Instead of throwing away leftovers, most people simply heat them up again before eating. Sometimes food that has been served and gone cold is reheated once more on the stove or in a microwave. But according to Dr. Tarang Krishna, Director of Cancer Healer Center, there are certain foods whose molecular structure changes completely when they are reheated. Foods that are packed with nutrients while freshly cooked can start behaving like poison for the body once they are warmed up a second time. Here is a look at the four foods experts say should not be reheated and eaten.
Spinach and leafy greens can turn carcinogenic
Spinach and other leafy green vegetables contain nitrates, which are generally considered good for health. The trouble begins when cooked spinach is reheated. Doing so converts these very nitrates into harmful nitrosamines. In medical science, nitrosamines are classified as carcinogens, meaning they are linked to causing cancer. In other words, the same nitrates that help heal the body in their original form turn into a toxin for the body once the dish is reheated. That is why it is considered better to finish a cooked spinach dish in one go rather than warming it up later.
How rice is stored matters more than how it's reheated
It is often said that reheating rice lowers its glycemic index, but according to Dr. Tarang Krishna, the real issue lies in how the rice is stored after it is cooked. If cooked rice is left out at room temperature for too long, it allows a bacterium called Bacillus cereus to grow, which is harmful to health. However, if the rice is refrigerated promptly after cooking and only lightly reheated later, it remains safe to eat. The danger, in other words, is not in reheating rice itself but in storing it incorrectly beforehand.
Reheated boiled eggs can hurt your digestion
Boiled eggs or omelettes should also not be reheated and eaten. Boiled eggs contain a very high amount of nitrogen. When they are heated again on high flame, this nitrogen oxidizes. Oxidized protein causes serious damage to the digestive system, leading to problems like bloating, acidity and stomach pain. Dr. Tarang Krishna advises always eating fresh eggs, and if any egg is left over, using it in a salad rather than reheating it. This way, the egg does not go to waste and the stomach is also spared any harm.
Reheating mushrooms can weaken your immune system
Mushrooms are considered an excellent source of protein, but they are also extremely delicate. The complex proteins in mushrooms start to break down quickly after cooking because mushrooms contain several enzymes that react almost instantly on contact with oxygen and bacteria. When mushrooms are reheated, the structure of the protein in them changes, or denatures. This can weaken the immune system and also raises the risk of skin allergies and stomach infections. That is why mushrooms should be cooked and eaten soon after they are cut, and reheating them should be avoided.
