It used to be a life-saving plant in the countryside, but now it has been found to be highly poisonous, and food lovers are informed
Life-saving vegetables: once life-saving plants in the countryside.
During the difficult period of the last century, natural disasters occurred frequently in rural areas, grain production was reduced and harvests failed, and internal and external troubles occurred. Due to food shortages, rural populations are forced to hunt for wild vegetables to satisfy their hunger and even peel tree bark in order to survive. Fortunately, during this period, many edible wild plant resources such as bracken, wild bamboo shoots, edamame, etc., grew in rural areas and in the wild.
These abundant wild plants play an important role in the lives of rural populations, who use these plants as food to feed the country, support the country's economic construction, and pay off foreign debts. These wild plants are known in the countryside"Life-saving dishes"with"Life-saving dishes", because they saved the poor rural population at that time and supported the development of the national economy.
However, in recent years, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has listed fetuses as"Probably carcinogens", i.e., Class 2b substances. At the same time, experts from various countries discovered a toxic substance in the fetus in the 70s of the 20th century - protostholerin. Similar to some wild poisonous mushrooms, protosthole is highly toxic, sometimes more than ten times more toxic than wild poisonous mushrooms. This suggests that toxic substances in the fetus should not be underestimated.
The highly toxic components of bracken and its food safety.
Houttuynia cordata has been a common edible plant for a long time, why are there no cases of poisoning from the consumption of Houttuynia cordata? Is the current expert research reliable? We can explain this from a scientific point of view. First, some studies have shown that the toxic substances in bracken are soluble in water and highly volatile. After soaking or boiling the fetus at high temperatures, most of the toxic substances will dissolve or be dissolved. Therefore, with high temperature and water treatment, the toxic substances in Houttuynia cordata can be basically eliminated.
At the same time, the human body also has a detoxification system that can flush absorbed toxic substances out of the body. Therefore, even if the body absorbs some toxic substances, the detoxification system can metabolize them and prevent poisoning. Although bracken contains toxic substances, proper handling and consumption methods can minimize the amount of toxic substances so that they do not pose a hazard to human health. It is recommended that when consuming bracken, boil it in water for about 15 minutes to allow the toxic substance to completely dissolve in the water, and then soak it in the water for a few hours to completely remove the toxic substance. Also, be careful when eating bracken raw to avoid poisoning. At the same time, the amount of consumption should be moderate so that toxic substances do not accumulate in the body.
Summary. As for the question of whether ferns are highly toxic, I think we should trust the scientific point of view. Although ferns were once a lifesaver in rural areas, existing research has shown that ferns contain toxic substances. However, proper consumption and handling methods can reduce the risk of toxic substances and ensure human health. As consumers, we have a responsibility to ensure food safety through proper consumption methods. In this information-rich era, we must be vigilant and realistic about food safety issues. In the face of various opinions and reports, scientific research and expert opinions are an important basis for our judgment. At the same time, individuals must also have sufficient knowledge and understanding of food choices and consumption methods.