Liver-destroying seeds, “more toxic than arsenic”, many people regret eating them

This is a type of seed that contains toxins that can damage the liver, but many people still feel sorry and can’t bear to throw it away.

Liver damage after eating a type of nut

Recently, a woman named Wang Hui in Fuzhou, China was hospitalized in a local hospital in critical condition with severe liver damage.

According to the patient’s family, before being admitted to the hospital, Ms. Vuong had symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and nausea. The patient was ordered to undergo a number of tests to find the cause of the disease.

Blood test results showed that Ms. Vuong’s liver enzyme index was 10 times higher than normal, and her liver function was severely damaged. The doctor suspected that the patient was poisoned. In-depth tests showed that the patient’s body had a high concentration of aflatoxin (a toxin found in moldy foods).

Taking the medical history, the doctor discovered that 2 days before being admitted to the hospital, Ms. Vuong found a bag of peanuts that had been in the kitchen cupboard for a long time. Because she was reluctant to save money, she boiled them and ate them. The doctor said that it was very possible that the bag of peanuts had become moldy, but Ms. Vuong did not notice and boiled them and ate them, leading to acute aflatoxin poisoning and liver damage.

After a week of treatment in the hospital, Ms. Liu’s condition stabilized. When the doctor explained that eating moldy peanuts could lead to poisoning and liver damage, Ms. Liu deeply regretted her stingy habit.

Patient Vuong Hue is being treated at the hospital.

Cases of poisoning after eating moldy peanuts like Mrs. Vuong’s are not uncommon.

Previously, a hospital in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China also recorded a case of a male patient named Liu Huang being hospitalized after eating boiled peanuts.

The patient’s family shared that the night before he was admitted to the hospital, he took out a bag of peanuts he bought half a year ago and boiled them to eat. Before boiling, Luu Hoang discovered that the peanuts were moldy, but he thought that as long as the mold was washed off, they would still be edible.

As a result, at 3 a.m. the next morning, Mr. Liu suddenly had a stomachache, vomited, and had diarrhea more than ten times. His family took him to the local hospital for examination.

After conducting blood tests, the doctor discovered that Mr. Liu’s liver function was impaired due to aflatoxin poisoning.

Mr. Liu then had to stay in the hospital for half a month. After recovering, he said he would not dare eat moldy food again.

Eating moldy peanuts can cause poisoning and liver damage.

How does Aflatoxin harm health?

Aflatoxin is a toxic and carcinogenic mycotoxin. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies aflatoxin as a group 1 carcinogen.

Aflatoxin is commonly found in moldy foods, such as soybeans, peanuts, rice, and bread. When people eat moldy foods, they can be contaminated with aflatoxin and become poisoned. In mild cases of poisoning, the patient will experience symptoms such as fever, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, etc. In severe cases of poisoning, the patient may suffer from liver failure, kidney failure, or even death.

According to information from the official website of Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University, China, aflatoxin is more toxic than arsenic. In particular, aflatoxin is heat-resistant. Scientific research shows that to eliminate part of the aflatoxin toxin, it is necessary to use a temperature higher than the boiling temperature (about 1500-2000 degrees Celsius). Therefore, the boiling and cooking process cannot make the aflatoxin toxin disappear.

Experts recommend that to ensure safety, people should throw away moldy foods. For cereals, nuts, etc., people should store them in a cool, dry place, away from mold. In addition, people should not store too much food in the house, only buy enough and eat it all in a short time to limit the risk of moldy food.