Food Attack ! Jering

Jering is a legume native to Southeast Asia.  It is a tree of ±20 m in height with large brown spiral pod measures ±30 cm in length and ±5 cm width.   Seeds are rounded compressed measure ±3 cm diameter, yellowish-green in colour.

It’s botanical name is Archidendron jiringa (Jack) Nielsen, of the Mimosoideae subfamily of Fabaceae family.  Synonyms includes : Albizia jiringa (Jack) Kurz , Archidendron pauciflorum (Benth.) I.C. Nielsenl.,  Feuilleea jiringa (Jack) O.Kuntze , Inga jiringa Jack ex DC , Inga kaeringa (Roxb.) Voigt , Mimosa jiringa Jack , Mimosa kaeringa Roxb.  , Pithecellobium jiringa (Jack) Prain , Pithecellobium lobatum Benth. , Zygia jiringa (Jack) Kosterm. Etc.

It is knows as different names in different countries : niang, niang-nok, chaniang, luk-nieng ( Thailand ), da nyin thee ( Myanmar ), jengkol, jringkol ( Indonesia ), etc.  English names include dogfruit, djenkol bean, etc

The beans are cooked as satay, curry or redang, roasted or boiled.  However, it is mildly toxic due to the presence of djenkolic acid.  There are about 20g of djenkolic acid in every kilogram of dry djenkol beans.

Djenkolic acid precipitates into crystals which caused mechanical irritation of the renal tubules and urinal tract, resulting in symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, loin^#1 pains, severe colic^#2, nausea, vomiting, dysuria^#3, hematuria^#4 and oliguria^#5, 2 – 6 hours after ingestion.  Urolithiasis^#6 can also happen.

Treatment of the toxicity requires hydration to increase urine flow, and alkalinization by sodium bicarbonate.

Prevention can be avoided by thoroughly cook the jering beans.  However, there are reported case of renal failure without experiencing any symptoms.

Note :

#1 loin = sides between the lower ribs and pelvis

#2 colic = a form of pain which starts and stops abruptly

#3 dysuria = painful urination

#4 hematuria = presence of red blood cells in the urine

#5 oliguria = low output of urine

#6 urolithiasis = forming of calculi stones in the kidney, bladder and/or ureters

Food Attack ! 金针

It is reported that daylily buds contain a natural toxic colchicine ( 秋水仙碱 ). Although colchicine is used as medicine, ingestion of excessive dose of colchicine may cause poisoning.


Symptoms starts 2 to 5 hours after ingestion, include burning in mouth and throat, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and kidney failure.


Onset of multiple-system organ failure may occure within 24 to 72 hours. This includes hypovolemic shock due to extreme vascular damage and fluid loss through the GI tract, which may result in death.


Additionally, sufferers may experience kidney damage resulting in low urine output and bloody urine; low white blood cell counts, persisting for several days; anemia; muscular weakness; and respiratory failure.


Recovery may begin within 6 to 8 days. However, there is no specific antidote for colchicine.

Food Attack ! Liver

The liver of mammals, fowl, and fish are commonly eaten as food by humans.

Animal livers are rich in iron and Vitamin A.  However, very high doses of vitamin A have the potential to be toxic and can cause hypervitaminosis A, a dangerous disorder.  In 1913, Antarctic explores Douglas Mawson and Xavier Mertz were both poisoned, the latter fatally, from eating husky liver.  Inuit will not eat the liver of polar bears or seals as they contain so much vitamin A as to be poisonous to humans.

Poisoning is less likely from consuming oil-based vitamin A products and liver than from consuming water-based and solid preparations.

As vitamin A is fat-soluble, disposing of any excesses taken in through diet is much harder than with water-soluble vitamin B and C.  Vitamin A toxicity may lead to nausea, jaundice, irritability, anorexia , vomiting, blurry vision, headaches, hairloss, muscle and abdominal pain and weakness, drowsiness, and altered mental status.

In general, acute toxicity occurs at doses of 25,000IU/kg of body weight, with chronic toxicity at 4,000IU/kg of body weight daily for  6 – 15 months.  In people with renal failure, 4000 IU/kg can cause substantial damage.  Children can reach toxic levels at 1,500 IU/kg of body weight.

In addition, excessive alcohol intake can increase toxicity.

Unrelated to its vitamin content, the liver of the pufferfish,, which  is consumed in Japanese cuisine as fugu, , contains the highest concentration of neurotoxin which characterizes the species.  As a result, it is generally not eaten, and indeed consumption is forbidden by Japanese law.

Vitamin A content of various animal liver :

Liver of,	IU / 100g
foie gras	3,333
chicken	13,328
pig	17,997
lamb	24,945
cow	31,714

note : An IU ( International Unit ) equals to 0.3 μg of retinol or 0.6 μg of β-carotene

Recommended Dietary Allowance by USDA :

Life Stage Group	RDA	Upper Limit
	μg/day	μg/day
Infants
0–6 months	400	600
7–12 months	500	600
Children
1–3 years	300	600
4–8 years	400	900
Males
9–13 years	600	1700
14–18 years	900	2800
19 - >70 years	900	3000
Females
9–13 years	600	1700
14–18 years	700	2800
19 - >70 years	700	3000
Pregnancy
<19 years	750	2800
19 - >50 years	770	3000
Lactation
<19 years	1200	2800
19 - >50 years	1300	3000

Source :

Wikipedia

USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory

USDA National Agricultural Library

Food Attack ! Starfruits

Star fruit is the fruit of Averrhoa carambola, a perennial tree in the family Oxalidaceae. It was originated from South Asia, distributed all over S.E.Asia, the South Pacific, parts of East Asia, and tropical America.

The fruit starts out green, and goes to yellow as it ripens, though it can be eaten at both stags. The flesh is crunchy, slightly tart, acidic, sweet taste, reminiscent of pineapples, apples and sometimes kiwi fruit.

Health Benefits

Star fruit is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C and low in sugar, sodium and acid.

Regular consumption of the fruit is believes to help regulate blood pressure, reduce cholesterol levels and lower risk of cardiovascular problems.

Health Risks

However, people with kidney problem are not advised to consume the fruit. Star fruit contains oxalic acid which can combine with minerals to form tiny crystals known as oxalates. A problematic kidney may not be able to efficiently excrete the oxalate, of which may get lodged in the stomach, kidneys and bladder as ‘stones’. ( 80% of kidney stones derive from calcium oxalate ).

Bonding of calcium, iron, sodium, magnesium or potassium will deprive the body of the essential minerals. However, the some researches confirm that nutrient deprivation by oxalic acid is relatively small.

Clinical symptoms and outcomes of uraemic patients ingesting star fruit are quite variable and may progress to death. The most common symptoms are persistent and intractable hiccups, vomiting, variable degrees of disturbed consciousness, decreased muscle power, limb numbness, paresis, insomnia, parenthesis, and even seizures. Patients with severe intoxication who were not treated with peritoneal dialysis may not survive.(1)

To avoid acute oxalate nephropathy, pure sour star fruit juice should not be consumed in large amount, especially on an empty stomach or in a dehydrated state.(2)

Source :

1. Miguel et al, Intoxication by Star fruit in 32 Uraemic Patients, Nephrol Dial Transplant (2003) 18:120-125

2. Chen CL, Fang HC, Chou KJ, Wang JS, Chung HM. Acute Oxalate Nephropathy after Ingestion of Star Fruit. Am J Kidney Dis. 2001 Feb;37(2):418-22.

What is Oxalic Acid ?

Oxalic acid is an organic compound with molecular formula C₂H₂O₄. It s relatively strong acid, about 3,000 times stronger than vinegar. Oxalic acid is colorless, organic compound that occurs naturally in plants, animals and in humans. It is an important element, even essential, to maintain and to stimulate peristaltic motion.

How Many is Star Fruit Enough ?

A low oxalate diet should provide less than 50mg oxalate per day. In general, oxalic acid is found in higher concentrations in dark-green leafy vegetables such as spinach and beetroot. Tea, chocolate and other cocoa products have more oxalic acid even compare to star fruit.

It is certainly one shouldn’t avoid eating vegetable just because the present of small amount of oxalic acid. The amount of oxalic acid is too small to do harm to our body.

How Many Star Fruit is Fatal ?

In humans, oxalic acid has an oral LD_Lo of 0.6g/kg. LD_Lo is the lowest dosage per unit bodyweight of a substance known to have resulted in fatality in a particular animal species.

Star fruit contains some 958mg/100g of oxalic acid. Meaning that limit per day for an average man of 60kg body weight is 4 medium size star fruit.

Puerto Rican technologist found the oxalic acid content of ripe star fruit to average 5g/1liter of juice. Again, a simple calculation shows that an average man of 60kg body weight needs to drink 7.2liter of pure star fruit juice to get himself killed. 7.2liter of pure star fruit is certainly an exorbitant amount !