Mindlessly eating risks your health

Nowadays, the food trend offers a variety of choices that people prefer to buy because of their delicious taste and appealing colors. But who knows what ingredients these foods contain? They may taste good, but are filled with toxins. Therefore, before we choose to eat something, we should pause for a moment and think about our physical health. Are we unknowingly consuming toxins in each meal?

Accelerating agents for red meat: beware of meat with low-fat content. The accelerating agent for red meat is beta-agonist, which is mixed with animal feed to accelerate growth. This is used continuously, causing those who consume it to experience trembling, muscle twitching, abnormal heartbeat, restlessness, dizziness, headache, nausea, flatulence, or even death. Therefore, when choosing meat, it is recommended to choose meat with low-fat content or buy from trusted sources.

Baking soda, a well-known name for "borax", but did you know that baking soda has a chemical name called "sodium tetraborate"? Many manufacturers add it to food to make it look fresh and crispy. When consumers eat it, they may experience nausea, weight loss, itchy rashes, swollen eyes, eye tissue inflammation, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, liver and kidney inflammation, seizures, and death. It is best to avoid pickled vegetables, meatballs, pork jowl, pickled fruits, and some fresh vegetables, such as long beans that are abnormally crispy.

Whitening agents are a group of chemicals called sulfites, which are substances that inhibit food from turning brown, such as sprouts and coconut shoots, to make them more appetizing. The symptoms of people who consume this type of substance are inflamed mouth and throat, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, low blood pressure, bloody stools, convulsions, respiratory failure, kidney failure, or contact with the substance may cause skin irritation or redness. It is important to seek medical attention and avoid foods that have been exposed to sunlight for a long time and have not lost their color. Before purchasing sprouts, grated ginger, young coconut shoots, bamboo shoots, crispy durian, pickled garlic, or Pepsi cola, one should observe carefully.

Formalin is a dangerous chemical and is prohibited for use in all types of food. However, some food producers still use it to keep their food fresh and prevent spoilage. Therefore, it is important to choose carefully.

-Choose fresh vegetables that are not too crisp or have a pungent odor.

-Choose fresh seafood that is not too soft and has ice to keep it fresh.

Antifungal agents, also known as antifungal or antimould agents, are usually made of salicylic acid and are used in shampoo and added to food to prevent mold growth. People who consume them may experience itching, frequent and abnormal breathing, vomiting, green skin from lack of oxygen, or toxic blood. It is important to choose fresh food and avoid pickled or fermented food.

Food coloring: Beautifully colored desserts are popular and often use food coloring to make them look even more appetizing. If used in moderation, it is within the body's acceptable limits. However, synthetic food colors may be dangerous and can cause tumors in the urinary bladder and digestive system. The more inferior the quality of the color, the more harmful it is, as it contains lead and arsenic, accumulates in the body and is toxic to the nervous system. Therefore, it should be avoided to consume overly bright colors, strange-looking colors, colors that stain your fingers, or colors that stick to paper.

Pesticides: Pesticides are used to protect plants from pests while they are growing. If farmers use too much, it can cause more toxins to remain in fruits and vegetables. We should be careful when selecting and washing produce thoroughly using the following simple steps:

Preparing the produce before washing: For vegetables with a head, remove the outer layers and cut off the inedible parts. For root vegetables, peel off the inedible parts. For leafy vegetables, separate the leaves and rinse off any dirt. For fruits, wash the entire fruit.

Washing steps: 1. Soak the produce in water. 2. Place them in a strainer and run water over them without using excessive force. 3. Use your hands to rub the leaves gently for about 2 minutes.

For fruits with thin skin, like grapes, soak the entire bunch, while for fruits with thick skin, like oranges and guavas, soak them in water and rub the skin with your hands. By following these steps, we can ensure that we eat clean and safe produce.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer made up of the amino acid glutamate. The belief that food is not tasty without MSG is a misconception because glutamate naturally exists in living things and in protein-rich foods such as meat, milk, and mushrooms. Adding MSG can stimulate the taste buds to perceive a meaty flavor, making the food taste better. However, it should not be added in excess, and counterfeit MSG should be avoided as it can cause severe symptoms such as severe diarrhea, a burning sensation in the throat, facial flushing, and weakness.

Aflatoxin is a toxic substance produced by mold and commonly found in dry foods such as peanuts, chili powder, onions, garlic, and dried shrimp. Consuming this substance can lead to liver damage, inflammation, bleeding, or even liver cancer. Therefore, it is important to choose dry foods that are clean, tightly sealed, and thoroughly dried.

Choosing the right foods to eat and knowing how to choose good quality food is beneficial for our health. Manufacturers should also choose clean and safe food sources that are free from harmful substances, with clear production sources for the safety of consumers. This can help our bodies receive safe and healthy nutrition. Organizations like the Thai Health Promotion Foundation have advocated for this throughout the entire process, from production to distribution, through initiatives such as the Green Market Project and Lemon Farm to promote the long-term health of Thai people.

Resource : www.thaihealth.or.th