Sauerkraut, a traditional delicacy, is loved by people for its unique sour and spicy flavor. However, discussions about sauerkraut and cancer risk have attracted a lot of attention in recent years. Is eating too much sauerkraut really prone to cancer? How to enjoy sauerkraut healthily? Who should be cautious about eating sauerkraut? This article will answer them one by one.
Sauerkraut is made from fresh vegetables that have been pickled, which is rich in lactic acid bacteria and has certain benefits for the human body. However, sauerkraut produces nitrite, a potential carcinogen, during its preparation. When nitrite enters the body, it is converted into nitrosamines, which are strong chemical carcinogens, under the action of stomach acid. Long-term high intake of nitrosamines may increase the risk of cancer.
However, this does not mean that eating sauerkraut will necessarily cause cancer. The occurrence of cancer is a complex process of multiple factors and steps, and the role of a single factor is often not enough to cause the occurrence of cancer. Therefore, the relationship between sauerkraut and cancer risk is not absolute.
How to enjoy sauerkraut healthily?
Consume in moderation: Although sauerkraut is delicious, it is recommended to consume it in moderation to avoid potential health risks. Do not consume too much at a time and avoid long-term large intake.
Choose fresh sauerkraut: Fresh sauerkraut is relatively low in nitrite. When buying sauerkraut, you should pay attention to the production date and expiration date, choose fresh products.
Serve with food: When eating sauerkraut, you can pair it with foods rich in vitamin C, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, etc. Vitamin C can inhibit the formation of nitrite, which reduces potential health risks.
Pay attention to the way you cook: When cooking sauerkraut, you should avoid using excessively high temperatures to reduce nitrite production. At the same time, the cooking time should not be too long to maintain the taste and nutritional value of sauerkraut.
These three groups of people try to eat less sauerkraut.
Patients with stomach problems: The acidic substances in sauerkraut may irritate the gastric mucosa and aggravate the symptoms of stomach problems. Therefore, people suffering from gastritis, gastric ulcers and other stomach diseases should try to eat less sauerkraut.
Patients with high blood pressure: The salt content in sauerkraut is high, and long-term consumption of large amounts may lead to an increase in blood pressure. Therefore, patients with high blood pressure should pay attention to controlling the intake of sauerkraut.
Children and pregnant women: Children's digestive systems are not fully developed, and pregnant women have special physical conditions, both should try to avoid excessive consumption of sauerkraut to reduce potential health risks.
As a traditional delicacy, sauerkraut does have certain health risks. However, by eating it in moderation, choosing fresh sauerkraut, serving it with it, and being mindful of how it is cooked, we can reduce these risks and enjoy sauerkraut healthily. At the same time, for specific groups such as patients with stomach problems, patients with high blood pressure, children and pregnant women, more attention should be paid to controlling the intake of sauerkraut.