Here's Why Onions Might Be Preventing A Flat Stomach

Onions are a popular part of diets across cultures. They are known for their health benefits, ease of production, storage, consumption, and gives food a flavor that leaves one wanting more. However, the downside to eating onions is that they can impact your journey towards weight loss. 

While onions are a plentiful and popular vegetable that you can find anywhere, they might hinder your progress towards a flat stomach if you're someone who has chosen to focus on their core. Is it time to consider cutting back on onions? What's so bad about onions anyway, and how do they impact weight loss?

The issue with onions lies in fructans. For non-nutritionists, fructans are members of a group called FODMAPs, which stands for Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides and Polyols (per Healthline). All onions are considered a high-FODMAP food and can lead to intestinal discomfort in the form of gas, bloating, and stomach pain. These side effects can impact your goal of achieving a flat stomach. Here's more on FODMAPs and fructans that might help explain why onions may not be best for regular consumption.

If you find yourself suffering from symptoms related to stomach bloating, and onions have been a consistent part of your diet, you may want to try limiting consumption to see if you observe any changes (per Healthline).

If you feel that onions are the reason behind your digestive problems and they are hindering your fitness journey, you might consider swapping onions for other alternatives that are considered low-FODMAP foods. It's important to note that cutting out FODMAP food items completely can lead to nutritional deficiencies and letting go of them altogether can be quite restrictive. Besides, FODMAPs are important for our bodies as they do offer health benefits related to gut health, therefore, they don't always need to be let go of completely (via Ornish Lifestyle Medicine).

However, if you have thought about letting go of onions and would like to find a replacement, then consider adding asafoetida to your diet. Asafoetida is a pungent spice that is common in Indian food. Experts at BBC Good Food say that asafoetida should be first cooked in hot oil and then added to food in small amounts. You could also look forward to adding other low-FODMAP food items to your diet such as chili, chives, ginger, or turmeric (via Healthline). This way, you can continue making progress in your weight loss goals and have nothing hinder your journey towards a flatter stomach, if that's a personal choice you have made for yourself that feels right for you.