Even though its taste is not like a freshly made food we all prefer consuming leftovers since it takes only a few minutes in the microwave to heat it and that is it, you can eat it. But it is very important to know that some foods can’t be consumed as a leftover because they contain toxic compounds.
We present you some of them:
Rice
According to the Food Standards Agency the uncooked rice can contain spores of harmful bacteria which can survive through the process of cooking. If the leftover rice is not kept at the proper temperature, these spores will spread and multiply and the consumed rice can lead to diarrhea and vomiting.
You need to eat all of the rice after you cooked it. Or, if you have some leftover, put it in the fridge.
Vegetable Oil
Reheated leftover meals made with vegetable oil can increase the risk of stroke, heart disease, and cancer.
If you reheat the polyunsaturated oils that have linoleic acid like corn, sunflower, canola, and soybean oil for several times, they can release a toxic compound which is called HNE (4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal), which can cause numerous health issues including cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, liver problems, stroke, Huntington’s disease, and cancer.
Vegetables
The way of storing green leafy vegetables is what makes them harmful.
According to the Center for Food safety, the temperature where the vegetables leftovers are placed should be 4 degrees Celsius. It is recommended to freeze them if you are planning to store the vegetables for longer than 12 hours.
Spinach, beets, lettuce, and celery are vegetables which are abundant with nitrate which is not harmful. But if the vegetables are left on a room temperature there will be caused an accumulation of nitrate.
The nitrates consumption can cause methaemoglobinaemia which is a serious blood disorder and the symptoms include headaches, fatigue, seizures, and shortness of breath.
Source: Time For Natural Health Care
