What to do if you eat red sugarcane

I don’t know if you know what plant white sugar is extracted from. In fact, the main plant used to extract white sugar is sugarcane. In some areas with more sunlight and water, sugarcane grown has a particularly high sugar content, so the concentration of refined white sugar is also high. Sugarcane can also be eaten as a fruit, and the juicy and watery sugarcane can effectively relieve people's thirst symptoms, but what should a person do when he eats red sugarcane?

1. Why does sugarcane turn red?

After sugarcane is dug out of the ground, it is still alive. At this time, the sugarcane has the strongest resistance and it is difficult for mold to invade. However, after being stored for 1-2 weeks, the vitality of the sugarcane gradually decreases, giving mold an opportunity to take advantage. Once the mold enters the interior and has sufficient nutrients, it will multiply rapidly, causing red parts to appear on the sugarcane, which contain a large number of bacteria.

2. What happens if you eat red sugarcane?

The part that turns red not only contains mold, but also a large amount of mold metabolites. These substances are harmful to the human body. If you ingest too much, you will cause discomfort. Moreover, after the sugarcane turns red, its sweetness is significantly reduced. This is also the result of the large amount of sugar in the sugarcane being consumed by mold, and the nutritional value of the sugarcane is also greatly reduced.

The appearance of red parts in sugarcane means that it contains a large amount of mold and toxic substances. When the human body ingests a certain amount, it will produce poisoning symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and cause damage to the liver. If you consume too much, you will experience symptoms such as dizziness, headache, whole body convulsions, fainting, shock, etc., which will pose a threat to your life.

3. Can I eat the part that doesn’t turn red?

Sugarcane usually turns red starting from one fiber and then gradually infects the surrounding fibers. Due to this infection, many parts of the sugarcane are still the normal color of white with yellow. Can such sugarcane be eaten? Actually, you can, but you should not eat too much. Although there are fewer molds, there are still some.

4. What to do if you get poisoned by eating red sugarcane

1. For patients who accidentally eat moldy sugarcane in a short period of time, immediately probe the throat to induce vomiting, and then perform gastric lavage. 1:5000 potassium permanganate solution or activated carbon suspension can be used. After gastric lavage, 15-30g (children) or 50-100g (adults) of activated carbon suspension is poured into the stomach, and sodium sulfate or mannitol is used as a catharsis. If necessary, colon irrigation is performed.

2. When there are convulsions or twitching, give sedatives such as phenobarbital (Luminal) or diazepam (Valium), etc. Children can also use chloral hydrate enema.

3. Intravenous injection or intravenous drip of dehydrating agents such as 20% mannitol or 25% sorbitol, furosemide and 50% glucose solution alternating with dehydrating agents can help control the development of cerebral edema.

4. Supplement appropriate fluids according to the condition to prevent dehydration, acidosis and electrolyte loss.

5. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is effective in treating severe cerebral edema in patients poisoned by moldy sugarcane. One course of treatment is 10 times.

6. Appropriate use of brain cell activators can protect brain tissue and help prevent sequelae.

7. Use antibiotics when necessary to prevent secondary infection.

8. Use glucocorticoids and other symptomatic and supportive therapies as appropriate.