Can Eating Onions Help Lower Blood Pressure?

Onions cannot lower blood pressure. The composition of onions is similar to other vegetables, with basic nutrients including carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins. Many people believe that onions are a magical food for lowering blood pressure, possibly due to their unique active ingredient, prostaglandin A. Prostaglandin A indeed has a strong vasodilator effect, which can reduce peripheral vascular resistance, lower blood viscosity, and promote the excretion of sodium and salt. In medicine, it is also recognized that prostaglandin can play a certain role in lowering blood pressure. However, the content of prostaglandin A in onions is minimal, and even less of it enters the human body after cooking. Additionally, consuming large amounts of onions can cause adverse symptoms such as blurred vision and body heat. Therefore, relying solely on the prostaglandin A in onions to lower blood pressure is not scientific.

1. Reasonable diet: In the treatment of hypertension, it is important to maintain a reasonable diet, especially limiting salt intake. This can effectively reduce blood osmotic pressure, decrease the exudation of water from tissue cells, and thereby reduce blood volume, resulting in a decrease in blood pressure. Additionally, hypertensive patients should consume more vegetables, such as onions and celery, which are beneficial for their health.

2. Moderate exercise: Regular exercise is the best way to regulate blood pressure. Effective exercise can dilate blood vessels, reduce resistance to blood flow, and especially during exercise, sweating can also reduce blood volume, leading to a decrease in blood pressure. Studies have shown that the regulatory effect of a single effective exercise on blood pressure can last for nearly 20 hours, similar to the effect of antihypertensive drugs.

3. Regular medication: Some antihypertensive drugs have a slow onset of action, and it may take up to 1-2 weeks to achieve the best effect, with blood pressure gradually decreasing. Conversely, stopping the medication will not cause a rapid increase in blood pressure. This may give patients a false impression that a certain food is responsible for lowering their blood pressure. Regular medication is necessary to effectively lower blood pressure.