9 Ordinary Foods That Influence The Body In Bizarre Ways
Everyday foods can prompt the human body to
react in many surprising ways. For instance, Are those people who
constantly complain about cilantro tasting terrible just melodramatic,
or are they onto something? How about all those who say that eating pine
nuts makes everything taste like metal? Food scientists have
investigated both of these bizarre accusations and a few others, and
here’s what they have to say.
1. Cilantro
Also referred to as Chinese parsley or
coriander, cilantro is oddly controversial. You probably know a few
people who describe this herb as tasting pungent and soapy. You may even
be one of them, frustrated and puzzled as to why no one else seems to
notice the unpleasant taste. Food science may finally vindicate you, as
it seems that some people are genetically predisposed to detect the
soapy taste more than others.
Not only are certain people more sensitive to compounds present in
cilantro called (E)-2-alkenals and n-aldehydes, but they may also have a
genetic variant of olfactory receptors on the taste buds that makes
them more sensitive to the soapy taste in the herb. One additional
compound naturally found in cilantro was also implicated in the soapy
taste. The name of the compound is S-linalool, and it’s often added to
skincare, pest repellants, and cleaning products to impart a pleasant
smell. So if you feel an aversion to cilantro and want it off the menu
for good, these scientific findings can help justify your choice - both
to yourself and others!
2. Pine nuts
An essential ingredient in pesto and a
tasty companion to fish and side dishes, pine nuts are notorious for
giving “pine mouth” to some individuals. This poorly understood side
effect is also known as pine nut syndrome, and its only symptom is a
bitter metallic taste in the mouth that can last for up to a month!
Pine mouth usually begins 12-48 hours after pine nut consumption, and it
feels like having a coin in your mouth. Scientists are not certain of
the cause of the metallic taste, but they note that pine nuts from China
are more likely to trigger the bizarre side effect, likely due to a
specific lipid naturally found in the nuts.
3. Orange juice
Like all citrus juices, oranges are natural
diuretics, but other than that, they are pretty unremarkable on their
own. It is when you combine orange juice with brushing your teeth that
the weirdness begins. If you drink orange juice right after brushing
your teeth, you’ll notice that it tastes very bitter.
And you can blame one ingredient for this shocking taste - sodium lauryl
sulfate (SLS). This cleansing agent is known as a surfactant, and what
makes products like soap, shower gel, shaving cream, and toothpaste
lather. Coincidentally, SLS can also suppress the olfactory receptors on
the tongue responsible for the detection of sweet things and amplify
those that identify bitterness.
As a result, acidity and bitterness are all your taste buds can identify
when you drink orange juice. If you want to reduce the bitter taste,
just rinse your mouth thoroughly after brushing your teeth and wait
10-15 minutes before you drink orange juice. Alternatively, you can buy a
toothpaste that doesn’t contain SLS.
4. Spinach
Have you ever noticed that eating spinach
made your mouth and teeth feel rough or chalky? This effect is more
prominent when you combine these leafy greens with calcium-rich foods
like dairy, and it is more likely to happen with raw than cooked
spinach. Chewing releases the oxalic acid from spinach, and it then
mixes with calcium from spinach and other foods.
As a result of mixing these two compounds, tiny calcium oxalate crystals
form in the mouth. These crystals, though microscopic, can create a
gritty texture in the mouth. Luckily, the calcium oxalate crystals can
be easily dissolved by cooking it down a little or adding a squeeze of
lemon juice.
5. Carrots
You’re surely familiar with beta-carotene, a
bright orange antioxidant found in most orange fruits and vegetables.
Without a doubt, beta-carotene is one of the healthiest food ingredients
out there. It is transformed into vitamin A in our body and plays a key
role in vision, bone growth, and immune health.
However, eating too many carrots can lead to something called
carotenemia, or an orange tint to the skin. The orange tint is
particularly apparent on the laugh lines, soles of the feet, and palms.
Note that this condition is quite rare because one needs to consume 10
carrots worth of beta-carotene for at least a few weeks for the
condition to appear.
6. Salty snacks
7. Beets
Some feel that eating salty snacks like
popcorn or chips makes their lips fuller or even swollen, and they’re
not wrong. Foods high in salt content promote water retention, which
leads to puffy eyelids and swollen lips. This kind of puffiness is often
accompanied by a whitish ring on the inside of the lips, and it
shouldn’t be confused for an allergy, which usually causes more severe
swelling that may be accompanied by itching, redness, and other allergy
symptoms.
Unlike allergies, which require medications and possibly medical help
too, water retention caused by salt is easily remedied by a glass of
water.
7. BeetsBeets are nutritious and delicious, but if
you don’t eat them very often, they can give you quite the scare. The
thing is, beets are extremely rich in red and purple antioxidants called
betalains, and not all of these antioxidants get absorbed by the body
during digestion. So after enjoying a healthy glass of beet juice or a
plateful of beetroot salad, you may notice that the next trip to the
bathroom (both number 1 and number 2) has a pink or reddish tint.
No need to worry, it’s just a temporary effect of the beets. However, if
the symptoms persist for several days and you notice other alarming
signs, you’ll want to seek medical help.
8. Asparagus
You may have heard the rumors about
asparagus. The healthy vegetable gives urine a terrible smell often
compared to rotten cabbage. The culprit to blame is asparagusic acid, a
compound found only in asparagus. The human body digests it into a
sulfuric compound called mercaptan.
Most interestingly, studies show that not everyone can smell this
unpleasant odor, so be careful with ordering asparagus at a restaurant
if the possibility of spreading body odor terrifies you. The good news
is that there are no health repercussions associated with asparagus
urine.
9. Green tea
Known for its countless health benefits,
green tea isn’t often associated with weird effects on the body.
However, even this healthy drink isn’t tolerated by everyone. Some
individuals can get nauseous after drinking green tea on an empty
stomach. This happens because the tannins naturally present in green tea
can irritate the stomach and increase acid production.
As a result, green tea could lead to nausea, acid reflux, and
constipation. If this has ever happened to you but you still want to
enjoy all the benefits green tea has to offer, here are two simple rules
that can help.
First and foremost, lower the brewing temperature and time of green tea
to no more than 160-180ºF (70-80ºC) and 2-3 minutes. This will decrease
the number of tannins in your brew. And finally, follow the Chinese
tradition of tea drinking and enjoy your green tea during or after a
meal and never on an empty stomach. Chinese people drink tea with a meal
because it improves digestion, reduces appetite, and prevents you from
overeating.