Can soaking raw vegetables in salt water kill worms?

I often soak raw vegetables in diluted salt water to reduce the risk of parasitic infection. Is this method effective? (Hong, 31 years old, Phu Tho).

Reply:

Soaking raw vegetables in diluted salt water does not destroy or kill worms, but it still has a certain effect, reducing the risk of disease.

In fact, most people soak vegetables in diluted salt water, then scoop them out directly. This is a wrong practice, because the tapeworm eggs (if any) that float to the surface of the water will stick to the vegetables, and when eaten, there is still a risk of causing illness.

With dry vegetables such as lettuce, coriander, basil, you should wash them under running water to remove any worm eggs, then soak the vegetables in diluted salt water. Under the effect of salt water, the worm eggs will float, so before removing the vegetables, you must submerge them, pour out the water, the worm eggs will float with the water.

It is best for people to limit their consumption of raw vegetables, eat cooked vegetables and drink boiled water, especially avoiding vegetables grown in water such as celery, Vietnamese coriander, water spinach, watercress, and lotus root. In addition, many people who eat at restaurants only blanch vegetables, or when eating hot pot, only dip vegetables in hot water without boiling them, which cannot kill worms. Parasites are only killed at a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius, for 3-5 minutes.

Parasitic diseases are rarely life-threatening, but if they invade the body for a long time, they will take nutrients, causing poor development in children and digestive disorders in adults. Eating hygienically is the best way to prevent parasites.

Dr. Tran Huy Tho
Deputy Director of Dang Van Ngu Hospital
Central Institute of Malaria - Parasitology - Entomology

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