Kiambu residents have been cautioned against consuming burnt food as it could cause cancer.
Speaking on Wednesday at Kiambu Level Five Hospital, Dr Grace Ochieng said most people enjoyed eating burnt food claiming it was tastier than fresh food yet the burnt food can cause serious risks to the body.
The medic stated that a regular intake of this type of food accelerated the risk of several cancers, as the food contains fumes of carbon which have carcinogen which causes cancerous cells to multiply.
Dr Ochieng said this type of food also brings about low nutrients in the food as the extremely high temperatures used to cook the food destroys several nutrients including vitamins and also reduces the water content in food.
“Regular temperature increases the availability of nutrients in foods like grains, beans and vegetables, thus enhancing their digestibility and making them palatable,” said Dr Ochieng.
The doctor explained that in order to reduce the risk of getting lifestyle diseases, one should avoid using excessive heat during frying, roasting, grilling or toasting, as by doing so, one will ensure that the food does not overcook.
She added that while cooking, one should pay attention to their food and should not attend to other chores until when the food is ready to be served.
Dr Ochieng further noted that before one starts cooking, one should ensure that the appliances that will be used while cooking were clean and kept in dry areas where they would not be stained with food particles so as to save time spent while cooking.
She added that when cooking, one should not fill the pot to its maximum as it will take more time to come to pressure and thus the likelihood of the food overflowing when boiling.