The harm of eating betel nut

Areca nut is the mature seed of the palm plant Areca catechu. Betel nut is an evergreen tree that grows in tropical areas and is often cultivated in forests with sufficient sunlight and high humidity. It is cultivated in Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Yunnan and other places in my country. From November to December, the green fruits are boiled for 4 hours and baked for 12 hours to obtain dried betel nut. From March to June, the mature fruits are harvested, dried in the sun for 3 to 4 days, pounded or cut open with a knife to remove the seeds, and dried in the sun. Some are boiled in water, smoked and burned for 7 to 10 months, and then peeled off after drying, the seeds are removed, and dried. This is called betel nut jade.

[Warning] Betel nut is a Class 1 carcinogen on the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer list of carcinogens. Chewing betel nut can increase the risk of oral cancer.

Areca seeds are oblate or conical, with blunt tops and wide bases, 1.5 to 3 cm high and 1.5 to 3 cm in diameter. The surface is light yellow-brown to dark brown with light-colored reticular textures, a concave pit in the center of the base, and a large light-colored hilum next to it. It is very hard, and marble-like textures can be seen on the cut surface.

(1) Common hazards:

Chewing betel nut not only causes teeth to become darker, more worn, loose, and gums to shrink, leading to periodontal disease, oral submucous fibrosis, and oral leukoplakia, but it can also lead to oral cancer. According to a survey, 88% of oral cancer patients have the habit of chewing betel nut.

(2) Serious health hazards:

1. Betel nut-induced precancerous lesions:

(1) Oral submucous fibrosis:

It is common in the buccal mucosa, followed by the jaw area. The oral mucosa will have a burning sensation, ulcers, and turn white, which will eventually cause difficulty in opening the mouth and swallowing. Some patients with oral submucosal fibrosis will develop oral cancer.

(2) Oral leukoplakia:

Commonly found on the cheek mucosa, tongue, floor of mouth and corners of lips. Leukoplakia will gradually change from clear white to mixed white, and some patients with leukoplakia will develop oral cancer.

2. Oral cancer:

Betel nut is commonly known as betel nut. The "arecaline" in it is carcinogenic. The "lime" added to it is a carcinogen. The World Health Organization reviewed the relevant literature on chewing betel nut and cancer and concluded:

(1) Tobacco chewing combined with betel nut is a confirmed human carcinogen.

(2) Smoking and chewing betel nuts can easily lead to oral cancer and pharyngeal cancer.

For your health, please do not chew betel nuts. If you are a smoker, you must quit smoking, because the combination of the two is more likely to cause oral cancer, laryngeal cancer, pharyngeal cancer and esophageal cancer. In addition, smoking, chewing betel nuts and drinking alcohol together have a more multiplied carcinogenic effect.

3. Tooth damage:

Frequent chewing actions exceed the normal load, causing tooth wear and tear and loose gums.

(III) Harm of betel nut

The population of betel nut chewers is growing rapidly, and it is estimated that there are more than 2.6 million people in Taiwan. The average age of betel nut chewers is also gradually decreasing. The prevalence of betel nut chewing has also expanded from low socioeconomic status and working class population to white-collar and highly educated people. Betel nut is the favorite of the "red-lipped people" and the "green gold" in the eyes of farmers, but it is the biggest killer of the health and water resources of the Taiwanese people. According to statistics, there are more than 50,000 hectares of betel nut plantations in Taiwan (equivalent to 2 Taipei cities). In addition to causing a loss of about 4 billion tons of water resources and serious damage to forest land every year, the amount of money spent by Taiwanese people on eating betel nut is as high as more than 90 billion yuan a year, which is equivalent to the cost of building half a highway, which is quite shocking. What is even more terrifying is its carcinogenic and cancer-promoting effects, which has made oral cancer among the top ten causes of cancer death in Taiwan. Therefore, how to promote betel nut prevention and control work and reduce the habit of chewing betel nut has become one of the work priorities of health units.

Physiological hazards:

In addition to the possibility of developing oral diseases and oral cancer, excessive consumption can produce symptoms of poisoning, ranging from mild excitement, dull eyes, trembling, unsteady walking, strange or rude behavior to severe symptoms such as acute mental illness, including auditory hallucinations, self-inflation, forced fantasies, delirium, etc.

Economic harm:

Spitting betel nut juice anywhere will result in a fine; eating betel nut is expensive, increasing the burden of expenditure and medical expenses.

The dangers of social interaction:

After eating for a long time, the teeth will turn black and the mouth will turn red, which looks quite unsightly.

Environmental pollution:

Spitting betel nut juice everywhere not only pollutes the environment and is unsightly, but the bacteria in the spitted betel nut juice will be blown away by the wind and inhaled into the lungs of the public.