There are plenty of known foods that just aren’t that great for you, but eating these 14 foods could lead to a sudden death – yeah, death! These foods are not as slow-paced as consuming too much junk food or sugary foods throughout your life; rather, they can end it all in a flash.
There are many exotic dishes like wild mushrooms and pufferfish that are known to be risky meals, but you may not have realized some common foods that can be quite the risk too. Here are some normally consumed foods that can be poisonous or even exceptionally dangerous, based on how they are prepared.
While some foods can take away your pain and help you heal, eating these 14 foods could lead to sudden death! Let’s look at what they are.
Fruit Pits and Seeds
There are many common fruits such as apricots, cherries, peaches, and apples that contain a specific type of hydrogen cyanide. It is called prussic acid and is found in the pits and seeds of these fruits. While it is not popular to consume this part of the fruit, there have been stories of assassins using ground-up apple seeds to murder their targets.
However, it is definitely not a convenient weapon to use since you will have to consume up to a cup of the ground-up seeds in order to die.
Rhubarb
The most dangerous part of the rhubarb vegetable is the leaves since they contain a compound known as oxalic acid. This compound is known to negatively impact the kidney and create stones. While you will need to consume around 11 pounds of the leaves in one sitting to completely shut the kidneys down, even one kidney stone can feel like the world is ending.
The good part is that only the leaves of the plant are dangerous for consumption, but the rest of the vegetable is actually quite good for you. Rhubarb contains manganese, magnesium, calcium, potassium, dietary fiber, Vitamin K, and Vitamin C.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg is a known hallucinogenic substance, but the catch is that you will get extremely sick before you can eat enough to actually go on a trip (if you know what we mean). This is why it is extremely rare to hear about some teenagers actually trying it. Even small amounts of nutmeg can actually prove to be quite nasty. Around 0.2 oz of the substance is enough to cause severe discomfort, and more of it can lead to a sudden death.
Potatoes
Yes, your beloved potatoes can also be quite deadly! Who knew it wasn’t just the calorie content of spuds that can get you, but also the leaves, sprouts, and stems. The glycoalkaloids in these parts of the potato can lead to cramping, headaches, diarrhea, and even a coma or death. It is also what gives any aging potatoes that greenish tinge. Around 3mg to 6mg of glycoalkaloid per kilo of body weight can prove to be fatal. Hence, it is important never to consume potatoes that have turned green under the skin or those that have sprouted roots or stems.
The best policy is to store potatoes in a dark place since they should be kept out of sunlight to prevent sprout growth.
Almonds
Almonds are really nutritious but can be dangerous if you consume the wrong kind. While sweet almonds are an amazing healthy snack in moderate quantities, bitter almonds create a high level of hydrogen cyanide in the body. Even if you love the bitter taste, it is just not worth it to snack on such raw almonds.
Even just 7 to 10 bitter almonds can make an adult person seriously ill and potentially be fatal for a child. If you really want them, you can use the extract. It is safe to use since it is processed properly. Staying away from the raw kind is your best bet.
Unpasteurized Honey
Raw or unpasteurized honey can be really dangerous if it contains a compound called grayanotoxin. This compound gets mixed in with the honey when bees pollinate plants that carry this substance. Through the pasteurization process, the level of grayanotoxin is decreased into a safe range. However, any honey that has not gone through the entire process can be quite risky for your health.
Even just one tablespoon of grayanotoxin in a high concentration can cause dizziness, sweating, vomiting, and weakness for over a day. It can also get quite deadly if people who are immuno-compromised or have a deficiency consume it.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are one of the most widely enjoyed and eaten food, and that’s all down to how delicious they are. From popular condiments and sauces like ketchup to diced and sliced raw into so many dishes, tomatoes are used in pretty much any culture from South Asian curries to Italian Mariana sauces. However, the leaves and stems of tomatoes contain dangerous alkali poisons.
To actually die, you will need to eat a ton of leaves, though, but even small amounts can result in serious stomach upsets. Let’s be honest; no one wants that.
Tuna
Tuna fish is known to absorb mercury quite easily. People who eat a lot of it can experience a buildup of mercury in their bodies. Mercury is quite a dangerous substance since it can damage the kidneys and can even travel up to the brain and result in symptoms of insanity.
Mercury buildup in the body can be a trigger for all sorts of diseases, including ones that prove to be fatal. While one or two servings of tuna will not cause death on the spot, consuming it regularly can increase the level of mercury to a fatal level.
Cassava
Cassava is thoroughly enjoyed in many regions, but the root needs to be prepared in the correct way to make sure that it is safe for consumption. If you eat cassava raw, it can potentially send a deadly dose of hydrogen cyanide into your body. To ensure its safety, you have to peel and slice the cassava properly. Then you fry, roast, or bake the vegetable until it is completely cooked through.
You should make sure that you discard any water you have cooked it in after you are done as well. You should also be mindful that there are two kinds of cassava: sweet and bitter. The bitter cassava is 50 times more dangerous before you cook it. Hence, you should make sure to stick to the sweet variety, just in case.
Cashews
Raw cashew contains a substance called urushiol that is also found in poison ivy plants. It can cause a fatal allergic reaction among some people. You should note that the cashew nuts you often find in the market labeled raw aren’t really raw. They are usually steamed to remove the urushiol substance from the nut. The importance of this distinction is only to make sure that you never grab raw cashews straight from the tree to eat.
Elderberries
Elderberries are delicious fruits found in many common jellies, jams, and wines. However, the seeds, twigs, and leaves of the fruit contain glycoside, which is a form of deadly cyanide. If you eat the unripe fruit, it can also make you sick. Consuming high amounts of glycoside can also lead to diarrhea and vomit, and in some extreme cases, it can also cause a person to fall into a coma. You want to make sure that whoever pours the wine, steeps your tea, and made the jam, properly strained the seeds.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms are a much-loved ingredient for many people, especially vegetarians who love portabella mushroom steaks. However, some fungi aren’t really as fun as you would first think. There are plenty of mushrooms with dangerous sounding names like ‘destroying angel’ and ‘death cap’ for a reason.
If you aren’t really 100% sure of the mushroom, especially if you went into the wild to pick some, it is recommended not to risk it. There are many deadly mushrooms that look similar to edible ones. Even experts can have a hard time telling the difference between many types of mushrooms.
Ackee
Ackee is a plant commonly found in West Africa and cultivated in Jamaica. The ripened fruit is enjoyed by many locals for its mild taste and is even part of Jamaica’s national dish of ackee and saltfish. It is known for the creamy, buttery texture that many people love.
However, if you consume the fruit before it has fully ripened, it can lead to a buildup of hypoglycin A. This toxin can result in hypoglycemia, vomiting, and even death. The seeds of the fruit are also known to be poisonous. The fruit is considered so dangerous that the import of the ackee fruit was banned until 2005 in the United States.
Kidney Beans
Kidney beans, while delicious, do contain a high level of a compound called phytohemagglutinin, which can make them toxic. It’s safe to say that eating these 14 foods could lead to a sudden death, but with kidney beans, the preparation is key (and often the difference between life and death). The kidney beans need to be cooked thoroughly to get rid of this poisonous toxin. Even eating a few undercooked beans can result in diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea.
The FDA advises that the beans should be boiled for at least 30 minutes to completely break the toxin down. It is also safe to get canned kidney beans since they are pre-cooked. They can even be enjoyed straight from the tin. You can definitely make chili out of these if you are nervous about preparing them the correct way.
Conclusion
So there you have it! Even though eating these 14 foods could lead to sudden death, most of these foods are still edible. In fact, they are actually quite delicious. It all depends on the processing, preparation, appropriate ripening, and eating the right parts of the food. If you follow the right procedure, it can be the difference between landing in the hospital and a delicious meal.
You should note that one slip up will not kill you. It is just important to make sure that you don’t make too many blunders when it comes to your food. Eating safe and keeping an eye on your food is always a good idea!
