The seeds, leaves, bark, and roots of certain trees and plants contain a substance called amygdalin that liberates hydrogen cyanide. Eating large amounts of these substances---- or even small amounts over long periods- can result in cyanide poisoning or cellular mutagenesis, leading to birth defects or cancer. Amygdalin is found in the seeds of apricots, bitter almonds, cherries, choke cherries, peaches, pears, apples, plums and cassava roots. Poisoning symptoms include goiter(swelling of the thyroid gland in the throat), unsteady gait, and blurred vision, sometimes leading to blindness. While a large quantity of these foods is needed to produce toxic symptoms, even small amounts of cyanide inhibit respiratory enzymes at a cellular level.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 18:54:37 +0000
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