A controversial video that is circulating in the social media generated a lot of buzz recently by claiming that foods like bananas are radioactive.
In addition to bananas, there are other foods that have traces of radioactivity, such aspotatoes, carrots, peanuts, spinach, milk, meat and even drinking water. But, calm down, this radioactivity mentioned is something that is part of nature.
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While this radioactive food story is true, it is no reason to panic. In fact, experts guarantee that the small amount of radiation present in these foods does not pose any risk to health. human health.
Radioactive elements such as Potassium-40 (K-40), Uranium-238 (U-238), and Thorium-232 (Th-232) occur naturally in items such as air, soil, rocks, and water.
These elements are absorbed by plants and, in turn, by the human body. However, the radiation levels from these elements are extremely low and do not cause harm.
For example, the bananas contain potassium, including a mildly radioactive form called K-40. However, experts say the amounts are so minuscule that they do not impact our health in any way.
Murillo Freire, researcher at Embrapa Agroindústria de Alimentos, clarifies that “consuming food naturally radioactive in normal amounts does not pose a significant health risk human.”
(Image: Shutterstock/reproduction)
This natural radioactivity is very different from that associated with highly radioactive elements, such as plutonium and uranium used in nuclear bombs and nuclear power plants.
The levels of radioactivity in these foods are very low, while highly radioactive elements release dangerous radiation at much higher levels.
To put it in perspective, when you eat a banana, you are consuming an amount of material radioactive agent that equates to an effective dose of 0.1 microsieverts (μSv), a unit of measurement used for radiation. In comparison, a simple chest X-ray exposes us to 200 times more radiation than a banana.
So, if you are wondering whether or not you should continue eating bananas and other radioactive foods, the answer is yes, absolutely! These foods are safe to consume and part of the natural radiation exposure we all face daily.
The real danger lies in highly radioactive elements, which have a much more significant presence and can cause damage to the Human Body long-term.