Hello Vaishali and Ali:
Thank you Vaishali for pointing out that distinction (between the piper
plant and the areca nut); the graduate students I work with are very
excited about learning this fact, since we recently received some leaves
and nuts to analyze in the lab!
However, since the betel leaves and areca (betel) nut are often chewed
together, and the following link of scientific references points to many
studies that show that betel nut is a carcinogen and a teratogen (causes
birth defects) (although some studies show that the leaf may have a slight
protective effect against the nut's nitrosamines [the same nasty stuff
that's in tobacco that causes cancer]), I would still err on the side of
caution and say that when pregnant or nursing, you might want to think
twice before chewing Paan or betel leaves and nuts.
http://www.forsyth.org/marianas/bib_betel.htm
Certainly, every culture has foods and dietary specialties the traditions
and rituals for which are hard to ignore. But I think as breastfeeding
counselors we should try to inform mothers as best we can about all the
implications, even for a culturally accepted item. In my mother's day, it
was accepted in the U.S. that smoking tobacco was OK, and apparently she
smoked all through her pregnancy with me, which is perhaps why I was only 5
pounds at birth. Now we know this is not a good thing and advise mothers
so. We also know that the chemicals in tobacco can pass through into the
milk. I'm not sure there have been studies on betel leaf/areca nut and
levels in breast milk, but that certainly would be interesting to see.
Ali...let us know if you can find more specific information about "betel
chewing", the distinctions between leaves and nuts, and breastfeeding.
Best, Janna
On Wed, 23 Mar 2005 10:31:52 -0500, Vaishali Kute <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>Dear Ali and Janna,
>
>Betel leaves are leaves of the leaves of Piper plant and not related to
>betel nuts. They are often chewed together.
>
>Vaishali
>
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