An onion a day could be a great way to treat diabetes. Extract of onion bulb lowers high blood glucose and total cholesterol levels, a new study has found.
Taking a 400 mg onion extract supplement twice a day could lower fasting blood sugar levels by as much as 50 per cent, and also dramatically reduces total cholesterol levels, say researchers from Delta State University in Abraka, Nigeria.
Strangely, the extract-known as Allium cepa-seems to work better with diabetics. Although onion is not high in calories, non-diabetics who took the extract put on weight. The researchers think the supplement increases the metabolic rate, and makes people hungry, and so they eat more.
Their research has been restricted to laboratory rats, who were given various amounts of the extract along with the anti-diabetic drug metformin. The groups given 400 mg and 600 mg extracts quickly reduced their blood glucose and cholesterol levels compared to those given only the drug.
(Source: Proceedings of the 97th annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, San Diego, March 6, 2015)
