Onions belong to the Allium family of the plant. These are commonly used as vegetables or in the salad. Beyond that, onions have been used for medical purposes since ancient times. These vegetables contain a good amount of vitamins C, B vitamin, potassium, and other minerals, making them extremely beneficial for overall health.
Onions, when consumed before bedtime, could help you sleep better. Insomnia is a condition when people have difficulty falling asleep. It could be very disturbing to bear, but thankfully onions are nature’s gift for treating insomnia.
This article will discuss the use of onions for a night of better sleep. We will also try to understand why onions make you sleep and the possible ways to take their full benefits.
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Do onions help you sleep?
Onions are very effective in giving you a nice sleep. These vegetables contain the chemical L-tryptophan, which is known for its property to make you sleepy. L-tryptophan is an amino acid found in many fruits and vegetables. These amino acids are responsible for making proteins and other important molecules that are essential for optimal sleep. Apart from its participation in various vital functions of the body, these amino acids also are important for producing serotonin which influences brain and intestinal functioning.
A low level of L-tryptophan is often seen in people having depression or high levels of stress. Doctors usually recommend L-tryptophan supplements to treat insomnia. Onion is a rich source of this amino acid, which is extremely beneficial in making you sleep better. Another reason which makes onions effective in sleep is that they contain Vitamin C, which is believed to reduce stress and thus helps in sound sleep.
How do onions improve sleep?
Onions, as discussed before, have L-tryptophan, which makes them effective in making you sleepy. Onions are also known to have high prebiotic properties. In simple words, prebiotics is the food for the good gut bacteria in your body. When we supply our gut with prebiotics, it eventually helps gut bacteria grow and improve metabolism.
A study conducted by US scientists on rodents by supplying them probiotics (good gut bacteria) reveals some interesting facts. Rodents are often used in medical research because they share genetic resemblance with humans. The study discovered that probiotics help them in long non-rapid-eye-movement sleep (NREM), which means a better sleep cycle. Long rapid-eye-movement sleep (REM) is also linked with recovery from stress.
Although there is a lack of studies on humans, we can say that probiotics will do the same thing for humans. As onions are proven to improve gut microbiota, they will help you with reduced stress and a better sleep cycle.
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Cold and stuffy nose
Onions contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which is another reason that makes them effective in treating insomnia. Due to their medicinal properties, onions help you treat a cold and stuffy nose, which eventually makes you comfortable to sleep.
Although all types of onions have antioxidants, red onions are most effective. Red onions have the highest level of quercetin, which is an antioxidant. It helps in fighting free radicals and inhibits excess production of histamine, relieving your mucus buildup.
How to use onions for a cold and stuffy nose?
Congestion and a stuffy nose could be daunting when you try to sleep after a long hectic day. However, you can use onions to help yourself. Onions, due to antioxidants, are effective in cold and stuffy noses. To ease your cold symptoms, eat as many onions as possible. You can slice red onions and put some honey onto them to make them taste better. You can also consume raw onions directly before going to bed. Raw onions can be added to soup, sandwiches, or vegetables. It is not a compulsion to eat raw onion, and if you are not comfortable eating it raw, you can also fry or cook it to make it taste better.
Onion jar cure for insomnia
There are many natural remedies to help you sleep and cure insomnia. An onion jar cure is one of the effective methods to make you sleep. It is known to be beneficial in treating your sleep disorders. Onions have been used in Chinese medicines since ancient times. It is believed to soothe and relax muscles and help in a better sleep routine.
To use an onion jar cure for insomnia, you need to slice up the onion and put it in an airtight jar. Try to inhale the vapors from the jar before going to bed. Inhaling onion vapors for 10-15 minutes is enough to make you sleepy. Place the onion jar near your bed so you can inhale the vapor if you wake up at midnight.
Another way of using onions for sleeping is to drink onion water. To prepare onion water, just chop some onion, boil it with a pan of water. Once it cools down, fill it in a bottle. Drinking a tablespoon of this onion water before bed will do miracles for your sleeping habits. For making this drink more delicious and healthy, you can add a few drops of honey per tablespoon of onion water.
Conclusion
Based on various studies, it is clear that onions help give you a sweet good night’s sleep. It has L-tryptophan, which is a sedative, making it even more effective in insomnia. Onions have also been found beneficial in cold and stuffy noses, which are the most common reasons for discomfort in sleep.
