"Food Truth" Series | Top 10 common questions about spring wild vegetables, see if you have any!

Spring is bright and beautiful, and everything is revived. Many elderly people who have a "wild vegetable complex" begin to enjoy the gifts of nature, and some even go to the wild to dig wild vegetables themselves. However, many people still have questions about the knowledge of common wild vegetables, so let's take a look at what they are.

1. Bracken

Is it true that bracken causes cancer? Very unlikely

Bracken is a Class 2B carcinogen (possibly carcinogenic to humans), and bracken does increase the risk of cancer. Bracken contains a carcinogenic substance called protopteroside. After hydrolysis, protopteroside produces dienone compounds, which are strong carcinogenic substances. However, the occurrence of cancer is not only due to genetic factors, but also the result of the long-term combined action of multiple factors, such as dosage, frequency, environment, physical condition, lifestyle habits, etc. The consumption of bracken is generally small and the frequency is also low, so the statement that "bracken causes cancer" is exaggerated.

When eating bracken, you should pay attention to:

First of all, wash the bracken repeatedly before eating, because the harmful substances in bracken are water-soluble compounds.

Secondly, blanching is the most effective way to reduce substances such as prototaxol.

Again, do not consume it in large quantities for a long time (in fact, the possibility is very small).

2. Toona sinensis

Will eating too much Chinese toon cause nitrite poisoning? If you eat it right, you won't get poisoned.

The nitrite content in Chinese toon is indeed very high, higher than that in ordinary vegetables, and even higher than that in ham and canned meat, but it is fine if you eat it right.

How to eat toon?

First of all, you must blanch it before eating. Blanching it for about 2 minutes can remove most of the nitrite.

Secondly, buy fresh and tender toon, as the nitrite content in toon is lower in the early stage of germination.

What is the special fragrance of toon?

A summary of many phytochemicals, the main source of the fragrance of toon is terpenes, sesquiterpenes and other substances. The smell of these substances is like a mixture of esters, flowers, fruits, herbal scents and other flavors. In addition, the caryophyllene contained in toon has a mixed aroma of citrus, camphor and cloves.

What is the reason for the special flavor of toon?

Toona sinensis contains a lot of glutamic acid, which is a kind of amino acid and the main flavoring ingredient of condiments such as monosodium glutamate. Therefore, it can be used as a flavor enhancer to enhance the taste of beverages and foods, and it also has a fresh-keeping effect on animal foods. The glutamic acid in toona sinensis is combined with the nucleotides in eggs. The combination of the two can produce a taste gain effect, so toona sinensis scrambled eggs always make us feel the freshness of spring.

3. Shepherd’s Purse

What is the difference between purple shepherd's purse and green shepherd's purse?

First, the difference in appearance.

Purple shepherd's purse is generally wild shepherd's purse. The leaves are relatively thin, with obvious serrations and obvious hairs on the back of the leaves.

Green shepherd's purse is generally cultivated artificially. The leaves are obviously wide and thick, and the hairs on the back of the leaves are not very obvious.

Second, the difference in taste.

Whether in terms of taste or flavor, purple shepherd's purse is better. Shepherd's purse has a stronger fragrance and tastes better, while green shepherd's purse is slightly inferior. But after blanching, the color of purple shepherd's purse will turn into a shiny green color. So if we dig shepherd's purse ourselves, we should first choose purple shepherd's purse.

Again, the difference in nutrition.

There is little difference in the nutrients they contain.

Like most other leafy vegetables, shepherd's purse has low energy, protein, fat and carbohydrate content, but the carotene and calcium content in shepherd's purse is relatively high. The Chinese Food Composition Table shows that every 100 grams of shepherd's purse contains 2.59 mg of carotene and 294 mg of calcium, which is much higher than other melon vegetables.

What should you pay attention to when eating shepherd's purse?

First, blanch the vegetables.

Shepherd's purse is not only nutritious, but also contains oxalic acid. If consumed too much, it will affect the absorption of calcium, so it is best to blanch it before cooking.

Secondly, do not eat flowering shepherd's purse.

Once shepherd's purse grows taller and blooms, it will contain more fiber, and the taste will become harder and woodier, losing its original freshness. In addition, as shepherd's purse gets older, the oxalic acid content inside it will increase relatively.

4. Dandelion

Do Dandelions Fight Cancer?

Dandelion is an herb that can be used as both medicine and food. It can be used as daily food and has great medicinal value, but there is no definite research showing that dandelion has anti-cancer effects.

Can dandelions treat nodules?

According to the "Compendium of Materia Medica", dandelion has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, and eliminating carbuncles, so dandelion has a certain dissipating effect, but because Chinese medicine generally has a long treatment cycle and is often used as an auxiliary treatment, it is not advisable to rely solely on dandelion to treat nodules.

What should you pay attention to when eating dandelions?

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that dandelions are cold in nature, and people with weak gastrointestinal function should avoid eating them or eat less.

This article was scientifically reviewed by Wu Ping, director of the Clinical Nutrition Department of Tongji Hospital affiliated to Tongji University.