As the saying goes, "illness enters through the mouth." The relationship between diet and disease has long been confirmed in medical research. Many things we eat every day are overlooked carcinogens. If we are not careful, toxins can accumulate over time, and the serious consequences are often unpredictable.
Tea Stain:
Some people believe that tea stains are formed by the long-term deposition of tea water and are harmless to the body, so they rarely wash them. This is actually wrong. Tea stains contain various harmful metals and some carcinogens, such as cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic, and nitrites, which can cause lesions in organs like the kidneys, liver, and stomach.
The Rotten Part of Fruits:
After fruit rots, microorganisms produce various harmful substances during metabolism, especially the accelerated growth of fungi. Some fungi are carcinogenic and can spread from the rotten part to the unrotten part through the fruit juice. Therefore, even if the rotten part is removed, the remaining fruit should not be eaten.
Food Wrapped in Newspaper:
Printing ink contains a toxic substance called polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), whose chemical structure is similar to that of pesticides. If food is wrapped in newspaper, the ink will seep into the food and then enter the human body. When the amount of PCBs stored in the human body reaches 0.5 to 2 grams, it can cause poisoning. In mild cases, it can cause swollen eyelids, sweaty palms, and a red rash all over the body. In severe cases, it can cause nausea, vomiting, abnormal liver function, muscle aches, persistent coughing, and even death.
Moldy Rice, Peanuts, and Corn:
These contain aflatoxin, which is currently recognized worldwide as a strong carcinogen that can easily cause liver and esophageal cancer. Some people think that washing it several times or disinfecting it at high temperatures can remove the toxic substances. In fact, once aflatoxin contaminates food, it is very difficult to completely remove it.
MSG in Alkaline Food:
When MSG encounters alkaline food, it turns into disodium glutamate, which loses its umami flavor. When heated to 120°C, it turns into the carcinogen sodium pyroglutamate. Therefore, MSG should not be added to foods containing baking soda or alkali. When making soups or dishes, MSG should be added before the dish is finished cooking to avoid prolonged stewing.
Burned Fish and Meat:
When the fat in fish and meat burns incompletely, it produces a large amount of V-methylamine derivatives, which is a carcinogen stronger than aflatoxin. Therefore, when cooking fish and meat, pay attention to the heat. Once it is burned, do not eat it.
Rotten Cabbage:
Rotten and improperly pickled cabbage both contain carcinogenic nitrites.
Barbecued Food:
All barbecued foods are prone to containing a substance with strong carcinogenicity—benzopyrene, which is the same substance produced when oil is reused in fried foods.
Fruits Wiped with Toilet Paper or Towels:
Many types of toilet paper are not thoroughly disinfected and carry E. coli, pathogenic pyogenic bacteria, fungi, hepatitis B virus, etc. The fillers and powder residues left on tableware and fruits can also affect health.
Paint on Chopsticks:
The use of painted chopsticks is still very common now, but many people don't know that these paints contain chemical substances such as lead and benzene. As the paint peels off, we often ingest them, causing certain health hazards.
Toxic Substances on Tablecloths:
Many restaurants use thin plastic tablecloths made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) on their tables. These contain toxic free radicals that can enter the body through food via tableware, leading to chronic poisoning. Therefore, when dining out, do not place chopsticks directly on a table covered with plastic film.