Vegetables contain a large amount of antioxidant components such as vitamins A, C, and E, as well as essential nutrients for the human body such as iron, zinc, calcium, and magnesium. However, if consumed improperly, they can be harmful to the body.
Green Tomatoes
Unripe tomatoes contain a toxic substance called solanine. After consumption, they leave a bitter taste in the mouth and can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and salivation.
Rotten Ginger
Rotten ginger produces a highly toxic substance called safrole. Consumption can lead to poisoning and degeneration of liver cells, damaging liver function.
Vegetables Stored for Too Long
Some vegetables, such as spinach, lettuce, and radishes, contain nitrates. If stored for too long, they will rot and decay, reducing the nitrates to nitrites, which can cause symptoms such as headaches, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Bitter Melon with Bitter Seeds
Because it contains a lot of momordicoside, consumption can cause poisoning symptoms such as dizziness and abdominal pain.
Old Pumpkin
Its pulp has a high sugar content and undergoes anaerobic fermentation, producing alcohol, which changes the nature of the pumpkin. It is easy to get poisoned after eating. It is best to remove all the pulp and check for any alcoholic smell before consumption.
Insufficiently Pickled Sauerkraut
When pickling sauerkraut, if not enough salt is used, some bacteria are not inhibited, and the nitrates in the vegetables are converted into harmful nitrites. This chemical change mostly peaks about a week after pickling. If consumed at this time, acute nitrite poisoning may occur.
Diseased Sweet Potatoes
Improperly stored sweet potatoes, especially at bruised or broken areas, can become diseased due to the action of black spot bacteria. If accidentally eaten and poisoned, mild cases may cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, while severe cases can cause elevated body temperature, difficulty breathing, muscle tremors, dilated pupils, and even death.
Fresh Daylilies
They contain a non-toxic substance called colchicine, which is converted into the toxic colchicine dioxide after being absorbed by the human body. This can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and in severe cases, bloody stools and urine.
Undercooked Kidney Beans
They contain two toxins: lectin and hemolysin. Consumption can cause symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.