Housewives have a deep understanding of the distress of preparing food every day. If you prepare too little, you will not eat enough. If you prepare too much, it will be wasted when you put it all away. If you leave it overnight, you are worried that it will be harmful to your family. Worry about the harmfulness is mostly influenced by the remarks on the Internet that overnight meals cause cancer. Today we will reveal the secret: Does overnight meals really cause cancer?
Overnight rice will not cause cancer.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that rice is mild in nature and sweet in taste. As the daily staple food of people, rice is a must for every meal, but the amount of meals varies, and leftovers are inevitable.
In fact, overnight meals do not cause cancer, but there is a risk of breeding bacteria, which may lead to diarrhea in severe cases. Carbohydrates are the most important nutrients in rice, and their content reaches three-quarters. In addition, the protein content of rice accounts for about one-tenth, the fat content is about one percent, and the proportion is small but rich in vitamins. Because of its rich nutrients, rice provides an excellent environment for bacteria to grow. If the bacteria and multiply in large quantities, it can be clearly seen that the rice has changed color and taste, and it should be discarded decisively.
If the rice is placed for a short time and the color and smell of the rice are normal, the bacteria may not be produced or produced less. At this time, the temperature and duration of the re-cooking should be sufficient to kill the possible bacteria . Generally speaking, 100 ℃ can kill all bacteria. You can add a little oil to the overnight rice to use the high temperature of the oil to kill bacteria, but also pay attention to eating too much oil, which is also harmful to the body. Therefore, it is best to place it in a hygienic and sterile environment when storing it to reduce the possibility of bacterial growth.
Overnight meals may cause cancer
In fact, the crux of the "overnight meals" problem is not overnight, and there is no standard for the length of time, it is just that we have to save the first day's meals until the next day. statement. The real problem with "overnight meals" is that they are placed for too long, which leads to qualitative changes in the food during placement.
Similar to overnight meals, problems with overnight meals are also related to bacteria. Although the bacteria are basically eliminated during the cooking process of the food, during the eating process, the bacteria contaminate the remaining dishes along with the plates and chopsticks.
However, compared to overnight meals, the problem of overnight dishes is much more complicated than and . The types of vegetables are complex, the nutrients and content, and the suitable storage environment are also very complex. Vegetables, as plants, absorb a large amount of nitrogen-containing substances as nutrients during their growth, and these nitrogen-containing substances eventually exist widely in plants in the form of nitrates. Under the action of bacterial mass reproduction overnight, the nitrates contained in vegetables undergo a series of actions, and finally converts into the fundamental substance of carcinogenicity - nitrosamine .
These foods are best not eaten "overnight"
1. Vegetables
A variety of vegetables are rich in juice, and this type of food is the most perishable. After the plant body is plucked, the tissue and cell structure are damaged to a certain extent, and the rich sap flows out with the damaged mouth. These sap contain a lot of nutrients and are very suitable for bacterial growth. The unbridled proliferation of bacteria in vegetables can accelerate the conversion of nitrates to nitrites and nitrosamines, thereby greatly increasing the risk of developing cancers.
2.Seafood
All kinds of seafood products are also foods that cannot be placed overnight. During the growth of seafood, there are many bacteria and parasite eggs, which may not be completely eliminated by cooking operations. Coupled with the inclusion of more bacteria during the meal, the proliferation of bacteria in seafood food is even more rampant. In addition, seafood products are rich in protein, and the degraded substances produced by bacteria can cause serious damage to the liver.
3. Soft-hearted eggs
The soft-hearted eggs refer to undercooked eggs , which are rich in nutrients and easy to breed bacteria. Once placed, they will be invaded by those invisible bacteria. To be on the safe side, it is best to cook the eggs completely at one time, so that they can be burst for two days without spoiling under normal circumstances. If you really like to eat soft-hearted eggs, pay attention to eat them in time and do not leave them for extra time.
In short, leftover meals are left for too long, and they are vulnerable to the invasion of bacteria and the transformation of internal substances, which will have harmful effects on the human body. Add a reassuring step to your health by making a clear distinction between perishable food and food that can be put away when preparing and cleaning food daily.
References:
[1] Sources of nitrite in Yang Haiying's diet and its effects on the human body. Food Research and Development. 2016.
[2] How long does it take for a meal to be considered an overnight meal? I will tell you clearly at one time. 39 Health Network. 2020.5.25.
[3] Can I eat overnight food? Listen to the answers of the experts, this time I finally understand. Paichuan Health. 2020.11.26.
