The effects of ginger, eating ginger often can also lead to liver cancer, which is too terrifying. Ginger is an indispensable cooking seasoning in people's daily diet, but there is a rumor that eating ginger often can lead to liver cancer, which is too frightening.
Ginger is an indispensable cooking seasoning in people's daily diet, even a side dish for people who like to eat ginger, and is also widely regarded as a food with health benefits. However, there is a rumor that eating ginger often can lead to liver cancer, which is too frightening. So, does ginger really cause cancer? Let's find out together.
Our liver is mainly composed of hepatocytes and bile duct epithelial cells. Cancer that occurs in these two types of cells is called liver cancer. Liver cancer is divided into three types: hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and mixed cell carcinoma (i.e., both types of cells have become cancerous).
Among them, chronic hepatitis B is the most important and most well-defined risk factor. When the hepatitis B virus infects our liver cells, the virus may integrate into the genetic material of the liver cells. Not only that, but they also multiply and reproduce within the liver cells, releasing offspring to infect more liver cells. The surface of infected liver cells will express viral markers, and the body's immune system recognizes these markers and sends immune cells to eliminate them.
If liver cells are in a cycle of injury and repair for a long time, the regenerating cells will gradually lose their original normal structure and function, developing into cirrhosis, and then progressing to liver cancer.
In addition, poor eating habits are also a cause of liver cancer. Aspergillus flavus generally grows on various moldy foods, especially nuts such as peanuts and walnuts, as well as corn, macaroni, seasonings, milk, dairy products, edible oil and other products. This fungus releases aflatoxin, which is a Class 1 carcinogen with extremely strong carcinogenic effects and is closely related to liver cancer. Moreover, drinking water sources contaminated by blue-green algae in rural areas may also increase the risk of liver cancer.
In addition, liver cancer is also related to age and gender. The high-incidence age for liver cancer is 50-60 years old, and the rate in men is significantly higher than in women.
Does eating ginger cause liver cancer?
The emergence of this rumor is mainly due to a study by the US FDA: safrole can cause liver cancer. The process of safrole being metabolized into active carcinogens is now relatively clear: safrole is first metabolized into phenethyl form in mice, then activated and converted into acetate or sulfate, becoming the final carcinogen. If safrole combines with oxidants, it will generate epoxysafrole with stronger carcinogenic activity. Adding 0.04% to 1% safrole to mouse feed for 150 days to 2 years can induce liver cancer in mice.
The rumor that "eating ginger causes liver cancer" has some basis and reason. However, it would be an overcorrection to refuse to eat ginger because of this.
First, safrole is a Class 2 carcinogen, and its carcinogenic effect is far weaker than that of aflatoxin. Secondly, fresh ginger contains very little safrole. If you only occasionally add some when cooking, it is far from reaching the warning line of 1 mg/kg.
However, we should still pay attention not to eat it as a staple food every day, and discard any moldy ginger, as the safrole content in it will be greatly increased.
How can we prevent liver cancer?
1. Comprehensively promote the vaccination of hepatitis B vaccine
The hepatitis B vaccine is now routinely administered at birth, but some areas still do not strictly enforce it. The hepatitis B vaccine administered at birth can generally last for about 15-20 years. If this period has passed and the antibody titer is too low upon re-examination, it is recommended to receive a booster vaccine. In addition, if unfortunately diagnosed with chronic hepatitis, active treatment must be sought.
2. Do not eat moldy food, stay away from smoking, alcohol, and high-fat diet
Using reliable water sources is also a major means to help us prevent liver cancer. Foods such as broccoli, onions, seaweed, and blueberries may have certain anti-cancer effects. Eating more vegetables and fruits also helps to reduce the toxic effects of safrole. The Chinese Liver Cancer Guidelines recommend that for high-risk populations aged ≥40 for men or ≥50 for women, with hepatitis B and/or C infection, alcoholism, complicated by diabetes, and a family history of liver cancer, undergo AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) + abdominal ultrasound examination every 6 months to strive for early detection. For the general population, an annual regular health check-up is sufficient.
Thus, as long as it is consumed in moderation, ginger can still be a good supporting role on the dining table. We should pay more attention to other risk factors for liver cancer, such as hepatitis, moldy food, etc. Staying away from them is a more effective way to help us stay away from liver cancer.