"In onion there's strength - in nutrition and popularity."

Shallot, bulb, leak, spring onion  - the saying "in onion there's strength" is true; it is the most complete and most popular vegetable in the world.  

Dr Abe V Rotor

Shallot (sibuyas Tagalog, lasona Ilk) has a longer shelf life 

under ordinary environment than any other type of onion.

  

Just hang the bundle in a dry cool place and it will last for three to six months. And if you are cooking with firewood, hang it where smoke can reach it.  Smoke helps keep its freshness, and protects it from insect (onion beetle), and rot due to bacteria and fungi. 

The large bulb onions - yellow (Yellow Granex) and red (Red Creole) on the other hand, last only for a few weeks after harvest; you need cold storage to extend their shelf life.

If you are after "strength" pick the shallot. It's more than twice pungent and flavorful so that you need a few bulbs for your cooking, or spicing "kilawin."  It cannot qualify though, for onion ring recipes.  In which case, get the bulb onions. For fresh salad and garnish get the leak or spring onion.  You may grow in your backyard or in pots just for fresh leaves which you need now and then for scrabbled egg and soup. 

Facts about the Onion 

The onion (Allium cepa) belongs to the Family of lilies - Liliaceae. The onion is native to Southwest Asia, and it must have been known widely since the Egyptians were eating it in ancient times to add flavor to savory foods. 

Red bulb onion and ornamental lily (photo below) belongs to thew same family

The onion is a nutritious vegetable. It contains zinc, potassium, calcium, iron, selenium, dietary fiber, vitamin C and vitamin B6. It contains no cholesterol, sodium or fat. It also contains quercetin, a flavanoid that helps to prevent certain diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer,

There is a warning though, that while onions may be useful to people, they can be unsafe for animals. Cats, dogs, goats and cattle can, among other ailments, become anemic by eating onions. Anemia means they will not have enough red blood cells to be healthy.

Here is a list of Nutrition Facts about the onion in general.

Serving Size 1 cup (160g) Percent Daily Values*

Calories 64, 3%

Total Carbohydrate 14.9 g, 5%

Total Fat 0, 0%

Cholesterol 0, 0%

Dietary Fiber 2.7 g, 11%

Sugars 6.8 g

Protein 4.9 g

Vitamin A 3.2 IU 

Vitamin C 11.8 mg, 20%

Vitamin B6 0.2 mg, 10%

Folate 30.4 mcg, 8%

Calcium 36.8 mg, 4%

Iron .3 mg, 2%

Magnesium 16 mg, 4%

Phosphorus 46.4 mg, 5%

Potassium 234 mg, 7%

Sodium 6.4, 0%

Zinc .2mcg, 1%

Copper 0.1 mg, 3%

Manganese 0.2 mg, 10%

Selenium 0.8 mcg, 1%

Fluoride 1.8 mcg

Alcohol 0.0 g

Water 143 g

Ash 0.6 g

Caffeine 0.0 mg

*Percent (%) Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Acknowledgement: Wikipedia, Internet