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Carb Counts for Green Onions
Carbohydrate and Nutritional Information

By Laura Dolson, About.com

Updated: September 15, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

green onions scallions

Green Onions; Scallions; Spring Onions

Photo: Barry Wong/Getty Images
The term "green onion" is usually used interchangeably with "spring onion" and "scallion", though technically scallions are younger and have a less-developed white bulb. Green onions deliver a lot of the flavor of regular bulb onions, but for less carbohydrate, since only the bulb part has significant carbohydrate.

Carbohydrate and Fiber Counts for Green Onions

  • ½ cup chopped green onion: 3 grams effective (net) carbohydrate plus 1.5 grams fiber and 16 calories

  • 1 medium green onion (about 4" long): ½ gram effective (net) carbohydrate plus ½ gram fiber and 5 calories

  • 1 ounce chopped green onion: 1 gram effective (net) carbohydrate plus 1 gram fiber and 9 calories

Glycemic Index for Green Onions

As with most non-starchy vegetables, there is no scientific study of the glycemic index of green onions.

More Information about the Glycemic Index

Estimated Glycemic Load of Green Onions

  • ½ cup raw chopped onions: 1

  • 1 medium green onion (about 4" long): 0
  • 1 ounce chopped green onion: 0

More Information about the Glycemic Load

Health Benefits of Green Onions

Nutritionally, green onions have a combination of the benefits of onions and greens. They are an excellent source of vitamin K and vitamin C, and a very good source of vitamin A and folate. They probably have some of the other health benefits of regular onions, but in a less concentrated form.

Low-Carb Recipes with Green Onions

More Information About Green Onions at Calorie Count Plus.

Sources:

Galeone C, Pelucchi C, Levi F, Negri E, Franceschi S, Talamini R, Giacosa A, La Vecchia C. Onion and garlic use and human cancer. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Nov;84(5):1027-32.

Leroux, MarcusFoster-Powell, Kaye, Holt, Susanna and Brand-Miller, Janette. "International table of glycemic index and glycemic load values: 2002." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Vol. 76, No. 1, 5-56, (2002).

USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 20.

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