The Dangers of Apple Seeds: What Happens to Your Body After Eating 200 Seeds
Is there real danger when you eat 200 apple seeds? The answer might shock you, but don't worry, you'll learn everything you need to know to stay safe.
Understanding the Composition of Apple Seeds
In this article, we'll uncover the chemical compounds within apple seeds and clarify the risks involved in consuming them. Apple seeds contain a compound called amygdalin, which can produce cyanide under certain conditions. While the risk of cyanide poisoning from apple seeds is low, it's important to understand the potential health impacts.
What Happens If You Eat 200 Apple Seeds?
According to studies, it takes approximately 222 apple seeds to be potentially fatal for a human. This is a theoretical number, and in practice, the actual number can vary. When ingested, amygdalin in apple seeds can convert to cyanide in the stomach, but this process is highly dependent on the amount of seed consumed and other factors, such as individual metabolism and health.
Why Eating 200 Apple Seeds Might Not Be Fatal
While apple seeds do contain amygdalin, which can produce cyanide, the amount is significantly less than the threshold for cyanide poisoning. A single apple seed weighs about 0.027 grams, and 1 gram of apple seeds contains approximately 2 mg of amygdalin. This means one apple seed can produce about 3 micrograms (mcg) of cyanide.
Evaluation of Risk Factors
The lethal dose (LD50) of hydrogen cyanide for humans via the oral route is around 1520 mcg per kilogram of body weight. For a 70 kg individual, this would require about 106,000 mcg of cyanide to have a 50/50 chance of causing fatal poisoning. Therefore, theoretically, you would need 1970 apple seeds to risk a 50/50 chance of fatal poisoning.
However, if the seeds remain intact, they will pass through the digestive system without being absorbed, as nature intended. Thus, consuming raw apple seeds in whole form is relatively safe. However, if the seeds are ground into a fine powder, the risk increases significantly due to the higher surface area for cyanide production.
Health Impacts of Consuming Apple Seeds
Even with such a low risk of fatal poisoning, the consumption of apple seeds can still lead to mild discomfort and indigestion. Symptoms such as nausea, stomach cramps, and diarrhea are common. In rare cases, cyanide poisoning can cause more severe symptoms, including cardiac and neurological problems.
Conclusion and Safety Recommendations
While the consumption of 200 apple seeds might not be fatal, it is still wise to avoid swallowing seeds to prevent any potential digestive issues. If you enjoy the taste of apple seeds, consider grinding them into a fine powder and spitting them out afterward. Remember, it is always safer to err on the side of caution when it comes to your health.
In summary, while the risk of cyanide poisoning from eating 200 apple seeds is low, it is crucial to understand the potential health risks and take appropriate safety measures to protect yourself.