In most cuisines around the world, onions are a staple ingredient. Their shelf life is good, and they grow year-round. However, did you know onions may make many people sick?
In addition to gastrointestinal distress, migraines, and anaphylactic shock, onions and their relatives can cause various symptoms. Onion can be disastrous for some people. Monash University’s Dr. Jane Muir said onions are a common problem for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Many people cannot digest fructan, a carbohydrate in many fruits and vegetables, causing bloating or diarrhea.
Image Credit: Shutterstock/Nicoleta Ionescu
In his clinic at Northwestern University, Dr. Sai Nimmagadda estimates that 1%-5% of his patients report being sensitive to onion products. Despite challenges in testing, there are likely more people in the U.S. and elsewhere with onion and garlic food intolerances.
Analyzing The Root Cause
Although it’s awful to have an onion allergy, researchers and medical professionals know much more about IgE-mediated allergic reactions since they can be tested and treated. Without making an assessment, there’s no easy way to determine how many people have onion or garlic intolerances. Nimmagadda said it’s difficult to comprehensively understand food due to its complexity, which contains proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and more.
Image Credit: Shutterstock/eldar nurkovic
Humans differ, even in their microbiomes. The symptoms and causes of food intolerance vary from person to person. Some people with food intolerances can tolerate onions, for instance. Nimmagadda noted that cooking onions could degrade some proteins. Peanuts, for example, can sometimes trigger even stronger reactions after cooking.
Keeping The Onions In Check
Many people avoid offending foods, but that’s not always possible when we eat food we didn’t make. Nimmagadda suggested asking the chef what’s in the food, so you don’t get surprised. If you feel unwell after eating, it might be time to investigate whether you have an intolerance or allergy to onions. As Nimmagadda said, “education, knowing your body, knowing your symptoms, seek treatment.”. Get evaluated. There are solutions. There’s no need to suffer.