Overnight dishes are like "arsenic"? Reminder: If you eat it for a long time, you will get stomach cancer?
"Oh, Aunt Zhang, why are you eating yesterday's stir-fry again?" Xiao Wang looked at Aunt Zhang, a retired teacher who was keen on frugality next door, and a trace of worry surged in his heart.
Aunt Zhang, 45, is reluctant to throw away any food on weekdays, and especially likes to warm up the unfinished meals of the previous day before eating.
Recently, the physical examination report was not ideal, and the doctor reminded her to pay attention to food hygiene, which made her mutter: Is the overnight dish really that scary?
Aunt Zhang chewed the green vegetables in her mouth and consulted the doctor: "This overnight dish is like what others say, can't you eat it like arsenic?"
The doctor frowned slightly, and while patiently explaining, he also aroused the attention of the surrounding neighbors to the safety of their own tables: what kind of health secrets are hidden in the overnight dishes?
01 Scientific research decryption, is overnight food really as dangerous as "arsenic"?
An experimental study published in the Journal of Food Safety and Nutrition showed that the key to the safety of overnight dishes lies in the type of dish and storage conditions.
The experimental team selected several common vegetable and meat samples to simulate overnight storage in a home environment.
The study found that the nitrate content of fresh vegetables increased significantly after being left at room temperature for more than 12 hours.
For example, the nitrate content of spinach after 24 hours increased by about 40% compared to when it was cooked, while this increase slowed significantly to only about 15% under refrigerated conditions.
This is because nitrates in vegetables may be converted to nitrite under the action of certain bacteria, and nitrite can synthesize nitrosamines, which are potentially carcinogenic, under certain conditions.
On the other hand, meat dishes are relatively safe to eat overnight if they are properly refrigerated and kept airtight.
The experimental data showed that the number of colonies of braised pork stored in refrigeration did not exceed the standard within 48 hours, and the nutritional value was basically retained.
Conclusions of the study:
Overnight dishes are not absolutely the same as "arsenic" and cannot be generalized. For vegetable dishes, especially green leafy vegetables, it is recommended to eat them freshly as much as possible, and if there is any leftover, they should be refrigerated in time and consumed in a short time.
For meat dishes, it can be eaten by properly refrigerating and warming up sufficiently. This breaks the stereotype that "overnight dishes cannot be eaten", and instead emphasizes the importance of scientific and reasonable preservation and consumption methods. The study also suggests the following:
Cryopreservation: It is best to put leftover meals in the refrigerator within two hours, and keep the temperature below 4°C to avoid rapid reproduction of bacteria.
Sealed containers: Use a crisper or plastic wrap to seal leftovers well to reduce contact with air and reduce the risk of oxidation and contamination.
Proper mixing: Meat and vegetables should be stored separately to avoid cross-contamination, and meat products should be eaten as soon as possible due to their high fat content, which is relatively non-perishable.
02How to eat different types of overnight dishes correctly?
Meat dishes
Meat overnight is generally not a big problem, as long as it is thoroughly cooked during cooking and well refrigerated, it can be eaten the next day when it is fully heated.
However, repeated heating can lead to nutrient loss and a decrease in taste.
Vegetable dishes
Green leafy vegetables are recommended to be eaten as soon as possible due to the rapid conversion of nitrate.
If you do have leftovers, make sure to fully heat and sterilize them before serving them again, but still be careful not to eat leafy greens overnight frequently.
Soups
After the soup is left overnight, the fat tends to solidify and a protective film forms on the surface, which helps prevent microbial invasion but may also lead to fat oxidation.
When drinking overnight soup, heat it to a boil for a few minutes, both to kill bacteria that may be growing and to destroy oxidation products that have already formed.
03 What other factors can cause stomach cancer if you eat overnight food for a long time?
Although nitrite in overnight dishes is associated with stomach cancer, it does not mean that you will definitely get stomach cancer if you eat overnight dishes. The occurrence of gastric cancer is a complex process that involves a variety of factors:
Helicobacter pylori infection: It is a common pathogen that causes gastritis and gastric ulcers, and is an important cause of stomach cancer.
Poor eating habits: Excessive intake of long-term high salt, pickled foods, barbecue smoked foods, etc., may increase the burden on the stomach and induce diseases.
Genetic factors: Family members who have stomach cancer in their families are at relatively high risk.
Smoking and drinking: Tobacco and alcohol are both well-defined carcinogens that have a direct damaging effect on the gastric mucosa.
Chronic inflammation: Long-term chronic gastritis and gastric ulcer are not effectively treated, which may lead to mutations of gastric mucosal cells and then develop into gastric cancer.
Therefore, although overnight dishes are not the only culprit of stomach cancer, developing good lifestyle and eating habits is the key to preventing stomach cancer.
After learning about the science behind the overnight dish, Aunt Zhang began to adjust her eating habits.
Not only did she get rid of the habit of being reluctant to throw away leftovers, but she also learned to arrange the portion size of each meal reasonably and ensure that fresh ingredients were consumed first.
After a period of time, Aunt Zhang's physical condition has improved significantly, and her physical examination indicators have tended to normal, and her experience has become a model of healthy living in the community.
"One meal saving, one hundred worries", blindly saving leftovers, may bring potential threats to health.
After understanding the risks of overnight dishes and the correct way to handle them, we should treat each meal wisely and discard it at the right time to protect the health of the whole family.
Through the story of Aunt Zhang, we have a deeper understanding that food safety is related to every detail of life, and only by controlling it from the source can we truly realize the wisdom of healthy life.