My mouth feels astringent after eating cucumbers. Is it pesticide residue?

gossip

"The reason why your mouth feels astringent when you eat cucumbers is because of pesticide residues."

After eating cucumbers, you may feel an astringent feeling in your mouth. But some people say that the astringent feeling in your mouth after eating cucumbers is due to pesticide residues.

Rumor Analysis

In fact, this is not the case.

The bitterness of cucumbers is not caused by not washing them properly or pesticide residues, but by the phenolic substances and bitter substances contained in the cucumbers themselves. Generally speaking, the closer to the end of the cucumber, the more bitter substances there are, so it will taste bitter when eaten.

As soon as summer comes, cucumbers become the "star" of many tables. Cucumbers are crisp and refreshing, and smashed cucumbers, cold cucumbers, fried cucumbers, and refreshing pickled cucumbers all have their fans.

But many people say that after eating cucumbers, their mouths feel astringent. Some say that the reason why the mouth feels astringent after eating cucumbers is because of pesticide residues.

Is this true? Can we still eat cucumbers without worry?
Why does my mouth feel dry after eating cucumber?

In fact, the bitterness of cucumber is not caused by not washing it thoroughly or pesticide residues, but by the phenolic substances and bitter substances contained in the cucumber itself .

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The main phenolic substances in cucumbers are tannins and catechins.

Tannins are also called tannins. They are found in many plants and fruits. For example, persimmons can make you feel astringent and numb when you eat them, and your oral mucosa can feel wrinkled. This is because tannins are playing tricks on you. Cucumber peels contain more tannins, and the darker the green, the more tannins it contains. Therefore, the cucumber peels will taste astringent, and the cucumber peels will be even more astringent.

Catechins are common in tea leaves. When we drink tea, we usually feel a little astringent. In fact, it is because of the effect of catechins. There are a lot of catechins in cucumber peel, so it tastes astringent.

In addition, cucumbers also contain a small amount of bitter substances. Generally speaking, the closer to the tail of the cucumber, the more bitter substances there are, and the taste will be bitter when eaten .

Does cucumber really have pesticide residues?

Many people worry about the pesticide residues in cucumbers and are not sure about eating them. In fact, the pesticide residues in cucumbers and other vegetables in China are very low and can be guaranteed to be safe .

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In 2021, the overall qualified rate of routine monitoring of agricultural products nationwide remained above 97% for six consecutive years. In 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs strengthened the supervision of agricultural product quality and safety, and the overall qualified rate of agricultural product monitoring nationwide was 97.8% throughout the year.

Among them, the first routine monitoring sampled 818 vegetable and fruit production bases, 452 vegetable and fruit transport vehicles, 592 agricultural product wholesale (agricultural trade) markets in 108 large and medium-sized cities in 31 provinces. The results showed that the qualified rates of vegetables and fruits were 97.3% and 96.3% respectively.

According to some current studies, the combined exposure to single and multiple pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables is at an acceptable level for the health risks of Chinese residents . For example, a study analyzed the pesticide residues in four vegetables, including leeks, cabbage, cucumbers, and potatoes, from Jingdezhen, China's porcelain capital, and the results showed that they were safe.

Another study analyzed 19 common pesticide residues in common foods in my country and found them to be safe. A study in Shanghai also found the pesticide residues in marketed vegetables to be safe.

In general, the risk of pesticide residues in cucumbers and other vegetables in my country is very small, and most of them are qualified and safe and can be eaten with confidence.

How to eat cucumbers healthily?

Try to buy cucumbers and other vegetables from regular supermarkets, vegetable markets and e-commerce platforms to ensure safety.

Eat in moderation. From a health perspective, we recommend that you eat one pound of vegetables every day. Cucumber is a common vegetable in summer and is very convenient. You can eat more of it.

When making cold cucumber salad , pay attention to the five key points of food safety, such as washing hands frequently, cleaning kitchen knives and plates, and keeping the cutting board for cutting cucumbers separate from the one for cutting meat. It is best to eat it on the same day, and refrigerate it in time if you cannot finish it.

Although cucumbers are delicious, they are also vegetables. They do not have outstanding nutritional advantages and cannot whiten the skin. Therefore, you should not only eat cucumbers, but also eat more vegetables to enrich your nutrition.

If you are worried about the bitter taste, you can peel the cucumber and not eat the root. Tannins and catechins are mainly in the skin, and bitter sour is mainly in the root.

Looking in the mirror of rumors

In life, people always have various questions about the safety of food. But many rumors will also take advantage of this to create and spread rumors.

When we see some information that seems to make sense but we are not sure whether it is correct, the best way is to seek help from professionals to find the truth and nip the rumor in the bud.

Author: Ruan Guangfeng, Deputy Director of Kexin Food and Health Information Exchange Center

Review丨Zhang Yu, researcher/PhD, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, national health science expert