Debunking 9 Diet “Rumors”

There are a lot of health rumors flying around the Internet, like cooking in an iron pan can supplement iron, shaking oranges can make them sweeter, chewing gum for a long time is not good for you, etc. Are these claims true or false? We have found the truth behind the following 9 rumors for you, come and take a look.

Rumor has it that cooking in an iron pan can supplement iron

Truth: The rumor is unreliable

The human body can absorb very little of the iron dissolved in the iron pan. Although cooking in an iron pan can increase the iron content in dishes, this iron is all inorganic iron. The human body needs to absorb iron in the form of organic compounds, also known as heme iron. The absorption rate of heme iron in the human body is about 30%-35%. The absorption rate of non-heme iron from iron pots is not high, estimated to be less than 3%.

During the period of poverty, although the amount of iron intake in this way was very small, it was better than nothing. However, for people whose living standards have improved, the iron intake from cooking in an iron pan is not as much as that from eating more lean meat or the liver absorbing more iron. Therefore, for people today, it is not suitable to use iron pans to supplement iron.

In addition, iron pans are prone to rust. Once the rust enters the human body, it will increase the metabolic burden on the liver.

Rumor 2: Shaking oranges makes them sweeter

The truth: It is true

Oranges contain sugar, which produces sweetness, and also contain an acid called citric acid, which produces sourness.

Citric acid will be destroyed when impacted by external forces, resulting in a decrease in acidity and an increase in the percentage of sugar. So, when we shake or squeeze an orange, its sourness and sweetness will change. In addition, the oranges will respire after being picked, and respiration will consume the acid, so the sour taste will be reduced. When people shake and roll oranges, the external force they apply accelerates the respiration of the oranges, reducing the sour taste, so people feel it is sweet.

However, some agricultural experts say that the sweetness of a fruit is actually mainly related to the sugar and acidity it contains, and the changes in the sugar and acidity content in the fruit are directly related to the maturity of the fruit. "Oranges are non-peak respiratory fruits." Even if they are subjected to a certain amount of external force, they are unlikely to be greatly affected by ethylene gas. During the breathing process of fruit, the whole body is actually changing. It not only consumes acidic substances in the body but also consumes sugar.

Instead of listening to others arguing, why not try it yourself?

Rumor 3: Chewing gum for a long time is bad for you

Fact: This is true

The more you chew gum, the hungrier you get.

Chewing gum for a long time will cause the mouth to become more and more acidic, and the acidic environment is prone to breeding bacteria. Do not chew for more than 15 minutes, because chewing gum for a long time will reflexively secrete a large amount of stomach acid.

Especially when eating on an empty stomach, symptoms such as nausea and acid reflux may occur, and in the long run it may also lead to diseases such as gastric ulcers and gastritis.

Chewing gum can cause bloating

Chewing gum will increase saliva secretion and keep the mouth in a high metabolic state for a long time. Secreting too much unnecessary saliva is actually not good for the body. Moreover, if you like to chew outdoors, a lot of air will be filled into the stomach, causing bloating and uncomfortable.

Chewing gum can damage your teeth

Chewing gum in large quantities can damage your teeth, and if it is mint flavored, chewing it frequently can damage the lining of your mouth. Moreover, frequent and extensive chewing exercises will make your chewing muscles more developed, causing your face to become larger.

Side effects of chewing gum: diarrhea, obesity

Some people or advertisements say that ordinary chewing gum can cause tooth decay, but chewing gum containing xylitol can "take a different approach" in this regard - it has the effect of preventing tooth decay. Therefore, many people will not buy chewing gum unless it contains xylitol. However, some experts have recently pointed out that the efficacy of xylitol has been exaggerated and there are misunderstandings in its use. Long-term excessive consumption can also have side effects, such as diarrhea and obesity. In addition, xylitol is contraindicated for people suffering from insulin-induced hypoglycemia.

Rumor has it that the four crayfish are biological weapons used to dispose of corpses

Truth: False

Crayfish have a varied diet and can survive in polluted waters. Crayfish cannot clean water or remove corrupted substances. On the contrary, since they have to molt more than 20 times during their growth, they will not molt if the water environment is poor. Not only will they not grow but they will also be prone to death. But the crayfish in restaurants are basically farmed. Most of the heavy metals it ingests are transferred to its outer shell, and as it continues to grow and shed its shell, the heavy metal toxins are removed from the body. The random inspection did not find any problem of heavy metal exceeding the standard in crayfish. As long as the crayfish on the market are cooked properly, they can be eaten with complete confidence. However, we still need to remind everyone that although shrimps are delicious, people with allergies or gout should still eat them with caution.

Rumor has it that French fries placed directly on paper trays are prone to contamination with benzene and lead

Truth: It makes sense

The color-printed paper plates and food packaging boxes in most fast food restaurants are all covered with printing inks, which basically contain benzene solutions, which are carcinogens. Even if environmentally friendly ink that does not contain benzene is used, the ink itself cannot come into direct contact with food. If there is no green safety certification or no film, the dye will be toxic to the human body, especially oily food. The organic dyes on the napkins will easily enter the food and cause the food to contain harmful substances such as toluene and lead. If it accumulates in the human body for a long time, it will cause damage to the body.

Rumor 6: Long-term chewing of betel nut can cause oral cancer

Truth: The statement is true

Betel nut contains a large amount of arecaline and bioalkali, which are cytotoxic. The chemical substances contained in betel nut form nitrosa after chewing, and nitrosa is a carcinogenic compound. The reaction between the oral mucosa and the alkaloids contained in betel nut can lead to fibrosis of the oral mucosa, which clinically manifests as difficulty opening the mouth, numbness, and ulcers. Frequent chewing of betel nut is associated with the occurrence of various oral diseases such as oral submucous fibrosis, oral cancer, oral leukoplakia, cracked teeth, and vertical root fractures. The International Agency for Research on Cancer identified betel nut as a Class I carcinogen in 2003.

Rumor 7: Eating durian and drinking alcohol can cause death

The truth: Not that serious, but it makes sense

Durian has an inhibitory effect on acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. After drinking, it is because the human body secretes acetaldehyde dehydrogenase that alcohol can be digested and then excreted from the body. However, after the sulfur-containing compounds in durian enter the human body, they will reduce the activity of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase in the human body by more than 70%. In other words, durian greatly reduces the body's ability to break down alcohol. If alcohol remains in the body in large quantities, it will produce toxic side effects and easily cause drunkenness. In addition, it can cause mental and psychological damage, and in severe cases, death.

What can't be eaten with durian?

1. Durian cannot be eaten with crabs. Eating them together can easily cause severe stomach discomfort.

2. Although eating durian and mangosteen at the same time can prevent getting a sore throat, it may cause constipation. Because these two fruits are rich in fiber, they will absorb water and swell in the stomach and intestines. Eating too much will block the intestines and cause constipation.

3. Durian cannot be eaten with warm foods, such as beef, mutton, dog meat, and seafood. Because these foods are all hot and dry, eating them together will cause inflammation or lead to other diseases or trigger previous diseases.

4. Durian cannot be eaten with milk. "Drinking milk after eating durian is more poisonous than a cobra." This statement sounds scary, but it is true that discomfort symptoms will occur after eating them together. Because this combination can lead to excessive caffeine poisoning, causing blood pressure to soar and leading to sudden death from heart disease. Some friends like to drink milk. If they accidentally eat it together with durian, they must go to the hospital for gastric lavage immediately if they feel unwell.

5. Durian cannot be eaten with cola. You cannot drink Coke after eating durian, because Coke is a carbonated beverage containing caffeine. Eating it with durian can easily cause sudden death from a heart attack.

6. Durian cannot be eaten with eggplant. Because eating eggplant and durian together will cause you to get irritated, which is bad for your health.

Rumor 8: Children's soy sauce is healthier and more nutritious

Truth: No

As a condiment, soy sauce's main function is to enrich the taste of dishes. It itself does not have much nutritional value. The daily consumption is generally only a few grams to a dozen grams. The contribution of protein and amino acids in it to nutrition can be completely ignored. In addition, whether it is ordinary soy sauce or children's soy sauce, preservatives are added for easy storage. Surveys show that the sodium content in children's soy sauce is no lower than that in regular soy sauce, and more sodium needs to be added to achieve the same seasoning effect. Therefore, from a nutritional point of view, choosing ordinary soy sauce and children's soy sauce is rather useless.

Rumor has it that eating egg yolk pie nine times will lead to drunk driving

Truth: It is possible

Why does cake contain alcohol? The alcohol in cake is divided into two parts. One part is that some pastries need yeast to ferment, and during the fermentation process, edible alcohol will be produced. Some cakes contain a lot of moisture, and edible alcohol can be used to preserve the moisture, making the cake softer. Cakes on the market generally use edible alcohol for surface disinfection and mold prevention. In addition to egg yolk pie, other items that may cause the alcohol tester to give a false alarm include tiramisu, fermented bean curd, papaya water, alcohol-core candy, and improperly stored fruits such as apples, bananas, and pears. However, the alcohol content in these substances is very low and can be metabolized by the human body or evaporated on its own within a few minutes.