Betel nut is non-toxic, but carcinogenic.

Betel nut has been proved to be a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Betel nut contains a lot of betel nut and alkaloids, which are cytotoxic, and the reaction of oral mucosa and betel nut alkaloids will lead to fibrosis of the oral mucosa, and the chances of developing oral cancer will increase if you chew betel nut, smoke and drink alcohol at the same time.

Betel nut is not only a primary carcinogen, but also a serious wear and tear on the teeth. Experts have proved that excessive betel nut alkaloid causes salivation, vomiting, diuresis, lethargy and convulsions.

Extended information

The State Food and Drug Administration has included betel nut fruit in the list of first-degree carcinogens when it published the list of carcinogens in 2017. Liu Hongwei, a professor at the Oral Mucosa Division of Peking University Stomatology Hospital and deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Stomatological Association, said that people in some southern provinces of China have the habit of chewing betel quid, which has led to an increase in the incidence of oral cancer.

Pre- betel nut alkali first gradually lead to oral mucosal fibrosis, patients will have limited mouth opening, limited tongue movement, loss of mucosal elasticity and ulceration and other manifestations, but also pain, affecting eating and other pain. This is a precancerous lesion before oral cancer occurs. And betel nut is highly addictive, which can be transformed into oral cancer after a long time.

People's Daily Online - Long-term chewing betel nut has cancer risk