A 30-year-old guy chewed at least 2 packs of betel nuts every day for 10 years! He completely quit betel nuts on the first day of the Chinese New Year. What's the trick?

Recently, a 30-year-old man went for a physical examination and took the initiative to tell the doctor at the health management center that he used to chew at least 2 packs of betel nuts every day for at least 10 years, but he gave up betel nuts on the first day of the Chinese New Year this year. The doctor asked if there was any trick worth promoting?

He smiled bitterly. It turned out that he suddenly had a severe toothache that day. He wanted to endure it, but he couldn't stand it anymore and had to go to the emergency room. The emergency doctor told him that many of his teeth were damaged and there were white spots in his mouth. It was probably caused by betel nut. If he didn't quit, he could imagine the consequences... Having a toothache on New Year's Day is not a good sign. He must make up his mind to quit. From then on, he never touched betel nut again.

1. Betel nut is listed as a "drug" in many countries

"Betel nut plus cigarettes, infinite power; betel nut soaked in wine, eternal immortality." This catchphrase circulated among the people of Hunan refers to betel nut, a "net celebrity food" that has quickly become popular in the market in recent years.

In 2003, the International Agency for Research on Cancer listed betel nut on the "blacklist" as a Class 1 carcinogen, which is a proven human carcinogen.
In 2017, the former State Food and Drug Administration listed betel nut as a first-class carcinogen when it published a list of carcinogens.

On September 17, the WeChat public account of the State Administration of Radio and Television reported that the General Office of the State Administration of Radio and Television issued a notice on stopping the use of radio, television and online audio-visual programs to promote and sell betel nuts and their products. The notice requires that from now on, the use of radio, television and online audio-visual programs to promote and sell betel nuts and their products should be stopped.

In August 2021, the Chinese Consulate General in Istanbul also issued a reminder: Do not bring betel nuts into Turkey, otherwise you will be arrested. In addition, Australia has also listed arecoline as a fourth-level drug and prescription drug, and banned the transportation of betel nuts. Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Thailand and other countries all prohibit the sale and import of betel nuts.

Behind the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television's personal move to stop betel nut advertising is the huge potential harm caused by the small betel nut.

2. What are the harms of betel nut?

In some cities, when sitting in taxis or buses, you will find that every driver, both men and women, is chewing betel nuts, just like we chew gum. After finishing one piece, they will continue to eat another.
People who don't eat betel nuts are generally very puzzled. Knowing that it can cause cancer, why are they so addicted? Because eating betel nuts will make the whole person feel very excited and hot. Even if you didn't sleep the whole night before, you will feel energetic the next day as long as you chew betel nuts.

If you eat betel nut for many years, it will bring a series of side effects. Long-term chewing of betel nut will cause severe wear of the gums, and the teeth will turn red and black due to corrosion, and even cause loose teeth and tooth loss. Some betel nuts are easy to cause dental calculus because of the addition of lime. Betel nut contains a lot of crude fiber, which may hurt the mouth and gums, block the gaps between teeth, and even cause inflammation. In addition to tooth damage, there are also oral burns and diarrhea. In severe cases, spicy and sour foods cannot be touched. It can even significantly increase the incidence of oral cancer.

3. Why does betel nut cause cancer?

Betel nut can increase the incidence of oral cancer. In 2017, a research paper on the number of oral cancer patients in Hunan was published in the "Chinese Journal of Dental Research" by the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences of Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. The paper showed that there were 11,882 oral cancer patients who visited five hospitals in Changsha (including Xiangya Hospital) from 2006 to 2016, of which 8,222 were betel nut chewers, accounting for 69.20% of oral cancer patients.

1. The fiber of betel nut is relatively rough. When chewing betel nut, the long-term friction between the betel nut fiber and the oral cavity will cause local trauma and chronic damage to the oral mucosa.

2. Betel nut contains the carcinogen arecoline.
3. In the process of betel nut processing, lime is often needed, which is very irritating and can cause damage to the oral cavity.

"No burning mouth", "No smoke", "Wolfberry betel nut", "Coffee betel nut", "Mint betel nut", carcinogens are packaged as health products. Faced with doubts about health risks, businesses have launched corresponding health products to dispel health concerns. Even wolfberries and probiotics added to health can still cause cancer.

Quit betel nut as soon as possible and have good health soon!