Dear Doctor,

A recent article argued that eating leftover food has some health benefits. How true is this?

Brian

Dear Brian,

If leftover food has become mouldy or developed a bad smell, it means it has definitely grown microbes which are harmful. It can be a harbinger of diarrhoeal diseases and other serious intestinal infections like typhoid or fever. One is advised to warm stale food in order to kill germs before consuming it. However, warming it many times means vital nutrients like vitamin B complex and vitamin C are lost. Some people even fry the leftovers in a bid to give the food a fresh taste but that could be counterproductive as this tends to produce products that block the blood vessels and increase the risk of developing heart diseases.

However there are naturally fermented foods used globally since ancient times. Foods like curds, cheese and traditional snacks become rich in probiotics, i.e. useful bacteria and yeasts. These foods actually become rich in vitamins B complex and E, which help in improving body’s immunity, strengthening nerves, aiding digestion and preventing cancer. Home made naturally  processed foods are better than foods processed with chemicals available in supermarkets.

One needs to have a balanced approach towards food. In a world where millions do not get one square meal, it is not good to throw food. If food remains, it can be shared or reused. However reusing left over food many times is not good for health.