Are Vegetables Safe and Healthy?

nitrite and nitrate

Green leafy and root vegetables such as spinach and carrots contain dietary nitrate. Does this mean that vegetables are unhealthy?

I have heard some concerns about infant feeding vegetables because of the controversy over the nitrate in vegetables, a lady explaining that she bought the baby veges to prepare baby food, because food companies have better resources for testing nitrate. What a shame that she feels guilty for giving your child fresh vegetables!

Yes, vegetables contain nitrates, of course, and foods with added chemical fertilizers can contain multiple, which is a very good reason to buy organically grown vegetables when we can.

As we know, many of the chemicals found in pesticides and fertilizers have been linked with a long list of very serious human and animal health problems, including cancer, infertility, thyroid dysfunction, birth defects, behavioral problems, immune system suppression and deformation of reproductive organs, and they also affect the endocrine system. These are often called "endocrine disturbance chemicals (EDCs ).

dietary nitrate may also come from our drinking water.

is also true that nitrites are commonly found in many green vegetables, especially spinach, celery and lettuce, but fruits and vegetables can be effective in reducing cancer risk!

Nitrite containing vegetables also have Vitamin C, and D, which are used for preventing the formation of N-nitroso compounds.

So, vegetables are quite safe and sound!

and why the nitrite added to food?

nitrite salt used to preserve meat, fish and poultry. to certain foods to prevent the growth of botulism, which can lead to paralysis and even death. It is also used to produce the characteristic flavor, texture, and pink meat products.

Our body makes nitrite

through the normal metabolism of nitric oxide is produced, then converted to nitrite or nitrate to be excreted.

at normal levels, nitric oxide is a life-supporting biological messenger that helps heal wounds and burns, promotes blood clotting, controlling blood pressure, improves brain function and strengthens the immune system to kill tumor cells and intracellular parasites. Scientific studies have shown that early in the healing process contains a significant amount of nitric oxide.

In addition, when nitrite is acidified in the stomach, stimulates microbial activity.

Just as nitrite protects food from botulism, it also can protect our stomach from other food borne bacteria.

Thus, it appears that nitrites are essential for life, and we get them, of course, in our food, so why they are considered "bad "?

nitrates and nitrites form nitrosamines in the body. Nitrosamines are carcinogenic. On top of that, a very high heat used to cook many processed meats such as sausage and bacon, to assist in the formation of nitrosamines.

Studies show that people who eat lots of processed meats with nitrates. Hot dogs, bacon, cold cuts, sausages, have a much higher risk for pancreatic cancer

Therefore, we choose processed meats without nitrates is listed as an ingredient, and organically grown vegetables, remember that the meat without nitrates more perishable so eat them immediately or freeze them before the expiry date.