Regardless ofthe northtofu,orsouth tofu,they are both harmful to the human body (reprint).Tofu was invented by the Chinese.In 164 BC, Emperor Wen of Han conferred his younger brother Liu An the title of Prince of Huainan.Ruan An liked Taoists and often recruited thousands of them into his palace to engage in alchemy.He compiled their discussions into a book known as "Huainanzi", which is still extant today.During the process of making elixirs, Taoists would inevitably use highly toxic brine soda.When heated, brine soda yields hydrochloric acid.mixed with water, it becomes hydrochloric acid.Hydrochloric acid is an important reagent for extracting metal elements from minerals.—However, a Taoist accidentally dropped the brine soda intomilk bean juice,

and it coagulated. The Taoist thought it was spoiled.But other Taoists tasted and found it palatable, leading to the creation of a new food—”tofu.This is why tofu is not called 'bean treasure', 'bean preciousness', or 'bean spirit', but simply 'tofu'.Thus, Liu An's alchemical pursuits did not yield results, yet he accidentally discovered tofu.However, eating tofu did not extend his life; rather, it made him

muddled.He attempted to usurp the throne of Emperor Wu of Han in 122 BC but was found out by the latter.Liu An feared he would be punished and committed suicide.Later, people were concerned about using toxic brine soda for making tofu.

So they invented a method using heated plaster of Paris instead.

Thus,

there are two types of tofu:① Tofu made with brine soda is called northern tofu.② Tofu made with heated plaster of Paris is called southern tofu.In reality, the nutritional components in tofu and milk bean juice are similar,

but selling tofu brings more profit than selling milk bean juice, so many people prefer to sell tofu.Brine soda is a water-soluble mineral with chemical composition magnesium chloride.Magnesium chloride can cause acute poisoning leading to cardiac arrest due to high magnesium blood levels.Chronic poisoning from it can lead to renal damage and uremia.In the past, people would commit suicide by drinking brine soda;in the film "White-Haired Girl", Happy's father Yang Baole drank brine soda to kill himself.Today, brine soda is still classified as a toxic substance,even in tofu factories where it is strictly controlled and managed.Why do you eat northern tofu?

Is southern tofu safe?No, because it uses heated plaster of Paris.The chemical composition of heated plaster of Paris is dehydrated calcium sulfate.This substance solidifies upon contact with water but cannot be absorbed by the body.

Thus, eating tofu is not safe.Initial effects might include feeling less hungry,which Taoists sought through fasting and was later promoted as a weight loss food.Long-term consequences are even worse.Tofu products also includedried tofu,stinky tofu,tofu strips, fermented tofu, and smelly tofu.

Someone might say you're Zhang Hongzhang talking nonsense;how can you claim that a historic food like tofu is harmful?

I apologize, but this is what Liu Chun said in "Short-lived Trivia"."Tofu is an elixir made by Taoists.Mixed from brine soda and heated plaster of Paris.Eating it severely damages stomach qi."”