Roti made on a direct Gas flame can cause cancer?

Now, let’s understand “Garavisha.”

Gara comes from the root word “Gri”  which means something diluted or reduced in its powers. Visha is a word for a “poison”. So, Garavisha in itself is not a very strong or potent poison.

It’s can be a combination of two things that may or may not be poisonous on their own. But when you put them together, they become a sneaky troublemaker! Garavisha slowly starts to mess with the tissues of your body, called Dhatu in Ayurveda. It’s like a slow poison that of course,, doesn’t kill you instantly.

Guess how it enters your body? Through the food you eat, through the air you breathe and the places you hang out at! So, you have to be careful because Garavisha is everywhere in today’s world.

But wait, here’s the interesting part. Sometimes even when different kinds of Garavisha enters your body separately, nothing really may happen. They don’t cause any symptoms. It’s only when they team up and become Garavisha that they start causing trouble. After around 15 days or a month, you might start feeling lazy, heavy, you may develop chronic cough, may have allergies and inflammation. That doesn’t sound fun, right?

But here’s the catch: Garavisha‘s effects are not super strong. They are more like mild intensities, so they won’t knock you out instantly.

When we cook a roti on a blue flame, toxic products like Benzene and Formaldehyde are not able to fully combust or burn into harmless carbon dioxide, instead due to lack of oxygen, and the short duration, these harmful chemicals seep into the roti’s surface.

These chemicals linger in the home environment and exhaust fans have little effect on their concentrations, after a 45 minute cooking time, levels were found to be 5-70 times higher than recommended levels.

What are some sources of Garavisha?

There are various sources of toxins that can be found in our daily diet, environment, and workplaces. Here are some common sources:

1. Food and Beverages: Certain foods can contain toxins, such as pesticides, heavy metals, and additives. These toxins can be present in conventionally grown fruits and vegetables, contaminated water sources, processed foods, and seafood exposed to pollutants.
2. Air Pollution: The air we breathe can contain toxins from vehicle emissions, industrial pollutants, cigarette smoke, and indoor air pollution caused by mold, chemicals, and inadequate ventilation. Harmful substances like particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and nitrogen dioxide can impact our health.
3. Water Contamination: Water sources can be contaminated with toxins, including heavy metals like lead and mercury, industrial pollutants, pesticides, and microbial pathogens. Consuming contaminated water or using it for cooking and hygiene purposes can pose health risks.
4. Household Products: Many household items, such as cleaning agents, personal care products, and pesticides, may contain toxins like phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde, and artificial fragrances. These chemicals can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled, potentially affecting our health.
5. Workplace Hazards: Some work environments expose individuals to toxins, such as chemical solvents, heavy metals, asbestos, silica dust, and airborne particles. Occupations in industries like construction, manufacturing, mining, agriculture, and healthcare may carry increased risks of occupational exposure.
6. Plastics and Food Packaging: Plastics, especially those containing bisphenol A (BPA) or phthalates, can leach toxins into food and beverages, especially when heated or stored for extended periods. Similarly, certain food packaging materials may release harmful chemicals into the food they contain.
7. Personal Habits: Personal habits like smoking tobacco, excessive alcohol consumption, excessive cell phone use, wearing polyester clothes and drug use can introduce toxins into the body, increasing the risk of various health problems.

It’s important to be aware of these potential sources of toxins and take steps to minimize exposure. This includes consuming a balanced diet of fresh and organic foods, using natural and eco-friendly household products, ensuring proper ventilation at home and workplaces, staying hydrated with clean water, and following safety protocols in occupational settings.

Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and consulting healthcare professionals can also support overall well-being and detoxification.