Every spring, the media reports cases of sugarcane poisoning. How can one get poisoned from perfectly good sugarcane? This is largely related to sugarcane spoilage caused by the season and people's lack of ability to identify it.
Sugarcane is generally available in the autumn, but many supermarkets sell it throughout the winter and even into the spring, allowing those who love it to eat it anytime. However, most sugarcane in the spring is from the autumn harvest. After being stored for a whole winter, it is highly prone to spoilage, developing a cottony or fluffy white substance at the tip. After being cut, the cross-section will also show red, thread-like filaments. Some people do not carefully select sugarcane when buying it. When they see these red, thread-like filaments after cutting, they mistake it for a normal phenomenon, leading to sugarcane poisoning after consumption.
Spoiled sugarcane is highly toxic and contains a neurotoxin called 3-nitropropanoic acid. The symptoms of poisoning are mainly damage to the central nervous system. Generally, 2-8 hours after consumption, symptoms such as vomiting, dizziness, headaches, vision impairment, and subsequently limb stiffness are clear signs of sugarcane poisoning. In severe cases, it can lead to coma and death.
In fact, poisoning can be completely avoided by carefully selecting the sugarcane before eating. Moreover, sugarcane is a very nutritious fruit, rich in iron, which has a certain therapeutic effect on iron-deficiency anemia in women. Therefore, sugarcane is also known as the "blood-nourishing fruit." Additionally, sugarcane acts as a "cleaner" for the mouth. It contains a large amount of dietary fiber, and chewing it repeatedly is like brushing your teeth with a toothbrush, helping to eliminate oral bacteria.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, sugarcane is considered to have nourishing and heat-clearing effects. It is effective in treating conditions such as low blood sugar, constipation, nausea and vomiting, coughs and asthma caused by lung dryness, and can also relieve sore throat. However, people with chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers, indigestion, and diabetes should not consume it.
Many people are unwilling to eat sugarcane because it is troublesome or they are afraid of cutting their mouth corners. In fact, peeling, cutting, and juicing the sugarcane not only makes it safer to eat but also makes the taste purer and more refreshing. However, do not forget to rinse your mouth after eating sugarcane to prevent cavities.