Does stinky tofu cause cancer? Avoid low-quality oils and pay attention to 4 points for healthy eating

Stinky tofu is a "national delicacy". It is both smelly and fragrant, and has a dense and juicy texture, which attracts many gourmets to try it while it is hot. However, nutritionists remind us that one serving of fried stinky tofu contains about 500 calories, which is equivalent to the calories in two bowls of rice. If pickled kimchi is added, the salt content is high, so people with chronic diseases are advised not to eat too much.

Nutritionist Chen Jiaqi from the Nantou Hospital of the Ministry of Health and Welfare said that stinky tofu is rich in plant protein. It is usually made by soaking old tofu in stinky brine. The bacteria in the stinky brine attach to the tofu, destroying and decomposing the protein in the tofu, loosening the tofu tissue, and then fermenting to produce the special flavor of stinky tofu.

Stinky tofu is high in calories and only needs to be tasted briefly

Generally speaking, stinky tofu produces many nutrients during the fermentation process, especially vitamin B12 and lactic acid bacteria. About every 100 grams of stinky tofu contains about 10 micrograms of vitamin B12, which helps prevent Alzheimer's disease. The plant lactic acid bacteria in stinky tofu have excellent effects in regulating the intestines and strengthening the stomach.

Although stinky tofu is delicious, you should not eat too much of it. Recommendation: Just taste it lightly to avoid causing burden to your body. There are two main reasons:

1. High in calories: 1 serving (5 pieces) of fried stinky tofu contains about 500 calories, which is equivalent to the calories in 2 bowls of rice; 1 serving (5 pieces) of steamed stinky tofu contains about 300 calories, which is equivalent to the calories in 1 bowl of rice.

2. High salt content: Whether fried or steamed, a plate of stinky tofu, plus kimchi and sauce, has an average salt content of about 10 grams, far exceeding the average daily intake of 6 grams for citizens.

Stinky tofu has a strong flavor and is susceptible to infection during the fermentation process

Nutritionist Chen Jiaqi emphasized that if stinky tofu is fried or seasoned with heavy flavors such as spicy, the high-temperature heating process may lead to loss of nutrients and increase in calories. In addition, if the stinky tofu is not properly stored during the fermentation process, it is easy for bad bacteria to invade and cause cross contamination. In addition, consuming too much fried or spicy stinky tofu may cause you to consume a lot of salt and calories.

As for the online rumor: "Is eating stinky tofu likely to cause cancer?" Nutritionists believe that it's not just the stinky tofu. Taiwan's climate is in a dangerous temperature zone for bacterial growth all year round. As long as food safety control is not done properly, food cross-contamination is likely to occur. However, since stinky tofu is fried at high temperature, the problem of bacterial contamination can be reduced at this time. Instead, you should pay attention to whether it is repeatedly fried or recycled oil is used, because eating such oil will actually ingest more carcinogens.

Does stinky tofu cause cancer? 4 points to note when tasting

At the same time, studies have found that the smellier the stinky tofu is, the more harmful it is. Because stinky tofu contains more lysine. Although lysine is an essential amino acid, when it is heated together with reducing sugar, it will produce toxic substance AGE, which is carcinogenic. The stinkier the stinky tofu is, the more ammonia, volatile amines, cadaverine and other substances it contains, which are bad for your health.

It is recommended to taste stinky tofu and pay attention to the following 4 points:

• 1. Don’t buy stinky tofu with a strong smell.

• 2. Choose stinky tofu made by regular manufacturers, as its cleanliness is more guaranteed.

• 3. Pay attention to the quality of frying oil to avoid oil deterioration after repeated frying.

• 4. Eat less fried stinky tofu and stinky tofu with too much sauce, because repeated frying will destroy the nutrients in food, increase calories, and even produce carcinogens; and stinky tofu that is too salty has a high sodium content, which is especially harmful for patients with hypertension and kidney disease.