Tag: Betel nut risks

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?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 600 million people worldwide regularly chew betel nut, a substance the WHO has classified as a Group 1 carcinogen. Despite its cultural significance in many parts of the Asia-Pacific region, the question remains: is it bad to chew betel nut?

Betel nut, the seed of the areca palm, is classified as a Group 1 human carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, confusion persists because the betel leaf, often used in the same chewed quid preparation, has traditionally been associated with a range of minor medicinal benefits.

According to a 2022 meta-analysis, betel nut chewing significantly increases the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This finding raises critical questions about whether a kidney patient can eat betel leaves, which are often chewed in a preparation alongside this and other harmful ingredients.