In a lively restaurant, two friends sit together and enjoy a special snack. One of them was full of praise after tasting it and asked, "This tastes really good, is there any unique secret recipe?"Another replied with a smile: "I heard that the chef put some 'poppy shells' in it, so I was very addicted." The topic caught the attention of the diners around him. One person asked, confused, "What is a 'poppy husk'?"Does it really make food taste better?"The conversation between friends inadvertently touched on a little-known but crucial health topic.
Although the phenomenon of "poppy shells" is used as a "secret recipe" in some restaurants, the hidden health risks behind it cannot be ignored. Can the ingredients contained in poppy husks really add to the taste of food and at the same time have any impact on human health?
Poppy husks, the name sounds mysterious and has a little bit of power, is actually part of the husk of the poppy plant. On a chemical level, poppy husks contain trace amounts of alkaloids such as morphine and codeine, which have historically been known for their analgesic and sedative medical uses. However, in food, the presence of these ingredients has raised concerns among health experts.
Alkaloids in poppy husks may have an effect on the central nervous system of a person, even in very small doses. Studies have shown that long-term intake of even trace amounts of these ingredients may lead to the gradual development of dependence in the body. This dependence is not only physiological, but also psychological, causing a desire to ingest repeatedly.
It is worth noting thatConsumption of foods containing poppy husks does not produce an immediate physiological reaction。That's why it's used secretly in some restaurants as a "flavor enhancer". But this practice is undoubtedly a potential threat to the health of diners. According to statistics, the health problems caused by the consumption of food containing poppy husks in some areas are increasing year by year, which has attracted great attention from public health departments.
Poppy husks, a time-honored seasoning byproduct, have been used for centuries. In the early days, poppy husks were used as a medicinal ingredient in some areas, but over time, its use gradually changed and began to appear in kitchens. In cooking, poppy husks are considered by some chefs to be the "secret**" to enhance the flavor of dishes due to their unique aroma and taste
However, the use of poppy husks is not without controversy. Poppy husks contain trace amounts of papaverine, and although the content of these components is much lower than that of opium poppy itself, long-term intake may still cause health effects. According to some studies,Long-term consumption of foods containing poppy husks can lead to dependence in the body and even affect the nervous system.
The addition of poppy husks to food not only violates legal boundaries, but also poses serious health risks. In many countries and regions, poppy husks are strictly prohibited for use in food processing due to their presence in trace amounts of opioids. For example, China's food safety law explicitly prohibits the addition of poppy husks and their products to food.
In terms of health risks, components in poppy husks, such as morphine and codeine, may lead to increased dependence and tolerance even in trace amounts over a long period of time. According to one study,Regular consumption of foods containing poppy husks can lead to digestive abnormalities and even affect nervous system function。In addition, some components in poppy husks are potentially toxic to the liver, and long-term consumption may impair liver function.
In specific cases, it has been reported that some diners have experienced symptoms of dependence after long-term dining at certain restaurants, such as anxiety and insomnia after withdrawal. This phenomenon attracted the attention of health regulators, and subsequent investigations revealed the illegal use of poppy husks in these restaurants.