The first time I heard of betel nuts was in 1991 at a performance of Miss Saigon at the Broadway Theatre in New York. This was Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil鈥檚 second hit musical after 1985鈥檚 phenomenally successful Les Mis茅rables. It is a loose adaptation of Puccini鈥檚 Madam Butterfly, but instead of being set in Japan, the story unwinds in Saigon during the Viet Nam War. In the second act, a sleazy night-club hustler known as the 鈥渆ngineer鈥� belts out 鈥淢y American Dream,鈥� a song with the following lyrics:
My father was a tattoo artist in Haiphong
But his designs on mother didn't last too long
My mother sold her body, high on betel nuts
My job was bringing red-faced monsieurs to our huts
Selling your mom is a wrench
Perfume can cover a stench
That's what I learned from the French
I knew about nuts of all kinds, including two-legged ones, but 鈥渂etel nuts鈥� were new to me and I was intrigued. A quick search introduced me to 鈥渂etel beauties,鈥� young women in Taiwan waving from brightly lit glass booths with hopes of enticing customers with their charming smiles and revealing outfits to purchase betel nuts. Several hundred million people in south Asia chew these regularly, but nowhere has the practice attracted as much scientific or political attention as in Taiwan. The betel nuts, which are actually the seeds of the fruit of the Areca catechu palm tree, are usually mixed with some lime (calcium hydroxide), wrapped in betel leaves and placed inside the cheek for sucking and chewing. Why? Because compounds in the nut lead to a warm sensation, a general sense of well-being, heightened alertness and apparently an increased capacity to do work. Sounds good, right? So, you know there must be a 鈥渂ut鈥� coming. And there is. Studies have shown that chewing betel is linked with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and asthma. The greatest concern, though, is the strong association between chewing betel and cancer of the mouth. Indeed, in some south Asian countries oral cancer is the most common malignancy.
The main psychoactive compound in betel is thought to be the alkaloid, arecoline, which mimics the action of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in the functioning of the nervous system. It is well known that such acetylcholine-like activity can lead to hallucinations, along with a bunch of side effects. Excessive salivation, for one. That鈥檚 why betel nut chewers constantly defile sidewalks and roadways with their spittle. It鈥檚 not a pretty sight. The nut stains the mouth and saliva a deep red colour and high traffic streets can be readily identified by the plethora of crimson spots on the pavement.聽聽
Arecoline, however, does not explain all the physiological effects seen in betel chewers. Plasma levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine (adrenaline), two hormones secreted by the adrenal glands, are also elevated, probably accounting for the increased heart rate and skin temperature. Specific polyphenols found in the pepper leaves used to make the betel wad may be responsible for this effect. Then there is also the effect on the eyes. Apparently male drivers become so distracted by the scantily clad betel nut girls that they have been known to wrap their vehicles around telephone poles.
On top of all of this, there is an environmental issue. Because growing betel palms is very profitable, many farmers have replaced traditional crops like rice with betel palms, causing severe erosion of hillsides. It is little surprise then that Asian countries, with Taiwan in the lead, have mounted aggressive anti-betel programs. Taoyuan county, near Taipei, has issued an edict requiring betel girls to fully cover the enticing parts of their anatomy. The ladies of course are not happy about this, claiming that dressing sexy increases their earnings. I think I will stick to chewing on almonds, cashews and Brazil nuts.
