Key TakeawaysA new TikTok trend features posters showing people how to make onion water, claiming that the drink can cure RSV and sinus infections.Experts say there’s no evidence that drinking onion water offers immune benefits and it can actually come with health risks.It’s best to follow evidence-based recommendations for supporting a healthy immune system.
Key Takeaways
A new TikTok trend features posters showing people how to make onion water, claiming that the drink can cure RSV and sinus infections.Experts say there’s no evidence that drinking onion water offers immune benefits and it can actually come with health risks.It’s best to follow evidence-based recommendations for supporting a healthy immune system.
TikTok has brought us some unique health-related content—remember Nyquil-marinated chicken and Pink Sauce? With cold andflu seasonupon us, the “immune-boosting” tips are making the rounds on social media.
Along with the classic advice to get plenty ofvitamin Candwash your handsoften, there’s a new suggestion trending on TikTok: onion water.
As you’d probably expect, onion water is no miracle cure during cold and flu season. But are there any risks to drinking onion water? Here’s what experts say.
Benefits of Eating Your Onions
Before we look at whether water infused with raw onion could be a “cure” for anything, let’s consider what we know about the health benefits of onions when they’re part of our diets.
Roxana Ehshani, MS, RDN, CSSD, LDN, a board-certified sports dietitian, told Verywell that onions on their own are quite nutrient-dense, containing vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and 25 differentflavonoids.
Specifically, one raw red onion contains about:
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“Onions have been used for their culinary and medicinal properties for centuries,” William Li, MD, a physician and author ofEat to Beat Disease,told Verywell.“They contain a natural bioactive calledquercetinthat has anti-inflammatory properties.”
Some research has suggested that theanti-inflammatory effectsmay support immune system function.
Onions also containselenium, whichStella Bard, MD, a Texas-based rheumatologist, told Verywell can help “decrease inflammation and help initiate the immune response.” Bard added that the veggie also containssoluble fiber. Fiber supports a healthy gut microbiome, which in turn, promotes healthy immune function.
On their own, onions won’t meet 100% of your daily need for vitamin C (the star of immune system support), but they will give you some. When they’re part of a balanced, nutrient-dense diet, onions could certainly help support a strong immune system.
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Benefits of Drinking Your Onions
Eating onions is one thing. But can drinking water that’s been infused with onion offer the same benefits as including them in your diet?
“Adding onions to water—such as the demo on TikTok—will not release much of the quercetin into the water,” Li said.
By not eating the fiber of the onion, you’re missing out on theprebiotic fiberthat is naturally found in a whole onion. These prebiotic fibers help support healthy and diverse gut microbiota.
William Li, MDThe benefit of onion water is mostly the water, which provides hydration.
William Li, MD
The benefit of onion water is mostly the water, which provides hydration.
Since 70%-80% of immune cells are present in the gut, research suggests that there’s a direct relationship between the gut microbiota and the mucosal immune system.
Not getting these prebiotics means not getting the gut health support that may, in turn, support certain aspects of immune health. Plus, it’s unclear how many of the immune health-supporting micronutrients would be present in the water once you drink it.
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Is Drinking Onion Water Risky?
Drinking onion water may sound like a low-risk remedy to explore—especially if you would prefer a more natural approach to cold and flu prevention. That said, there are some words of caution to consider before trying it.
Many fruits and vegetables can become contaminated with bacteria likesalmonellaorlisteria. You can get really sick if you ingest these organisms.
Back in the summer of 2022, the TikTok trend ofsubmerging avocados in waterto extend their shelf life triggered a warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
There are also health risks of combining fresh produce and water—especially if the concoction is unrefrigerated.
Onions have been recalled due to salmonella or listeria contamination in the past.Submerging them in water for an extended time could carry a similar risk that soaking avocados did—especially if the onion was not washed thoroughly and the water is not refrigerated during the infusion process.
Bard also cautioned that onion water could cause irritation in some people when ingested thanks tosulfur-containing compoundsthat are naturally found in the vegetable.
What This Means For YouDrinking onion water is not going to keep you from getting sick this winter. In fact, it could even raise your risk for foodborne illness. At the very least, the drink could be irritating and unpleasant. Luckily, there are plenty of other evidence-backed (and better-tasting) ways to give your immune system a boost.
What This Means For You
Drinking onion water is not going to keep you from getting sick this winter. In fact, it could even raise your risk for foodborne illness. At the very least, the drink could be irritating and unpleasant. Luckily, there are plenty of other evidence-backed (and better-tasting) ways to give your immune system a boost.
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5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.United States Department of Agriculture.FoodData Central: red onion, raw.Li Y, Yao J, Han C, et al.Quercetin, Inflammation and Immunity.Nutrients. 2016;8(3):167. doi:10.3390/nu8030167Wiertsema SP, van Bergenhenegouwen J, Garssen J, Knippels LMJ.The interplay between the gut microbiome and the immune system in the context of infectious diseases throughout life and the role of nutrition in optimizing treatment strategies.Nutrients. 2021;13(3):886. doi:10.3390/nu13030886North Carolina State University.Infused water safety tips.Food and Drug Administration.Investigation Report: Factors potentially contributing to the contamination of red onions implicated in the summer 2020 outbreak ofSalmonellaNewport.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.United States Department of Agriculture.FoodData Central: red onion, raw.Li Y, Yao J, Han C, et al.Quercetin, Inflammation and Immunity.Nutrients. 2016;8(3):167. doi:10.3390/nu8030167Wiertsema SP, van Bergenhenegouwen J, Garssen J, Knippels LMJ.The interplay between the gut microbiome and the immune system in the context of infectious diseases throughout life and the role of nutrition in optimizing treatment strategies.Nutrients. 2021;13(3):886. doi:10.3390/nu13030886North Carolina State University.Infused water safety tips.Food and Drug Administration.Investigation Report: Factors potentially contributing to the contamination of red onions implicated in the summer 2020 outbreak ofSalmonellaNewport.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
United States Department of Agriculture.FoodData Central: red onion, raw.Li Y, Yao J, Han C, et al.Quercetin, Inflammation and Immunity.Nutrients. 2016;8(3):167. doi:10.3390/nu8030167Wiertsema SP, van Bergenhenegouwen J, Garssen J, Knippels LMJ.The interplay between the gut microbiome and the immune system in the context of infectious diseases throughout life and the role of nutrition in optimizing treatment strategies.Nutrients. 2021;13(3):886. doi:10.3390/nu13030886North Carolina State University.Infused water safety tips.Food and Drug Administration.Investigation Report: Factors potentially contributing to the contamination of red onions implicated in the summer 2020 outbreak ofSalmonellaNewport.
United States Department of Agriculture.FoodData Central: red onion, raw.
Li Y, Yao J, Han C, et al.Quercetin, Inflammation and Immunity.Nutrients. 2016;8(3):167. doi:10.3390/nu8030167
Wiertsema SP, van Bergenhenegouwen J, Garssen J, Knippels LMJ.The interplay between the gut microbiome and the immune system in the context of infectious diseases throughout life and the role of nutrition in optimizing treatment strategies.Nutrients. 2021;13(3):886. doi:10.3390/nu13030886
North Carolina State University.Infused water safety tips.
Food and Drug Administration.Investigation Report: Factors potentially contributing to the contamination of red onions implicated in the summer 2020 outbreak ofSalmonellaNewport.
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