Almost every day we eat foods made from plants containing deadly poisons. Many of us believe that nothing can be more useful fruits and vegetables, but we sometimes unaware of the hidden threat that lurks in them.
Of course, most of all, we should not worry, but there were times when people accidentally killed himself by eating a poisonous part of the plant or the fruit. Here are the 10 fruits and vegetables, which should be handled with care.
Almonds
Almonds are considered to be dried fruit, nuts and not, as many people think. It has a unique taste and is one of the most popular ingredients in the preparation of desserts and other dishes.
Is the most fragrant bitter almonds, which contains poisonous cyanide. It is therefore usually bitter almonds treated to remove the poison. In addition, heating also destroys poison.
In some countries, such as New Zealand, the sale of bitter almonds is prohibited by law.
Cashew
Cashew nuts are seeds, not nuts, which grow out of the fruit or "apple" cashew.
Cashew, which sell in the store, not the raw and pre-treated with steam. This is done because raw cashews contain the substance urushiol, which can still be found in poison ivy plants that causes allergy symptoms.
Consuming large amounts of urushiol can be fatal. Although cashew poisoning is quite rare, the workers that clean the nut, often have undesirable side effects such as skin irritation.
Cherrystone
Cherry and apricot, peach and plum in their bones contain cyanide. If you chew, chew, or some other way damage the bone, then you expose yourself to hydrogen cyanide.
Of course, if you swallow a few bones, nothing bad will happen, because our body can cope with a certain amount of cyanide, but in large quantities it can be dangerous.
Symptoms of mild poisoning include headache, dizziness, disorientation, anxiety and vomiting. In large doses, it can lead to difficulty breathing, increased blood pressure and heart rate, and kidney failure, even death.
Asparagus
Asparagus - a vegetable that gives the fruit, which, by the way, is poisonous. The fact that vegetable - is usually edible part of plants, which may be leaves, stems or roots.
Asparagus has long been used as a vegetable and medicine, thanks to a pleasant taste and diuretic properties. The fruit is a small red berry 6-10 mm in diameter, which are toxic to humans.
Green tomatoes
Interesting fact: the U.S. tomatoes are considered vegetables, while in the rest of the world, they are considered a fruit or, more precisely, a berry. The reason for this was a tax on vegetables, but not fruit.
The leaves and stems of tomato contain a substance called "glycoalkaloid," which can cause extreme nervousness, headache and upset stomach. Also, some of the substances contained in green tomatoes, but it is generally a bit.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg contains a psychoactive substance - myristicin. Too much of this substance can cause vomiting, sweating, dizziness, hallucinations, and headaches.
But do not worry. The amount that is used in cooking, is insufficient to cause any of these symptoms. However, the last time teenagers use nutmeg as a light drug, which often is not very good effects.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms are considered a delicacy in many countries of the world where they are grown for commercial purposes. But as is known, there is a family of poisonous mushrooms.
Many believe that there are clear signs of poisonous mushrooms, such as a ring on the stem, unpleasant smell and bright colors. However, the only sure way to distinguish edible from poisonous mushroom - it's good to know and understand the mushrooms.
Symptoms of mushroom poisoning can appear within 1-2 hours, sometimes 8-12 hours and include abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. You can also get poisoned and corrupted by poorly cooked and edible mushrooms.
Chocolate
Although chocolate is toxic to humans, the ingredient theobromine in chocolate is dangerous for dogs and cats. Just 40 grams can cause them serious poisoning, so do not leave chocolate sweets in a handy place for your pets.
Although the dose of theobromine contained in the chocolate is too small to cause unwanted effects, some elderly people do not tolerate chocolate.
Green potatoes
Potato is one of the most popular vegetables in the world. As well as tomatoes, potatoes contain glycoalkaloids in the stems and leaves. Tubers themselves are safe for human consumption only if they are not turned green and sprouted.
Green potatoes contain solanine, which appears when exposed to ultraviolet light.
At the consumption of large amounts of solanine may be signs of poisoning include 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.
Apple seeds
Apple seeds as well as cherries and almonds contain cyanide in small doses. However, to cause symptoms of poisoning need to eat large amounts of seed.
If you accidentally swallow some seeds whole, it does not affect your health, because our body can cope with a small amount of cyanide. However, chewing the seeds makes them more dangerous, especially for children and pets, which are sufficient for smaller doses of the substance.