10 Poisonous Fruits and Vegetables We Eat Every Day

Almost every day we eat foods made from plants that contain deadly poisons. Many of us believe that nothing can be healthier than fruits and vegetables, but sometimes we are unaware of the hidden threat that lurks in them. Of course, most of the time we don't have to worry, but there have been cases of people accidentally killing themselves by eating the poisonous part of a plant or fruit. Here are 10 fruits and vegetables to be careful with.

(Total 10 photos)

1. Almonds.

Almonds are considered a dry fruit, not a nut as many people think. It has a unique taste and is one of the most popular ingredients in desserts and other dishes.

The most fragrant is the bitter almond, which contains poisonous cyanide. This is why bitter almonds are usually processed to remove the poison. In addition, heating also destroys the poison.

In some countries, such as New Zealand, the sale of bitter almonds is prohibited by law.

2. Cashew.

Cashews are seeds, not nuts, that grow from the fruit or "apple" of the cashew.

Store-bought cashews are not raw and are steamed beforehand. This is because raw cashews contain the substance urushiol, which can also be found in the poison ivy plant and can cause allergy symptoms.

Consuming large amounts of urushiol can be fatal. Although cashew poisoning is rare, workers who peel the nut often experience unwanted side effects such as skin irritation.

3. Cherry. cherry pits

Cherries, as well as apricots, peaches, and plums, contain cyanide in their pits. If you gnaw, chew, or otherwise damage the bone, then you expose yourself to hydrogen cyanide.

Of course, if you swallow a few seeds, nothing bad will happen, since our body can handle a certain amount of cyanide, but in large quantities it can be dangerous.

Symptoms of mild poisoning include headache, dizziness, confusion, anxiety, and vomiting. In high doses, it can lead to breathing difficulties, increased blood pressure and heart rate, and kidney failure, even death.

4. Asparagus.

Asparagus is a vegetable that produces fruit, which, by the way, is poisonous. The fact is that a vegetable is, as a rule, the edible part of a plant, which can be leaves, stem or root.

Asparagus has long been used as a vegetable and medicinal product due to its pleasant taste and diuretic properties. The fruit is a small red berry 6-10 mm in diameter, which is poisonous to humans.

5. Tomatoes. green tomatoes

An interesting fact: in the US, tomatoes are considered vegetables, while in the rest of the world they are considered a fruit, or rather, a berry. The reason for this was a tax on vegetables, but not fruits.

The leaves and stems of tomatoes contain a substance called a glycoalkaloid, which can cause extreme nervousness, headaches, and indigestion. There is also a certain amount of this substance in green tomatoes, but usually it is not much.

6. Nutmeg.

Nutmeg contains the psychoactive substance myristicin. Too much of this substance can cause vomiting, sweating, dizziness, hallucinations, and headache.

However, don't worry. The amount used in cooking is not enough to cause any of these symptoms. Recently, however, teenagers have been using nutmeg as a light drug, which often has not very good consequences.

7. Mushrooms. Edible and poisonous mushrooms

Mushrooms are considered a delicacy in many countries around the world where they are grown commercially. But, as you know, there is a family of poisonous mushrooms.

Many believe that there are clear signs of poisonous mushrooms, such as a ring on the stalk, an unpleasant odor, and bright coloring. However, the only sure way to distinguish an edible mushroom from a poisonous one is to know and understand mushrooms well.

Signs of mushroom poisoning may appear after 1-2 hours, sometimes after 8-12 hours, and include abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. You can also get poisoned by poorly cooked and spoiled edible mushrooms.

8. Chocolate.

Although chocolate is not poisonous to humans, the ingredient theobromine found in chocolate is dangerous to dogs and cats. Just 40 grams can cause serious poisoning in them, so do not leave chocolate sweets in a place accessible to your pets.

Even though the dose of theobromine found in chocolate is too low to cause unwanted effects, some older people do not tolerate chocolate well.

9. Green potatoes

The potato is one of the most common vegetables in the world. Like tomatoes, potatoes contain glycoalkaloids in their stems and leaves. The tubers themselves are only safe to eat if they have not turned green and sprouted.

Green potatoes contain solanine, which appears when exposed to ultraviolet light.

When consuming a large amount of solanine, signs of poisoning may appear: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and in severe cases lead to coma and even death. That is why potatoes should be stored in a cool, dark place.

10. Apples. apple seeds

Apple seeds, like cherries and almonds, contain cyanide in small doses. However, to cause symptoms of poisoning, you need to eat a large amount of seeds.

If you accidentally swallow a few seeds whole, this will not affect your health, as our body can handle a small amount of cyanide. However, chewing the seeds makes them more dangerous, especially for children and pets, for whom a smaller dose of this substance is sufficient.