Eating pho: Is it better to eat raw or blanched bean sprouts?

Bean sprouts are used in many different dishes. Adding bean sprouts to your diet will help increase your nutrient intake, improve your gut health, and keep your blood pressure at normal levels.

However, when it comes to adding them to a dish, some people prefer to eat them raw while others can only eat them cooked. So which way is better?

Here, nutritionist Dr. Siddhi Camila Lama and nutritionist Jill Corleone (both working in the US) will explain this clearly.

Some people like to eat raw bean sprouts, while many others can only eat cooked bean sprouts - Illustration: AI

Should I eat raw or blanched bean sprouts?

Eating raw bean sprouts is often linked to food poisoning, and thousands of cases have been reported, according to health news site Live Strong.

Bean sprouts are susceptible to bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. The warm, moist conditions in which bean sprouts are grown create a favorable environment for these disease-causing bacteria.

Eating contaminated bean sprouts can cause symptoms such as fever, headache, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea. However, infections caused by these bacteria can also lead to serious problems, such as seizures or premature birth or even death in pregnant women.

Children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems should be especially cautious when eating raw bean sprouts, as these groups are more susceptible to serious complications. It is best for these groups to only eat thoroughly cooked bean sprouts.

Boil bean sprouts thoroughly for 1 - 2 minutes

Washing may not remove all harmful bacteria, so the easiest way to avoid foodborne illness while still enjoying the benefits of bean sprouts is to blanch them thoroughly—that is, boil them for 1-2 minutes until they are completely cooked, according to Live Strong.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/an-pho-nen-dung-voi-gia-song-hay-gia-trung-la-tot-nhat-185250828115613014.htm