

The red onions are indeed slightly better. Yellow or white onions are no slouches containing

considerable levels of antioxidant activity.

So nutritious, sure, but are there any particular clinical benefits to onion consumption?

I have an only older white women who consumed onions at least once a day had overall bone

density that was 5% greater than individuals who consumed onions no more than once a month.

5% might not sound like a lot, but that improvement in bone density could potentially translate

...