Is A-choy really a photosensitive food? You'll understand after reading this

A-choy is a common vegetable, and many people like to eat it. But some people also worry that A-choy is a photosensitive food. So is A-choy a photosensitive food?

1. Is A-choy a photosensitive food?

A-choy is not a photosensitive food. Photosensitive foods are vegetables that contain photosensitizing substances. After eating too much of these vegetables, when the skin is then exposed to sunlight or light radiation, skin problems such as sun spots, erythema, papules and edema can form. Vegetables and plants that contain photosensitizing substances include celery, lettuce, rapeseed, spinach, amaranth, bok choy, Chinese milk vetch, Chenopodium album, mustard greens, Kalimeris indica, purslane, red clover, fig, and sheep sorrel, among others.

2. Precautions for photosensitive foods

Many photosensitive foods are rich in nutrients, and some are essential foods for supplementing trace elements in the human body. Therefore, eating some photosensitive vegetables is necessary and essential. In order to reduce the body's photosensitive reaction, it is recommended not to eat photosensitive foods at noon when the sunlight is strong.

3. The principle of photosensitivity

After a person eats photosensitive vegetables or fruits, a photosensitive substance is broken down in the body. When the photosensitive substance accumulates to a certain level in the body of a person allergic to this substance, the exposed parts of the body, after direct sunlight exposure, will develop “phytophotodermatitis”. This dermatitis is also called “sun spots”, or “solar erythema”. Phytophotodermatitis generally occurs mostly in young and middle-aged women, and its onset is relatively acute; generally 5 to 20 hours after eating, diffuse patches can be seen on the sun-exposed areas.

A-choy is not a photosensitive food, so it can be eaten with relative peace of mind, without worrying about allergies.