Zhimei recently received a request from a user like this:
Watching the Olympic Games, when I get nervous, my mouth can’t stop. I ate a box of oranges in two days. When I looked in the mirror this morning, I suddenly found that my hands were yellow and my face was yellow. I was so scared.
What’s going on here?
(Source: soogif.com)
That’s right, eating too many oranges will indeed turn people into “minions”. The phenomenon of turning yellow is called “orange disease“, and the “culprit” is actually It is the carotene in oranges, also known as hypercaroteneemia.
If the human body takes too much carotene at one time, and the body converts vitamin A inefficiently, the liver cannot convert carotene into vitamin A in time, and a large amount of carotene will follow Blood flows to all tissues and organs throughout the body.
When the carotene content in the blood and sweat of the human body increases, it will make the normal skin appear yellow [1], mainly deposited on the palms, soles and face. In severe cases, the whole body can also turn yellow.
However, only a small number of people whose body lacks the specific enzymes that digest and break down carotene can develop severe tangerine. And people who lack this enzyme are mostly influenced by genetic factors.
(Source: mdedge.com)
A mild “orange disease” is not a cause for concern.
Because carotene does not have much effect on the body, no special treatment is required, just drink more water to promote its excretion by the kidneys.
It usually takes 3 to 5 days for relief to heal. However, if the symptoms are severe, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately.
Carotene is found primarily in dark green or reddish-yellow vegetables and fruits, such as carrots, broccoli, spinach, squash, papaya, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and cabbage, etc. [2].
Carotene is good for the human body and is the precursor of vitamin A, which has long been thought to induce the normal development of precancerous cells and prevent the progression of cancer [2].
But the best food should be in moderation, too much.
Finally, Zhimei gives you a tip to eat fruit without turning yellow:
Tips
1.Even if you love to eat a certain fruit, don’t eat it too hard. It can be eaten with apple, grapefruit, kiwi, banana, etc. The nutrients of each fruit are different and can complement each other.
2.Do not consume too much of each fruit. It is recommended that 200~350 grams per day is appropriate[3].
Note: How much is 200~350 grams? If you take the fist of an adult woman as an example, it is about 2-3 fists; for boys with larger hands, it is about 2 fists.
Reviewer
References
[1]Dawson MI. The importance of vitamin A in nutrition. Curr Pharm Des. 2000 Feb;6(3):311-25. doi: 10.2174/1381612003401190. PMID: 10637381.
[2]Kummet T, Moon TE, Meyskens FL Jr. Vitamin A: evidence for its preventive role in human cancer. Nutr Cancer. 1983;5(2):96-106. doi : 10.1080/01635588309513785. PMID: 6359074.
[3] Chinese Nutrition Society. Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2016) [M]. People’s Health Publishing House, 2016.
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