Sweet, flavorful, aromatic, cheap, and highly addictive. Yes! We are talking about sweet betel nut, which in reality is a sweet poison.
Available easily in attractive packets, sweet betel nut is a popular mouth freshener for many children and adults. However, most people are unaware that these seemingly harmless sachets can cause immense harm and can destroy oral and overall health.
The betel nut husk used is usually of very poor quality, sometimes contaminated with fungi and microscopic insects, making it unsuitable for human consumption. Greedy manufacturers add sweetness and food coloring to make it more appealing, completely ignoring the additional health risks it poses to consumers, which could even lead to death.
Dr. Sadaf Ahmad explained that sweet betel nut contains a chemical compound called arecoline, which causes gum inflammation. Initially, ulcers develop in the mouth, leading to a condition called oral submucous fibrosis, where the mouth cannot fully open. This results in nutritional deficiencies, as the restricted jaw movement, especially in children, affects food intake, making them physically weak and more prone to infections.
In adults, this can lead to cancer, and without timely treatment, death becomes inevitable. Furthermore, spicy foods increase sensitivity in teeth and tongue, and people often experience irritation in the tongue and gums.