How to remove parasites on raw vegetables

Raw vegetables are usually herbs and spices such as: lettuce, water spinach, green mustard, bitter vegetables, chrysanthemum greens, pennywort, herbs and spices (basil, perilla, basil...).

Raw vegetables are usually aromatic herbs such as lettuce, spinach, green cabbage, bitter vegetables, chrysanthemum greens, pennywort, aromatic herbs (basil, perilla, basil, etc.). Raw vegetables provide the body with a large amount of vitamins C, A, E, minerals and some trace elements. The vitamins in raw vegetables are preserved intact, less lost than when cooked. However, raw vegetables also pose many potential risks of causing disease if used improperly.

susceptible to parasites

Raw vegetables are a very popular dish in Vietnamese cuisine. However, there are many warnings that eating raw vegetables has a high risk of parasitic infection. Especially raw vegetables that are not hygienic (fertilized with fresh manure, not composted properly, improper use of pesticides...) are foods that carry pathogens that make people susceptible to gastrointestinal infections, parasitic diseases, acute and chronic pesticide poisoning.

Ensure hygiene when eating raw vegetables.

Common parasites in raw vegetables are: pinworms, hookworms, whipworms, dog roundworm eggs, liver flukes, amoebic parasites that cause dysentery. In some places, raw vegetables even contain cholera bacteria and can lead to diarrhea. Not only that, raw vegetables also have the risk of containing large amounts of eggs and larvae of worms such as: hookworms, roundworms, dog and cat roundworms, liver flukes.

According to the research results of the Institute of Malaria - Parasitology, in 8 samples of commonly used raw vegetables, the rate of parasite infection on vegetables was 92.3 - 100%. Even after 3 times of washing and washing with specialized washing water, the rate of parasite infection was still at 51.9 - 82.6%. There were vegetables that were 100% infected with parasites such as watercress, green cabbage, and pennywort. The rest such as lettuce, spinach, and herbs were also infected with parasites at 92.3%. The above vegetables were washed 3 times with clean water in the usual way and then tested again. The results showed that the level of parasite infection in general was still high, not much reduced. After the first wash, the rate of parasite infection was still up to 97%, after the second wash it was 77.9% and after the third wash it was 51.9%.

Worms such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and pinworms are found in all vegetables at a very high rate, the highest on watercress (100%), and the lowest on spinach (46.1%). Amoebic parasites, cyst form, are found in most vegetables, the highest on watercress and pennywort at a rate of 76.5%, dog roundworm eggs are found in 7 types of vegetables (except spinach) at an average rate of 11.5%.

How to eat raw vegetables properly?

To ensure clean vegetables, you need to pick them clean and wash them many times with clean water. It is best to wash each leaf directly under running water. This is the most effective way to remove worm eggs, disease-causing bacteria and pesticide residues still on vegetables. Many people often soak raw vegetables in potassium permanganate solution or diluted salt water, which is not hygienic. Because according to research, in a diluted salt water environment, potassium permanganate has no effect on worm eggs and some disease-causing bacteria, and the amount of pesticides on vegetables is not significantly reduced if not washed many times. Therefore, you should wash raw vegetables with clean water many times, then scoop them out and shake them dry before eating.

But to ensure health, it is best not to eat raw vegetables but to blanch them. In addition, pregnant women, people with colitis, people with stomach pain and people susceptible to colds should not eat raw vegetables.

According to Gia dinh.net