High blood cholesterol levels can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, both of which can be life-threatening. For this reason, health authorities often recommend that people maintain healthy blood cholesterol levels, according to the US health website Healthline .

There are many factors that can cause high blood cholesterol. In addition to eating foods high in trans fats or saturated fats, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, genetics, and age can also contribute to high blood cholesterol. In addition, certain health problems such as type 2 diabetes or obesity can also cause high blood cholesterol levels.

Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and limiting alcohol consumption are good ways to help protect yourself from high cholesterol. Diet is also important.

Eating fiber-rich foods like beans, oats, and avocados can help lower “bad” LDL cholesterol while increasing “good” HDL cholesterol. However, what few people know is that onions can also have this effect.

Onions are rich in minerals and vitamins. One cup of onions contains 350 mg of potassium, 74 mg of phosphorus, 46 mg of calcium, and 23 mg of magnesium. Onions also contain a powerful antioxidant called quercetin, a flavonoid.

In an eight-week study published in the journal Plant Foods for Human Nutrition , researchers found that drinking quercetin-rich onion juice significantly reduced levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol in patients with high cholesterol levels.

Not only that, a study in the journal Food Science & Nutrition also discovered other benefits of onions. The authors analyzed 10 different clinical studies and found that eating onions not only helps reduce bad cholesterol, increase good cholesterol levels, but also regulates total cholesterol levels.

There are many ways to add onions to your daily meals, from soups, stews, sandwiches to salads. People who are concerned about their cholesterol levels should get regular checkups and consult their doctors for effective ways to control cholesterol, according to Healthline.