Betel Nut: Uses, Side-Effects, And Effectiveness

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In most parts of Asia and the Pacific, people have deep red or purple smiles. Have you wondered why? This red and purple smile indicates that the person is addicted to betel nut. But is betel nut? Is eating supari good for health?

The betel nut suppliers get this betel nut from the Areca catechu seed, a palm tree type. Most of the people consumed it in wrapped leaves of betel vine, ground, or sliced. Also, they add spice to it to add flavors like lime and tobacco, which make it harmful for health.

Let’s explore how harmful is betel nut for our health and what are its uses and effectiveness.

Uses and effectiveness of betel nut

Unfortunately, there is no research on the effectiveness of these betel nuts. But the typical uses and effectiveness of betel nut suppliers are listed below.

  • It reduces the symptoms of schizophrenia in patients but chewing it for a prolonged time is highly unsafe.
  • Consuming betel nut solution may improve the strength, speech, and bladder functions in most stroke patients.
  • It helps indigestion.
  • Other conditions.

How Does Betel Nut Work, And Is It Safe?

The betel nut supplier is supplying these products to various regions of the world in a large amount. But is it safe? No, this betel nut is unsafe for health as they contain chemicals that affect the chemicals in the brain other regions of the body including the nervous system.

Are there safety concerns? Betel nuts contain chemicals that are linked with cancer symptoms so, people who take high-dose of them with the mouth for a longer duration might face oral cancer and other symptoms.

Moreover, if a person eats 8-30 grams of betel nut, it might result in death can cause death. Chewing betel nut turns your stool, lips, and mouth red and makes you look ugly. When mixed with other spices, it might stimulate an effect that is similar to tobacco and caffeine.

Some of these betel nut’s common side effects include diarrhea, gum problems, vomiting, increased saliva, chest pain, low blood pressure, shortness of breath, abnormal heartbeats, rapid breathing, heart attack, coma, and death.

Precautions and Warnings before consuming betel nut

Here is a list of precautions that people need to take who are dealing with these health issues; otherwise, it might make the situation worst.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: betel nut is harmful to women, especially pregnant and breastfeeding. These nuts contain cancer and toxicity. Also, it might endanger pregnancy as it affects the central nervous system. Moreover, if betel nut is taken when you are breastfeeding, it might mix in the milk and cause damage and harm to the infant.

Asthma: People who have asthma problems should not intake these betel nuts to make the situation worse.

Slow heart rate (bradycardia): Betel nut causes a problem in people who deals with heartbeat problems and heart rate problem.

Gastrointestinal tract blockage: Betel nut is a source of blockage problems in the intestine, and it might cause congestion in the intestines.

Ulcers: Betel nut worsen ulcers and also increase secretions in the stomach and intestines.

Lung conditions: it growth fluid emissions in the lung, cause worst lung condition such as emphysema and asthma

Seizures: it also might increase the seizure risk.

Urinary tract obstruction: these harmful nuts worsen urinary obstruction and increase secretions in the urinary tract.

Are There Any Interactions With Medications?

Drying medications (Anticholinergic drugs)Interaction Rating

Drying meditation affects the brain and heart like the betel nut. But these nuts differently works when they combine with drying mediation by reducing its effects.

Some of these drying medications include scopolamine and atropine. Also, there are other meditate which may cause depression (antidepressants), allergies, and antihistamines.

Medications for Alzheimer’s disease (Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors)Interaction Rating:

Alzheimer’s disease uses medication that might affect certain chemicals, just like betel nut, which increases the heart, body parts, and brain. When combined, they increase the effect and symothmss of medication in Alzheimer’s patients.

Medications for depression (MAOIs)Interaction Rating:

Serotonin is a biochemical in the brain that increases when betel nut is intake. Various medications for depression are there that also affect the rate of serotonin. If you are a depression patient and intake betel nut in excessive amounts, it might increase the body’s serotonin amount. It might cause shivering, heart problems, and anxiety.

The depression medications increase when the consumer takes these nutrients, including phenelzine (Nardil) and  tranylcypromine (Parnate).

ProcyclidineInteraction Rating:

Procyclidine and betel nut both affect chemicals in our bodies. But they body have the opposite effect on our body. So, if you combine procyclidine and betel nut, there are chances to reduce procyclidine effectiveness. Further, there is some medication used for Various drugs used for Alzheimer’s disease and glaucoma.

What are the side effects of betel nut?

Betel nut is not healthy for the human body. There are different effects on the human body, as listed below. Also, it is seen that has various symptoms in every patient depending upon these factors:

  • size, weight, and health
  • whether other drugs are taken around the same time
  • whether the individual is used to taking it
  • the strength of the medicine.
  • the quantity taken

Some of the common effects which are seen in every individual by consuming betel nuts are:

  • mild euphoria and feelings of wellbeing
  • high blood pressure
  • fast heart rate and palpitations
  • red face and feeling warm
  • feeling alert

Moreover, individuals who intake these betel nuts for the first time by the betel nut suppliers and the individual who take a high dose than the previous one show these severe symptoms.

  • tremors
  • upset stomach, diarrhea, vomiting
  • Long-term effects
  • dizziness

further, the regular user might indicate symptoms such as:

  • discolouration of teeth and gums, and reddish-brown teeth
  • oral cancers or submucous fibrosis (a pre-cancer condition)
  • mouth ulcers and gum disease
  • heart disease
  • stomach ulcer