Regular foods That can Becomes Poison if Consumed Wrongly
Eating food with family, friends, or alone is an exciting time where hunger is satisfied, as well as reunite people together or learn about other cultures. In the process of eating, the thought of death doesn't come to mind because this is not the reason for eating but you see, there are some food that can be very dangerous when prepared the wrong way, and in this post, I will like to discuss them so while you are preparing food for the holiday, you would not make mistakes.
Kidney beans is a common food for so many people, adding it to rice, or any other delicacy but then when they are not prepared properly, they can be the cause of your sickness. Numerous varieties of beans have the lectin protein known as Phytohemagglutinin in them but this protein is excessive in uncooked kidney beans. This protein makes red blood cells clump together, and that is why it is used to separate blood in medical researches. Just as it clump red blood cells, it interacts with the white blood cells, and binds with the cells in the lining of the guts reducing the gut's ability to absorb and digest food.
When too much is consumed, it causes Diarrhea, cramp, and vomiting, and when I say eating too much, you only need about 5 uncooked kidney bean to be sick. With proper heating of the beans the protein molecules are broken down, making it safe to eat. If you are going to be eating canned kidney beans, you do not need to worry about your safety because canned kidney beans are usually properly cooked before canning but if this beans is raw, then you would need soak them, drain and boil properly for at least 30 minutes.
You must have heard of Ruubarb stem, and how it is a nice pie filling with sugar and strawberries but it is important to stay away from its leaves as they are contain the chemical oxalic acid in high levels. While lots of plants also poccesses oxalic acid, Ruubarb leaves contain a high amount and they combine with calcium in the body to form crystals thereby not making the calcium in the body to be of use instead these crystals can then block the tubules in the kidney causing Kidney Stones as a result of the body trying to excrete them. Eating lots of ruubarb leaves can lead to a person falling sick but the possibility of eating large amount is very low since the leave isn't delicious to eat.
Another food of concern is Cassava. Cassava is very common in Nigeria, and just like carrot, and Yam, it is a root vegetable that can grow on poor soils and without much water. Cassava is a very great plant that ca be used for a lot of things including Garri, Fufu, and Flour but then it contains lotaustralin, and Linamarin which is important in transporting Nitrogen into the plant as well as pretecting the plant form harbivoures but then they can be cyanogenic glycocide which can be converted to cyanide when digested.
Cyanide prevents the cells from making ATP as it interferes with cellular respiration. When ATP isn't produced, then the cell isn't going to ave energy but this can be removed by proper processing which removes lotaustralin, and Linamarin. In the case when the cassava is mashed, the two chemicals lotaustralin, and Linamarin come together to produce hydrogen cyanide which is then vaporized out of the food.
Cyanide in the body can lead to thyroid gland damage, and nerve damage causing a disease known as Knozo which leads to permanent paralysis and death. To reduce this, scientists are working on genetically enginneering Cassava without Linamarin but these studies show that these cassava would need lots of fertilizers to grow.
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Let's talk about one of my favorite nut seeds and that's Cashew. Unlike groundnut, Walnut, and Almond, cashews aren't sold with their nuts. The cashews are usually roasted because their shells contain Anacardic acid that binds to the protein of skin cells when they come in contact with the skin leading to contact dermatitis. Contact Dermititis leads to itching, redness, and oozing blisters in the body as a result of the immune system attacking the skin. It isn't the skin alone that can be affected, the gastrointestinal tract can also be affected since it is made of epithelial cells that are found in the skin leading to a rash in the anus, or reaction in the gastrointestinal tract.
Another food I will be discussing is the Puffer Fish. You must have heard of the puffer fish which is an expensive Chinese, Korean, and Japanese Cuisine but then, as expensive as it can be it could be the last meal a person eats if the chef prepares it wrongly. This is because this fish contains Tetrodotoxin in their liver and overies which is gotten from consuming bacteria in the ocean. When this toxin is consumed, it blocks the Sodium channel in the Cell Membranes of the nerve cells. This causes lack of electrical impulses causing the muscles to top working, heart attack, and neurological impairment.
While food brings immense pleasure and is a central part of our cultural and social lives, it's important to treat it with respect and caution for our health sake. Proper preparation and knowledge of what we eat are key to enjoying our meals safely. As we continue to explore and enjoy diverse cuisines, educating ourselves about the potential risks and ensure that our dining experiences remain not only enjoyable but also safe.
Reference
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/anti-nutrients/lectins/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8618113/
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0142968X.1982.11904243
https://www.scielo.br/j/jvat/a/RQmm69V9kWGW3g5qfLHBFqF/?lang=en
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2017.00220/full
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3125150/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3153292/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317237827_Oxalic_AcidOxalates_in_PlantsFrom_Self-Defence_to_Phytoremediation
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/article-abstract/534659
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00001269.htm
https://watermark.silverchair.com
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