Did you know that some foods can actually kill you when they’re not prepared right? Here are some common everyday foods that turn out deadly when careful preparation is ignored.
1. Honey.
When unpasteurized, honey can potentially lead to headaches and in extreme cases, even death. This sticky-sweet golden liquid contains a poisonous toxin called pyrrolizidine alkaloids. When more than a teaspoon of unpasteurized honey is ingested, this can cause severe nausea, weakness, and vomiting which lasts up 24 hours.
2. Potatoes.
Your choice of carb can also be fatal, as ordinary potatoes, when consumed at a wrong period in their growth, can be harmful. When potatoes start to develop sprouts, ingesting them, as well as its leaves and stem, can be poisonous as it contains glycoalkaloids. This toxin is also found in plants called nightshades.
It is common to see sprouts on potatoes when you don’t use them right away after purchasing them from the grocery store. When left in conditions that are too moist or too bright, sprouts will begin to appear. It is recommended not to use these potatoes, even if you do slice off the sprouts. So throw them away immediately, as the poison may have steeped into the potato.
Scientists have said that a bad 16-ounce potato (or equal to one baked potato) is enough to affect a 100-pound person.
3. Cashews.
Those “raw cashews” sold at your local health food store are not actually raw cashews. If they were, they would contain the same toxin found in poison ivy called urushiol. Those “raw” ones you see at farmers markets or grocery stores are steamed cashews, to remove the fatal chemical.Consuming even just a handful of raw cashews can cause severe allergies to average people, but with those who are particularly allergic to poison ivy, it can prove fatal.
4. Red Kidney Beans.
For the raw food diet enthusiasts, there are some foods that they need to steer clear from. Red kidney beans contain lectins, a type of toxin that kills the cells in the stomach. To safely enjoy the health benefits of red kidney beans, soak them in water for at least five hours before consumption.
5. Rhubarb.
Rhubarb makes an awesome pie filling especially during the summer, but be extra careful about accidentally including its leaves. Rhubarb contains oxalic acid, a component that causes kidney stones. It takes 11 pounds of rhubarb leaves to cause poisoning and death, so it might be a long stretch before it can significantly affect someone’s health. So when you’re cooking, remember to stick to rhubarb stalks.
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