What Food Causes Beriberi?

March 22, 2024 | by Yashaswi Pathakamuri | Posted in FAQ's

Beriberi

Beriberi is a nutritional deficiency disorder caused by inadequate intake of thiamine (vitamin B1). Thiamine is essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system and energy metabolism. While beriberi is primarily associated with inadequate dietary intake of thiamine, certain dietary factors can contribute to its development. However, it’s important to note that beriberi is more commonly associated with diets lacking in overall nutritional quality rather than specific foods. Nonetheless, some dietary patterns and factors that may contribute to thiamine deficiency and increase the risk of beriberi include:

  • Highly Refined Foods: Diets high in refined carbohydrates, such as white rice, white bread, and processed cereals, may lack sufficient thiamine. The refining process removes the outer bran and germ layers of grains, which are rich in thiamine and other nutrients.
  • Excessive Alcohol Consumption: Chronic alcohol consumption can interfere with thiamine absorption, increase thiamine excretion in urine, and impair thiamine utilization in the body. Alcohol-related thiamine deficiency is a common cause of beriberi, particularly in alcoholics.
  • Polished White Rice: In regions where polished white rice is a staple food, consumption of large quantities of unfortified polished rice without other sources of thiamine can lead to thiamine deficiency and beriberi. The milling process removes thiamine-rich outer layers of rice grains, leaving mainly carbohydrate-rich endosperm.
  • Low Nutrient-Dense Diets: Diets lacking in a variety of nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and dairy products, may not provide adequate thiamine and other essential nutrients. Beriberi is more likely to occur in populations with poor dietary diversity and limited access to nutrient-rich foods.
  • Certain Cooking Methods: Cooking methods that involve excessive boiling or leaching of water from foods, such as prolonged boiling of vegetables or discarding cooking water, may lead to thiamine loss. Thiamine is water-soluble and can be lost during cooking, particularly if the cooking water is discarded.
  • Infant Feeding Practices: Exclusive breastfeeding without adequate thiamine supplementation or introduction of thiamine-rich complementary foods can lead to infantile beriberi in breastfed infants, especially if the mother is thiamine deficient.

To prevent beriberi, it’s important to consume a balanced diet that includes a variety of thiamine-rich foods, such as whole grains (brown rice, whole wheat), legumes (beans, lentils), nuts, seeds, lean meats, fish, eggs, dairy products, fruits, and vegetables. In some cases, thiamine supplementation or fortification of foods may be necessary, especially in populations at risk of thiamine deficiency.

«
»

  • Recent Posts

  • Categories

  • Archives

  • Tags

    bestime Black fungus coronavirus covid19 detox drinks diagnosis and treatment Early Morning Empty Stomach Guava-benefits Healthy BreakfastFood healthy diet healthydrink immunityboosters Protein proteinpowders recipes Uterine fibroid uterus weightloss workout