Experts point out foods that should not be eaten raw.

Potato

According to The Takeout (USA), Dr. Jennie Ding, a lifestyle medicine physician at Kale Health (Canada), "Raw potatoes contain glycoalkaloids and lectin, which can cause digestive upset, headaches, and, if consumed in large quantities, may even lead to hallucinations and paralysis. Cooking breaks down these compounds, making potatoes safer and easier to eat . "

Dr. Beth Conlon, a nutritionist in the US, recommends that people "wash potatoes to remove dirt and bacteria before cooking." This helps wash away dirt and pathogens that may be on the skin. Because if you only peel the potatoes without washing them, bacteria from the skin can still transfer to the flesh of the potato.

Experts point out foods that should not be eaten raw - Image 1.

Raw potatoes contain glycoalkaloids and lectins, which can cause digestive discomfort, headaches, and other problems.

Photo: AI

Ground pork and beef

Raw pork can cause trichinellosis. When infected pork is consumed, stomach acid breaks down the larval cysts, releasing adult worms. The disease may cause mild digestive symptoms, but if the toxins enter the bloodstream, they can affect many other organs, even causing encephalitis.

Meanwhile, dangerous bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens, salmonella, and E. coli are often found in raw chicken or ground beef. Cooking them thoroughly before eating will kill them.

Mushroom

"Some types of highly poisonous wild mushrooms can easily be mistaken for edible ones, so eating them raw is very dangerous," Dr. Jennie explained.

More seriously, nutritionist Beth notes that only about 1% of wild mushrooms are safe to eat raw: "Accurate identification is crucial, as some toxins in mushrooms are heat-resistant and can still be deadly even after cooking."

Even edible mushrooms can be difficult to digest and cause stomach discomfort when eaten raw. According to Dr. Jennie, the reason is that mushroom cell walls contain chitin, which makes the digestive system work harder. Cooking mushrooms breaks down these indigestible compounds and makes them more flavorful.

Experts point out foods that should not be eaten raw - Image 2.

Cooking mushrooms breaks down indigestible compounds and makes them more flavorful.

Photo: AI

Red bean

“Raw or undercooked red beans contain high levels of phytohaemagglutinin – a lectin that can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain within 1-3 hours of consumption. Just 4 or 5 raw beans can cause poisoning,” Dr. Beth warned.

Therefore, Beth recommends "soaking beans overnight and boiling them at around 100°C for at least 10 minutes to remove most of the toxins."

Shellfish

"Raw oysters often contain Vibrio vulnificus bacteria and norovirus, which can cause serious illness or even death, especially in people with weakened immune systems. As the weather warms and sea temperatures rise, the presence of Vibrio bacteria increases, making eating raw oysters even more dangerous," experts Beth and Jennie explained.

Additionally, according to experts, other raw shellfish such as mussels, clams, oysters, and shrimp also carry a high risk of hepatitis A infection. Properly cooking them before consumption will significantly reduce these risks.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chuyen-gia-chi-ra-cac-thuc-pham-khong-nen-an-song-185250621175852851.htm