Common Foods Containing Natural Poisons That Can Kill Or Harm You
Natural poisons are present in many foods and can be hazardous or even fatal if taken in sufficient quantities. In certain people, even trace levels of these natural toxins can trigger unpleasant symptoms including gastritis, nausea, and diarrhoea. Over time, even moderate consumption of certain foods can exacerbate preexisting conditions
We will be discussing berries, nuts, tubers, leaves, mushrooms, shellfish, and select fish, all of which are recommended by webmd.
Berries
Numerous varieties of berries have been confirmed to posseses wide variety of potentially lethal poisons. Here are some of the most typical cases:
•Physalis angulata:
Many Physalis species, commonly referred to as Ground Cherries, contain toxins. The leaves and fruit husks, as well as the fruit itself, contain the majority of the plant’s toxicity.
When the plant is fully ripe and consumed raw, its toxin levels skyrocket. Ingestion of Physalis might result in lethargy, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and paralysis.
Another type of deadly berry is the chokecherry. Raw berry consumption has been linked to food poisoning symptoms as nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal distress.
•Lantana: According to healthline Lantana Berries are a popular ornamental shrub, but the toxins they produce can be lethal to people.
The berries are the most poisonous part of the plant, whereas the leaves and stems are just weakly poisonous. Ingestion of the berries can lead to nauseousness, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, and even death in certain people.
•Gaultheria procumbens, or “Wintergreen,” berries are toxic if consumed uncooked. Methyl salicylate, an analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug, can be found in the berries in relatively high concentrations. Ingestion of the berries has been linked to paralysis, as well as nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, disorientation, and headaches.
Nuts
When eaten in high quantities, nuts can also cause illness. Toxic nuts include many varieties of:
•Toxic Almonds are almonds that have been injected with cyanide by a tiny creature called the cyanide beetle. Insects inject a neurotoxic into the almond, making it poisonous if consumed. Headaches, fainting, stomach discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and even death might result from ingesting the poison.
While macadamia nuts themselves aren’t hazardous, eating too many of them can be harmful. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and even paralysis have all been linked to eating too many macadamias.
For example:
These nuts are safe to eat in moderation, but they do contain a chemical called tannin, which can lead to skin irritation and stomach distress.
•Castor Bean: These beans have a deadly toxin inside of them called ricin. Four beans are all it takes to induce nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach discomfort, and even convulsions and death.
Tubers
Consumption of high quantities of certain tubers, such as cassava, may result in toxic effects. The cyanide poison can cause stomach upset, vomiting, disorientation, and even coma and death.
Leaves
Toxins can also be found in leaves, making them unsafe for human consumption. Rhubarb is an example of a food that includes oxalic acid. Ingestion of rhubarb leaves is associated with diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and even dehydration.
Mushrooms
Misidentification of mushrooms can have fatal consequences. If you consume a mushroom that you don’t know or that you’ve misdiagnosed, you could end up with severe stomach cramps, diarrhoea, and even coma or death.
Shellfish
Toxins in shellfish like crabs and lobsters have been linked to everything from mild stomach upset to paralysis and even death.
Certain Fish Species
The poison tetrodotoxin can be found in some species, including Pufferfish, and can be fatal if swallowed. Eating pufferfish can lead to sickness, vomiting, stomach pain, numbness and tingling in the limbs
