15 Common ‘Healthy’ Foods That Can Be Toxic to Humans
When it comes to nutrition, nothing is black and white, and eating too much or too little of something can have health-threatening results. Take vitamins: both a vitamin deficiency and overdose can often lead to health problems. For example, vitamin B3 deficiency causes pellagra, a potentially life-threatening condition manifesting in dermatitis, fatigue, memory loss and digestive issues. Vitamin B3 hypervitaminosis, on the other hand, can cause severe liver damage.
However,
it isn't always the quantity of a certain nutrient or food that's to
blame for its harmful effects. In fact, sometimes it's the improper use
that's responsible. When it comes to some of these foods, most of which
are nuts, fruit and vegetables that are largely considered healthy,
simply eating them incorrectly can prove to be devastating to your
health.
1. Green Potatoes
The
humble, delicious and nutritious potato can turn into your worst enemy.
Few people know this, but the actual plant that produces potatoes is
full of solanine and chaconine, both of which are poisonous substances
the plant uses to protect itself from insects and parasites.
Typically,
potato tubers are free of these substances, but in some cases,
especially when exposed to prolonged sunlight, potatoes, too, can build
up solanine. The telltale signs of potatoes containing the poison are:
- when the potato turns green
- a bitter taste.
Eating just a few of these green potatoes can make you develop toxic symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, hallucinations, inflammation in the joints, cardiac dysrhythmia, thyroid issues, and other symptoms. Just 3-6 mg of solanine per kilogram of body weight can be deadly, so stay away from green or bitter-tasting potatoes.
2. Cherry Pits, Apple Seeds, and Peach Stones
Cherries,
apples, peaches, and apricots are definitely among the most popular
fruits out there, period. They're all juicy, sweet, and ridiculously
easy to eat. But did you know that the seeds of all of these fruits are
packed with prussic acid, also known as cyanide? The concentration of
the potentially deadly poison varies significantly depending on the
fruit, but only one cherry pit has been estimated to contain 0.17 grams
of cyanide, which could be enough to kill a person.
Luckily,
all of these fruits hide their poisonous insides deep within a hard
shell, so there's generally no danger of you even ingesting an apple
seed or cherry pit because your digestive system won't be able to
dissolve the protective coating of the seed, given that you haven't
bitten through it, that is. Still, we just wouldn't recommend risking
it.
3. Bitter Almonds
Almonds are among the healthiest of nuts,
but even they can be not so beneficial to your body, especially if you
choose the wrong kind. This is because all almonds contain a precursor
to cyanide called amygdalin, which can then be converted into the poison
in your body.
Both
sweet and bitter almonds contain amygdalin, but it's the bitter variety
that has a significantly higher quantity of the poisonous substance and
can cause diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramps, especially if they are
raw. Heat treatment removes all the toxins from sweet almonds, so
they're safe to eat.
4. Forest Mushrooms
It
doesn't get better than a fresh homemade pizza with mushrooms, but be
careful of which ones you use, as certain mushroom varieties can be
deadly. As a matter of fact, there is only a handful of edible mushroom
species. So, if you happen to go mushroom picking or buy fresh forest
mushrooms, know very well which kinds of mushrooms are safe to eat and
stay away from the rest.
The most dangerous mushroom varieties are the death cap (Amanita phalloides) and the destroying angel (Amanita virosa),
pictured above. Eating any of these wild mushrooms will produce
symptoms like diarrhea, intense thirst, abdominal pain, vomiting, liver
failure, coma, and even death.
5. Shellfish
Shellfish
are an exceptional source of protein and other beneficial nutrients,
but unfortunately, it's not as safe to eat as fish, particularly when
consumed raw. Even fresh seafood can absorb potentially harmful bacteria
and viruses from the surrounding waters and cause serious digestive
distress.
Apart
from that, shellfish are notorious for absorbing high quantities of
toxic heavy metals from the sea, such as mercury or cadmium, which
ultimately build up in the human body and can cause toxic symptoms and
even heavy metal poisoning, so it's best not to eat shellfish too often,
even when cooked through thoroughly.
6. Raw Kidney Beans
Kidney
beans are a great source of plant-based protein and iron, if you eat
them right, that is. Non cooked beans can induce bad stomach cramps,
vomiting, and diarrhea. That's why you should always cook your beans
well before eating them, as the cooking process neutralizes the toxic
proteins called lectins raw beans contain.
Raw
kidney beans are the most saturated in lectins, but all beans have
them. Eating just 4-5 kidney beans is typically enough to produce the
above-mentioned symptoms, so make sure to eat your beans cooked.
7. Fresh Elderberries
Elderberry
syrup or jam is a popular treat. It has known immune-boosting
properties and it can be used to treat cold and flu symptoms, as well as
relieve constipation.
However,
eating just a few elderberries raw can have adverse effects on your
health, as the berries contain cyanide and lectin. Even in small doses,
these compounds induce digestive symptoms, such as nausea, diarrhea, and
vomiting.
8. Raw Cashews
The
cashews labeled as 'raw' you buy in stores aren’t actually raw at all,
but if you happen to have access to real raw cashews, don't eat them.
This is because all so-called raw cashews actually undergo a streaming
process before they are packaged and shipped to stores, otherwise the
nuts are actually toxic.
If
not done so, cashews will contain a chemical called urushiol, which is
the same allergen that's in poison ivy. Thus, eating truly raw cashews
is extremely likely to cause a severe, potentially life-threatening
allergic reaction.
9. Nutmeg
Nutmeg
is a popular spice used both in sweet and savory dishes, as it imparts a
pleasant nutty flavor to any recipe. Most recipes require no more than a
teaspoon of the spice, and for good reason, as higher doses of nutmeg
will make you regret using it for good. As a matter of fact, only 2
teaspoons of nutmeg powder can be toxic.This
is because the spice contains myristicin, a compound that messes with
your brain and causes adverse symptoms like dizziness, confusion,
drowsiness, hallucinations, and even seizures.
10. Alfalfa Sprouts
Alfalfa
sprouts are typically grown in a warm, wet environment, which just so
happens to be the optimal conditions for bacterial growth as well. So,
it's no surprise that the sprouts are a common culprit behind
foodborne illness outbreaks.In
fact, during the past 20 years, alfalfa sprouts have been responsible
for thirty of such outbreaks, which included such dangerous pathogens as
salmonella and E. coli. That's why we highly recommend boiling or
otherwise exposing the sprouts to high heat before including them into
your meal, even if you grow the sprouts at home.
11. Rhubarb Leaves
Rhubarb
stalks are an excellent ingredient for compotes and desserts, but you
have to know very well how to utilize them to stay safe. Before using
the rhubarb, clean away all the leaves and throw them out, as the leaves
contain a potentially deadly compound called oxalic acid.
Admittedly,
one would have to eat a lot of rhubarb leaves, approximately 5 kg (11
lb), to die as a result, but even smaller amounts of the leaves can make
you experience unpleasant symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea,
breathing difficulties and burning in the mouth.
Consuming
the leaves also makes you prone to kidney stones and abnormal blood
clotting, as the poisonous substance binds to the calcium present in
your body and causes a calcium deficiency, which then manifests itself in the above-mentioned symptoms.
12. Mango
Like
cashews and poison ivy, the leaves and bark of mango trees, as well as
the skin of mango fruit are full of urushiol. That's why people who just
happen to bite into a mango or eat a piece of the skin often experience
skin rashes and swelling, or even problems breathing.
The
severity of your symptoms will depend on how allergic you are to
urushiol, but it's best to just stay away from the bitter mango skin
altogether and enjoy the sweat and juicy pulp of the fruit instead.
13. Broccoli
Didn't
expect to see broccoli on this list, did you? Neither did we before we
started researching for this article, but it turns out that even this
superfood has its drawbacks if you eat it too much and too often. To
prevent this from happening, simply switch out broccoli with other
veggies from time to time, such as carrots or peppers in your salad or
any other dish, especially if you have a history of thyroid issues.
This
is because broccoli contains compounds called thiocyanates, which
prevent your body from absorbing adequate amounts of iodine. If this
happens constantly, it may lead to an underactive thyroid -
hypothyroidism, a chronic issue that manifests itself in sudden weight
gain, hair thinning, constipation, depression, and other symptoms.
14. Kimchi
Kimchi is among the healthiest fermented foods,
with this Korean cabbage being capable of doing wonders for your
digestive health, weight loss, aging and even prevent cancer. Still,
even this wonder food has a dark side, believe it or not.
Namely,
it's typically very high in sodium, with only 1 serving containing, on
average, about a third of your allowed daily sodium intake. Higher than
normal sodium intake, in turn, can really affect your heart and
cardiovascular health in particular. However, in moderation, this
fermented delight will share its health benefits with you without
affecting your health, so make sure to eat no more than 1 serving of
kimchi daily and you're golden.
15. Brown Rice
Brown rice is healthier than white rice and widely available, but it, too, can be disappointingly dangerous.
This has nothing to do with the rice itself, but rather with the way it
is grown. More specifically, rice is among those rare foods that are the
most likely to absorb inorganic arsenic from the water and soil it's
grown in, and because brown rice is less processed than white rice, it
generally contains more of the toxic element.
Not
all brown rice is polluted with arsenic, but in many corners of the
Earth, the water supply is packed with the dangerous poison, which seeps
into the rice as it's grown. Inorganic arsenic is one of the most toxic
elements known, with long-term use being recognized to contribute to
the development of various cancers, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular
problems.
To
minimize your exposure to arsenic, rinse your rice thoroughly several
times before cooking and cook in plenty of water, subsequently draining
the cooked rice. This will wash out up to 57% of the arsenic. You can also opt for white rice instead of brown,
possibly from the Himalayan region (North India and Pakistan, Nepal),
countries known to have less arsenic water pollution.