In their natural form, onions are a wonderful source of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals which can help to bolster your health and even reduce your risk of heart disease and high blood pressure when eaten regularly over time. However, if you find yourself frequently cooking with onion powder and struggling with indigestion, this is no coincidence as onion powder is difficult to digest and can act as a potential irritant to your stomach when consistently used in your meals.
“Most often the preservatives in powdered spices, like onion powder, make them harder to digest than those made from their naturally dried counterparts. Onions are a part of the allium family, which are quite common but some individuals have a sensitivity to them,” explains registered dietitian Trista Best. “This can lead to gastrointestinal irritation, gas, bloating, and nausea.”
When you consume foods which can have a negative impact on your digestion, this can lead to a number of uncomfortable side effects that can affect your overall well being. Best explains that a slower digestion may reduce your energy levels, kill your appetite, and even put you in a bad mood, so it’s worth eliminating or slowing your consumption of certain foods such as onion powder which could potentially put your digestion at risk.
Onions, as well as garlic, are notorious for being difficult to digest if you have a sensitive stomach, and particularly if you suffer from IBS, a low fodmap diet is recommended to eliminate foods which may not settle well, with onions being at the top of the list. Unfortunately, onion powder is included in this.
If you do not suffer from IBS or have a generally strong stomach, Best suggests turning to minced onion instead of onion powder if you still want to enjoy that distinct flavor in your cooking without causing unnecessary digestive issues. “There is a lack of preservatives in this version of the seasoning and will have little to no effect on digestion,” she explains.
Minced onion can make a delicious addition to your eggs, sauteed veggies, or even any meat. With a similar flavor to onion powder with minimal effect to your digestive system, minced onion is the perfect alternative which can also offer a satisfying crunch that your powder will not.
Cooking for healthy weight loss and digestion is all about figuring out what works for your body and making small adjustments to allow yourself to feel your best. While onion powder may be a potential irritant to your stomach lining, minced onion is a great variation which can provide delicious flavor without potentially causing an influx of unnecessary issues in your gut.
It may also be worth integrating anti-inflammatory seasonings such as turmeric and ginger into your cooking in order to soothe your belly and allow for your body to hold onto less gas and bloat, offering a major improvement to your overall health.