Apples: where lies the mortal danger of eating your favorite fruit

Apples can be found on store shelves all year round. Juicy, crunchy, sweet with a touch of sourness and a delicious aroma, they have many fans around the world. Well, especially passionate apple lovers even eat them with seeds, rightly believing that they contain a lot of healthy elements. In fact, apple seeds contain a dangerous substance inside, which, with a certain amount, can cause serious poisoning, even death.

In the seeds of apples, as well as in the seeds of most plants, there are a lot of useful substances that are designed to ensure the growth and development of a new plant after germination.

Apple seeds have in their composition organic iodine, the daily norm of which is contained in 10 seeds, as well as potassium, which is useful for the cardiovascular system and overall health. In addition, apple seeds have vegetable fats, proteins, and sucrose.

But a great danger for people, and especially for children, pregnant women and people with poor health, is the amygdalin glycoside, which, along with all the useful substances, is present in apple seeds. Amygdalin glycoside, or, as it is also called, vitamin B17, is found in the seeds of many stone fruits, such as apricot or plum. Thanks to this compound, apricot kernels and apple seeds have a bitter taste. From a biological point of view, the presence of amygdalin glycoside in the seeds protects them from being eaten by pests, that is, it is a kind of natural insecticide.

When ingested, the amygdalin glycoside in the course of chemical reactions turns into hydrogen cyanide, or hydrocyanic acid. This acid is the strongest poison that can lead to severe intoxication of the body and even death. The maximum safe daily dose of hydrocyanic acid for an adult is contained in 5-6 seeds of apples, and children are not recommended to consume them at all. Everything that exceeds the daily norm can provoke poisoning with characteristic manifestations in the form of nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and heart palpitations. According to studies, the amount of hydrocyanic acid that can cause death is 1 mg per 1 kilogram of a person’s weight. In order to get a lethal dose of 50 mg, an adult needs to eat 200 seeds of apples (this is about 25-30 apples eaten with seeds for a short period of time), and for a child 50 seeds are enough, which can be imperceptibly absorbed with tasty runetki, which are enough just 10-15 pieces. Our native apples, half-cultures and ranets, which we all love so much in the fall, also contain a dangerous toxin in their seeds, so you should not use them with seeds.

But with heat treatment above 75º, the amygdalin glycoside is destroyed, so preserves and compotes made from whole apples can be eaten in unlimited quantities, without fear of poisoning.