We often do things that are less than ideal for our health, sometimes without realizing it. Many people have habits that are very harmful in the long run, especially when it comes to cooking and cleaning.
Wellness and gut health experts, Dr. Dimple Jandauses their platform to share hacks and “PSAs” to help combat this blissful ignorance, especially in the kitchen. In her recent post, she admitted that there are some foods that people unknowingly consume that end up being harmful to their overall health.
“A lot of people don't know about this,” she revealed. “But there are some foods that shouldn't be in the fridge…and people are still consuming them.”
Here are four foods you probably didn't know could be toxic when refrigerated.
1. Peeled garlic
“Never buy peeled garlic and store it in the refrigerator,” Dr. Janda warned. “Mold starts to grow right away. Garlic mold has actually been linked to cancer.”
Garlic is known as a “water-rich” crop. absorbs moisture from the air in the refrigerator, making it easier for mold to grow. Early-stage mold is associated with “chest tightness, coughing, wheezing” and other symptoms upon ingestion, as well as later-stage mold production. Mycotoxins are linked to cancer.
Dr. Janda recommended buying garlic as fresh as possible and leaving the skin on until ready to use. Chanda says it's also a good idea to leave the garlic cloves in a cool, dark place and store them on a dry countertop rather than in the refrigerator drawer.
If convenience is most important to you, consider finding an alternative to the minced jar or “pickling” the peeled garlic in vinegar and storing it in the refrigerator.
2. Onion
Onions, like garlic, are often mistakenly placed in the refrigerator by ordinary consumers. Onions, whether whole onions or leftover parts from cooking, are known to attract bacteria from the environment.
“When someone gets sick at home, we also Place the onion slices in the corner of the room It collects all the unhealthy bacteria,” Dr. Janda said.
This means that onions can be seemingly poisonous. It absorbs and retains all the germs in your refrigerator, whether or not it's visibly moldy.
Research shows that many Americans only Clean your refrigerator once or twice a yearTherefore, you can imagine how many bacteria unconsciously turn the product into something poisonous.
3. Fresh ginger
“As soon as you refrigerate ginger, mold will start to form,” she informed viewers. “It's associated with kidney and liver failure.”
Although raw ginger is associated with health benefits in fighting kidney disease, it can be harmful if stored improperly. As Dr. Janda mentioned in the video, mold growth on raw ginger is only stimulated by the cold temperatures and humidity of the refrigerator, making it potentially toxic if ingested.
4.Takikomi rice
“Starch tolerance has led many people to store cooked rice in the refrigerator,” Dr. Janda said. “However, rice is one of the foods that is most susceptible to mold. If it is refrigerated, it should be kept within 24 hours.”
Other experts say: Dr. Janine Bowling agrees.I really should never eat leftover rice.
Leftover rice is highly susceptible to mold and can turn toxic in the refrigerator faster than other foods. Additionally, Dr. Bowling said that cooked rice can harbor certain bacteria. Bacteria called “b.” Cereus” It is associated with food poisoning.
If it's been a while since you looked in the back of your fridge, now might be the time.
Eventually, consider purchasing a kitchen shelf or produce basket so that food doesn't become toxic while sitting in your refrigerator drawer.
Zayda Slabbekoorn is a news and entertainment writer at YourTango, focusing on pop culture and human relations articles.
