Bamboo shoot soup, pickled vegetables, and braised meat on Tet holiday, who should not eat them?

Bamboo shoot soup, pickled vegetables, and braised meat are delicious dishes for Tet but not suitable for everyone.

Bamboo shoot soup often appears on Tet meals in the North and Central regions - Photo: TRANG DONG

Some people need to be careful to avoid health effects when enjoying these traditional dishes.

Bamboo shoot soup

Bamboo shoot soup is an indispensable dish on the Tet holiday tray of many Vietnamese families. With a rich flavor, bamboo shoot soup is often cooked from dried bamboo shoots combined with pig's feet, spare ribs or chicken.

After being soaked until soft, the dried bamboo shoots will be simmered thoroughly and mixed with other ingredients to create a nutritious soup.

Dr. Tran Ba ​​Thoai, member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Endocrinology and Diabetes Association, said that fresh bamboo shoots have the same nutritional value as fresh vegetables, but contain more fiber, especially old bamboo shoots which are more difficult to digest. Dried bamboo shoots have a higher nutritional ratio due to the drying process.

Especially people with stomach problems, gout, kidney failure, pregnant women and people with poor digestion should limit eating bamboo shoot soup.

Experts recommend soaking, cooking thoroughly, or drying bamboo shoots - Photo: D.N.

Doctor Ngo Thi Xuan Bich, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Da Nang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, said that bamboo shoots are quite difficult to digest, especially for the immature digestive system of young children.

If bamboo shoots are not boiled thoroughly, they may contain cyanide - a substance that can easily irritate and damage the stomach. Therefore, bamboo shoots should be processed carefully before use to ensure health safety.

Pickles

Pickles are a popular dish during Tet, often served with greasy dishes. However, not everyone should eat them regularly.

Doctor Thoai said: "When eating pickled melons, be careful not to eat them when they are still green or "pickled quickly" because they contain a lot of nitrosamines that can cause cancer. People with a history of cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure should limit their intake of pickled melons.

When preparing, wash the pickles several times and squeeze them to reduce the saltiness and sourness. Do not eat too much or too often, and throw away leftover pickles to avoid spoiling the remaining pickles in the jar."

Pickled melon is often eaten with Tet dishes to prevent boredom - Photo: CHU THUY HANG

Dr. Bich emphasized that pickled vegetables contain a large amount of sodium, which can exceed the needs of children if eaten in large amounts. Furthermore, pickled vegetables also contain a lot of nitrate, which when converted into nitrite can react with stomach acid and create carcinogenic nitrosamine compounds, especially when combined with foods such as meat, fish, and shrimp.

Therefore, pickled foods, although delicious, if eaten regularly and in large quantities are not good for health, especially for children.

Jellied meat

Jellied meat is a popular dish during Tet in the North, especially in cold weather. This dish has a layer of jelly surrounding the meat, usually made from pig's feet, wood ear mushrooms and can also include chicken or goose.

Jellied meat contains a lot of protein and fat - Photo: CAO NHI

According to Dr. Thoai, meat jelly should only be eaten when it is cold and solidified, not hot. This dish can be kept outside for 5-7 hours or in the refrigerator for about a week.

However, because it contains a lot of protein and fat, people who are overweight, obese or on a diet should limit their intake.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/canh-mang-dua-muoi-thit-dong-ngay-tet-nhung-ai-khong-nen-an-20250124142211788.htm