5 DEADLY Kitchen Dangers and How to Avoid Them
(AscendHealthy.com) – Even if we aren’t health-conscious, most of us are careful about eating anything that might make us sick. Ideally, we strive to strike a balance, eating foods from each of the main food groups during each meal. But there may be some common foods in our kitchen cabinets that are surprisingly toxic — and even deadly. Read ahead to see if any of these dangerous items are lurking in your cabinets.
1. Raw Honey
Honey is a delectable treat when drizzled over pastries or used as a sweetener for tea. But it can actually be dangerous, especially when consumed raw. If it doesn’t go through a pasteurization process, it may contain grayanotoxin. Consuming this may trigger a myriad of symptoms including:
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Excessive sweating
It only takes a teaspoon to produce symptoms and more could be worse. In addition, raw honey may also trigger botulism in young children. The CDC advises not to give children under 12 months raw honey.
2. Almonds and Cashews
Almond lovers generally have a can or bag of these tasty snacks on hand. While highly nutritious, they may have a hidden danger. Bitter almonds contain hydrogen cyanide. Even eaten in small amounts, they might be fatal.
Cashews are another healthy, protein-packed snack. But raw cashews, like those often found in health stores, contain urushiol, a dangerous chemical also found outdoors in poison ivy. Intense inflammation and itching are common, but the symptoms with the raw variety of cashews are more severe and may prove deadly.
3. Tuna
Tuna is a go-to as a sandwich spread, snack or favorite sushi roll. So how can it be dangerous? It may contain high levels of mercury from the ocean. This might cause kidney abnormalities, brain fog, or trigger severe gastrointestinal distress. Monitor tuna intake, and if you’re pregnant, talk to your doctor first.
4. Potatoes
Fried potatoes, baked, grilled. Yum! Potatoes are one of the most popular foods globally. They’re a staple, in fact, and most people have them readily available right in their pantry. But it’s important to take a close look at them.
Something called glycoalkaloids, also found in nightshade veggies, might be present in the stems and sprouts. If the tater is green, avoid it. It could lead to diarrhea, headaches, confusion, coma or even death.
5. Fruit Seeds
Fruit is one of the four major food groups set forth by the USDA. It’s vital to good health and wellness. But the pits of some fruits may pose a real problem. Apple seeds and pits of fruits like peaches, cherries or apricots contain a form of hydrogen cyanide called prussic acid. If consumed directly in moderate amounts, they are poisonous and potentially deadly.
There are so many tasty, natural delights we might enjoy and thrive with. Yet everyone needs to be aware that some of these foods can be deadly. Don’t let these foods scare you from enjoying them. Awareness of potential safety issues should allow you to safely partake in the amazing variety of foods available. Bon appétit!
~Here’s to Your Healthy Ascension
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