3 ms·

As the linked article points out, it's bracken ferns that have been linked to cancer. If the ostrich fern suggested in the OP is also a carcinogen, the Smithso

As the linked article points out, it's bracken ferns that have been linked to cancer. If the ostrich fern suggested in the OP is also a carcinogen, the Smithsonian article doesn't mention it.

derbOac 5y ago
Yeah I was reading some articles and was going to edit my comment to reflect that. Last I read, ostrich ferns were still suspect but there wasnt so much evidence suggesting they were carcinogenic either. Part of the confusion over ostrich ferns are periodic incidents of poisonings they can't explain. But in those cases, there usually are undercooked fiddleheads involved. But yes, ostrich ferns are probably ok, or at least are less of a concern, if cooked.
contingencies 5y ago
Some anecdotes. In some traditional cultures I am aware of (Korea, high-altitude eastern Himalayas), fern consumption tends to be, but is not always, linked to the start of spring (end of winter) as the ferns are often the first things to emerge from snow, and only the smallest fronds and not the mature fronds are eaten. This may have a bearing on carcinogenic capacity. I've personally eaten a lot of fern in Yunnan. However, stomach cancer is highest in the world in Korea and highest in men and they are not huge fern eaters. One assumes the projected causes would be behavioral (high alcohol liquor) and dietary (meat, kimchi = lowers stomach pH + chilli to irritate stomach lining) in conjunction. Could have easily been the same in the article's sample size of one. In China edible ferns are referred to as 蕨菜 (jue cai). They're quite tasty stir-fried with tomato and garlic. Tell you what though - fern spori are scary looking under a microscope! I just did some research on raspberries (commercial berries are notorious for pesticide residue) and apparently hydroponically grown berries are roughly equivalent to soil-grown berries in blind student taste tests and, despite soil-grown being technically sweeter if you do the chemistry, this is theorised as being due to water-related stress (so you could perhaps emulate this with a more sporadic hydroponic watering schedule if you want extra-sweet berries). In short: no reason not to grow at home, if you are familiar with the basics. https://www.scirp.org/pdf/FNS_2015121614300010.pdf https://www.scirp.org/pdf/FNS_2015121614300010.pdf https://file.scirp.org/pdf/FNS_2015062414290599.pdf https://file.scirp.org/pdf/FNS_2015062414290599.pdf

As the linked article points out, it's bracken ferns that have been linked to cancer. If the ostrich fern suggested in the OP is also a carcinogen, the Smithsonian article doesn't mention it.

derbOac 5y ago

Yeah I was reading some articles and was going to edit my comment to reflect that. Last I read, ostrich ferns were still suspect but there wasnt so much evidence suggesting they were carcinogenic either. Part of the confusion over ostrich ferns are periodic incidents of poisonings they can't explain. But in those cases, there usually are undercooked fiddleheads involved. But yes, ostrich ferns are probably ok, or at least are less of a concern, if cooked.

contingencies 5y ago

Some anecdotes. In some traditional cultures I am aware of (Korea, high-altitude eastern Himalayas), fern consumption tends to be, but is not always, linked to the start of spring (end of winter) as the ferns are often the first things to emerge from snow, and only the smallest fronds and not the mature fronds are eaten. This may have a bearing on carcinogenic capacity. I've personally eaten a lot of fern in Yunnan. However, stomach cancer is highest in the world in Korea and highest in men and they are not huge fern eaters. One assumes the projected causes would be behavioral (high alcohol liquor) and dietary (meat, kimchi = lowers stomach pH + chilli to irritate stomach lining) in conjunction. Could have easily been the same in the article's sample size of one. In China edible ferns are referred to as 蕨菜 (jue cai). They're quite tasty stir-fried with tomato and garlic. Tell you what though - fern spori are scary looking under a microscope! I just did some research on raspberries (commercial berries are notorious for pesticide residue) and apparently hydroponically grown berries are roughly equivalent to soil-grown berries in blind student taste tests and, despite soil-grown being technically sweeter if you do the chemistry, this is theorised as being due to water-related stress (so you could perhaps emulate this with a more sporadic hydroponic watering schedule if you want extra-sweet berries). In short: no reason not to grow at home, if you are familiar with the basics. https://www.scirp.org/pdf/FNS_2015121614300010.pdf https://www.scirp.org/pdf/FNS_2015121614300010.pdf https://file.scirp.org/pdf/FNS_2015062414290599.pdf https://file.scirp.org/pdf/FNS_2015062414290599.pdf