Tag: Toxic

While the cinnamon spice is a kitchen staple, cassia essential oil is highly concentrated and should not be ingested. Ingesting cassia essential oil can cause serious health issues, including liver and kidney damage, due to its high concentration of a chemical called coumarin. Understanding the critical difference between culinary spices and essential oils is essential for your safety.

A single cherimoya fruit can contain dozens of shiny black seeds, and consuming them is a serious risk due to the presence of potent neurotoxins. If you've ever wondered what happens if I eat cherimoya seeds, the answer involves potential gastrointestinal distress and neurological concerns.

According to the National Capital Poison Center, potatoes contain natural toxins called glycoalkaloids, which increase in concentration when potatoes sprout. While a few small sprouts might be manageable, the safety of eating sprouted new potatoes depends on their condition, emphasizing the importance of visual inspection and proper preparation.

Over 95% of the total toxic glycoalkaloids in cultivated potatoes consist of alpha-solanine and alpha-chaconine. This reveals that potatoes contain natural defense compounds, prompting the question: what is the toxin in potato skin, and what risks does it pose?

While some preliminary research suggests bitter melon extract may help lower glucose levels, it's crucial to understand what happens if you eat raw bitter melon, as its potent compounds can cause significant side effects if consumed incorrectly.

Over the years, humans have used elderberries for food and medicine, but improperly prepared berries can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea due to natural cyanogenic glycosides found in the plant. With the right preparation, however, these tiny, dark berries can be enjoyed safely.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word 'inedible' has existed since the early 1800s, but what do you call something that's not edible today? The answer depends on why it is unfit for consumption, whether due to taste, toxicity, or simply because it's not meant to be food.

According to the National Capital Poison Center, consuming potatoes with high levels of solanine—a natural toxin that increases in improperly stored potatoes—can lead to poisoning. This makes understanding when not to eat potatoes a critical skill for home cooks and health-conscious individuals alike.

According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the tolerable daily intake of coumarin—a compound found in cinnamon—is 0.1 mg per kilogram of body weight. This guideline is crucial for understanding if and how cinnamon sticks are safe to consume, as the risk largely depends on the type and quantity ingested.

Taro, a tropical plant with a starchy corm, has been a staple crop for thousands of years, with some archaeological evidence tracing its use back over 20,000 years. Despite its long history and nutritional value, many people are unaware of the dangers associated with eating the taro plant raw. Specifically, all parts of the taro plant are poisonous when raw.