From: Dariusz Stanislawek
Subject: Good habit of SS Sai Baba
Date: 21 Jul 1996 00:00:00 GMT
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While reading book "Conversations with Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba" by John Hislop, I came across a puzzling passage (page 24) where Sai Baba prepares and chews betel, saying that it is not a bad habit and the substance (betel) purifies blood.
Isn't it amazing that even an omniscient and omnipotent Avatar needs some sort of medicine?. Maybe it was only meant as an example to follow?, but that would require the divine potencies to overcome very likely side effects of the addiction...

"In Taiwan, 80% of total deaths due to oral cancer has been reported to be associated with the betel-chewing habit. Since metabolic absorption of ingredients of betel nut or quid directs the cancer-causing principles of betel nut or quid to other organs/tissues of the body, the evidence is growing to indicate that cancers other than oropharyngeal  may also be caused by betel-nut or quid chewing. For instance, urinary tract and urinary bladder are likely to be susceptible to cancer due to
betel nut or quid chewing."

Source: http://www.infobiogen.fr/agora/journals/cancer/articles/9-1/shar.htm

Just in case you decided to take up this good habit anyway, please  consider holiday destinations other than Canada...

Source: http://foodnet.fic.ca/regulat/91-1e.html
 
"Betel nut contains a toxic substance, arecoline, which has been linked  to oesophageal cancer. The importation and sale of Betel nut or products  made with Betel nut is considered to be a violation of Section 4(a) of  the Food and Drugs Act. While the traditional use of Betel nut products  is recognized, the Health Protection Branch can not allow a toxic food  to be sold in Canada."