Bangkok:An article circulating on social media has sparked concerns by claiming that eating two unusually bitter vegetables can cause kidney failure and should be discarded immediately.
According to Thai News Agency, this alarming claim has been debunked as false. Experts, including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jutiporn Tassakulapanich of Kasetsart University, have verified that while certain bitter vegetables can pose health risks if consumed in large quantities, the notion that they directly cause kidney failure is misleading.
Experts explain that plants in the Cucurbitaceae family, such as squash and gourd, contain cucurbitacin, a substance that gives them their bitter taste. Consuming plants with high levels of this toxin can lead to gastrointestinal symptoms like severe vomiting and diarrhea, which in extreme cases and without proper hydration, might lead to kidney complications. However, these instances are rare and depend on the amount consumed.
The bitter taste in these plants often results from environmental stressors like excessive heat or inconsistent watering. It is advised that vegetables that are not usually bitter but taste unusually so should be discarded, as they may produce toxins under such conditions.
Experts also dispelled the myth that a snake slithering over vegetables causes bitterness, stating that environmental factors are the true cause of bitterness in cucurbit plants. They urge consumers to verify facts and share information responsibly to avoid unnecessary panic.