It’s the right time to “eat greens”, but be cautious when eating wild vegetables

Qingming Festival

Grass is green and birds are flying

Everything is full of life

Many people like to take advantage of the outing

Pick wild vegetables on the roadside and take them home to taste

Wild vegetables are delicious

But be careful when eating

Come and listen

Hospital gastroenterologist

Reminder~~

During the Qingming Festival, the temperature is suitable, which is a good season for outings and the peak season for the growth of various wild vegetables. As the saying goes, "Eating greens during the Qingming Festival will make you feel light all year round." Many people will dig wild vegetables to taste them when they go outings, but not all wild vegetables can be picked and eaten at will. Doctors remind us to be cautious when eating wild vegetables to avoid accidentally eating "poisonous grasses" that endanger our lives.

Do not eat wild vegetables that you cannot accurately identify. There are many varieties of wild vegetables commonly found in the local area, including shepherd's purse, elm money, bitter herbs, bracken, dandelion, etc. Among them, some wild vegetables are very similar to poisonous plants, and it is easy to be poisoned by mistakenly picking and eating them, which can be life-threatening in severe cases. Therefore, do not pick or eat wild vegetables that you are not familiar with, in order to avoid accidentally eating poisonous wild vegetables.

When picking wild vegetables, be careful to avoid polluted areas. Some wild vegetables are relatively safe, but they grow in chemical plants, sewage ditches, landfills, highway green belts and other surrounding areas, which are easily polluted. Therefore, try not to pick wild vegetables growing in these places. In addition, wild vegetables in farmland or park areas also need to be picked with caution. These places may be sprayed with pesticides, and even if the wild vegetables in these places grow vigorously, it does not mean that they are safe to eat.

Wild vegetables should not be used as the main dish, and special groups should pay attention. Different wild vegetables have different eating properties and nutritional values. When eating, they should be tasted in moderation and not be greedy. Special groups such as the elderly, infants, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and those with allergies should try not to eat or eat less. For example, most wild vegetables such as shepherd's purse, bitter vegetables, bracken, purslane and dandelion are cold in nature. People with weak spleen and stomach should not eat them. They are very likely to cause indigestion, abdominal pain, diarrhea and other symptoms. Some wild vegetables such as purslane, elm money, Sophora japonica, wild celery, etc. contain substances that can cause allergies. People with special constitutions are prone to allergic reactions after eating, inducing solar dermatitis, and should pay attention. Patients with peptic ulcers should be careful to eat elm money. Some wild vegetables may have the effect of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. After eating by pregnant women, they may cause uterine contraction, leading to miscarriage or premature birth; some wild vegetables are toxic and may affect fetal development. Therefore, pregnant women need to be more cautious when eating wild vegetables, and it is best not to eat them.

Pay attention to the cooking method, and cooking thoroughly is the most important. There are many ways to eat wild vegetables, such as cold salad, stir-fry, steam, boil, and make stuffing, soup, etc. Before eating wild vegetables, be sure to pick them clean and remove the rot, and wash them thoroughly; some wild vegetables are slightly toxic and need to be soaked, blanched in water, and other detoxification treatments. They can only be eaten after being stir-fried, boiled, or steamed. For example, wild amaranth is rich in nitrates. After picking them, they should be cleaned and blanched in water, and then soaked in clean water for about 20 minutes before eating. Some wild vegetables such as mugwort and purslane contain alkaloids that are harmful to the human body. Before eating, they should be blanched in boiling water and soaked in water for a period of time to remove harmful substances.
Pay attention to your body's reactions. If you feel uncomfortable after eating wild vegetables, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc., you should induce vomiting and seek medical attention as soon as possible. At the same time, it is best to bring uneaten or uncooked wild vegetables with you to assist doctors in diagnosis and treatment.