Category: Cultural practices

For over 8,000 years, the leaves of the coca plant have been a sacred staple in Andean cultures, used for medicinal, social, and religious purposes. The question of why is coca good for you, however, requires a careful examination of its traditional uses, its complex chemistry, and its modern-day legal status.

Geophagy, the practice of intentionally eating earth or soil-like substances, is widespread across the globe and dates back to antiquity. One prominent and culturally significant example of a geophagy is the consumption of kaolin, commonly known as Calabar chalk in parts of West and Central Africa.

European explorers famously suffered from scurvy on their Arctic expeditions, yet Inuit populations, living for centuries on a diet of primarily meat, did not. This seeming paradox is explained by the unique nutritional content of their traditional foods and methods of preparation, which provide ample vitamin C, addressing the question of how do Inuits not get scurvy.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the chewing of areca nut, or supari, is a major global public health concern. This widely used psychoactive substance has a deep history in many cultures, leading many to question: does supari have any benefits, or is it purely harmful?

Chewing khat dates back thousands of years in East Africa, just as the chewing of betel nut has historical relevance in South and Southeast Asia. Despite both being traditional chewing habits, a key difference between khat and betel nut lies in their botanical origins, chemical makeup, and health consequences.

An estimated 600 million people worldwide regularly use betel nut, a cultural practice with thousands of years of history, most commonly consumed as a prepared chew known as a betel quid. This article explores the various methods and cultural contexts behind the practice of chewing betel nut, detailing its preparation and the serious health considerations associated with its use.

An estimated 600 million people worldwide consume areca nuts in various forms, making it the fourth most used psychoactive substance after caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. This widespread practice raises a critical question: are areca nuts edible and safe for consumption? The scientific community and health organizations have issued strong warnings about the significant dangers associated with this addictive substance.

An estimated 10% of the world's population chews betel nut in some form, yet a common misconception surrounds its name and origin. In reality, there is no botanical difference between a 'betel nut' and an 'arecanut'; they are the very same seed of the *Areca catechu* palm. The widespread colloquial name stems from the practice of chewing the arecanut with the leaf of the betel vine, a completely different plant.

According to a Pew Research Center study, religiously motivated dietary restrictions are a common practice affecting billions worldwide. While many faiths have specific food rules, prohibitions against beef are particularly prominent in several major religions due to deeply held beliefs about the sacredness of life, historical traditions, and ethical considerations.

The World Health Organization has classified areca nut, a key ingredient in betel quid, as a Group 1 carcinogen for humans. This article explores the health risks involved and addresses the common question: do you swallow betel?