In the world of food, seafood is loved by people for its delicious taste and rich nutrition. And vitamin C, as a common nutrient in our daily life, is also an indispensable part of maintaining health. However, while enjoying the deliciousness and health that both bring, should we be concerned about the potential risks that may come with combining them?
In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on health issues related to food pairings. One of the popular myths is that seafood should not be eaten with vitamin C, as it can lead to food poisoning or other health problems. So, is this statement accurate?
First, let's take a look at the properties of seafood and vitamin C. Seafood, especially shellfish and crustaceans such as shrimp, crabs, shellfish, etc., are rich in a substance called "pentavalent arsenic". Vitamin C, on the other hand, acts as a potent reducing agent and has the ability to reduce pentavalent arsenic to trivalent arsenic. Trivalent arsenic, also known as arsenic, is a toxic substance that may have adverse effects on human health if ingested in large amounts over a long period of time.
However, it should be noted here that in order for pentavalent arsenic in food to be converted into toxic trivalent arsenic, two conditions need to be met: one is that the content of pentavalent arsenic must reach a certain amount, and the other is that the reducing effect of vitamin C must be strong enough. Under normal circumstances, the amount of pentavalent arsenic and vitamin C that people consume through the diet is far from reaching this conversion condition, so the risk of poisoning caused by eating seafood and vitamin C together is very low.
In addition, studies have shown that vitamin C can actually help the body better absorb and utilize the nutrients in seafood, such as iron, calcium, etc. Therefore, a moderate combination of seafood and vitamin C may be beneficial to human health.
Of course, this doesn't mean that we can consume large amounts of seafood and vitamin C without any scruples. For some special populations, such as liver and kidney insufficiency, allergies, etc., it is still necessary to pay attention to appropriate intake to avoid adverse reactions due to individual differences.
Overall, the notion that seafood and vitamin C cannot be eaten together is not entirely accurate. Under normal circumstances, it is safe to mix seafood and vitamin C in moderation and may even be beneficial to human health. However, we also need to pay attention to moderate intake to avoid adverse reactions due to individual differences or excessive intake. While enjoying the food, you should also pay attention to your physical health.