Hydros and textile dyes are used to make jalebi crisp and bright, fabric dye replaces food colouring in biryani, and urea fertiliser or formalin is sometimes added too, medicine specialist Dr Ashraf Uddin Ahmed told Amar Desh's 'Hello Doctor' section. Over time these can do serious harm, he said.
Industrial dyes can damage the DNA in the body's cells, raising the risk of oesophageal and liver cancer, he explained. Some dyes may contain aniline, which is also linked to bladder cancer risk. Such chemicals can suppress the bone marrow and reduce blood cell production, and can affect children's physical and mental development.
Noting that October is Liver Cancer Awareness Month, he urged people to avoid food containing such chemicals.
On rock salt sprinkled on street-sold guava and rose apple, or tasting salt on boiled eggs, he said too much salt of any kind, ordinary, black or pink, raises blood pressure. Cut fruit sold in the open can also pick up dust and germs, so it is better to bring fruit home and cut it yourself.
After eating out, one or two bouts of vomiting or loose stools can be managed at home with oral saline, green coconut water or rice water. But repeated vomiting or diarrhoea, blood in the stool, weakness or falling blood pressure need hospital treatment, the doctor said.
The interview is from Amar Desh's health page.
Photo: Haroldandkumar / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Source: Amar Desh
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