We all have that one favorite snack that we could eat forever. But what if we told you that some everyday foods we use daily—yes, the ones sitting on your counter right now—can be dangerous if taken in excess? Ranging from innocent fruits to daily spices, there are foods with the ability to sabotage your body, make you sick, or even be lethal in extreme amounts.
So the next time you’re munching on almonds, guzzling water, or prepping some kidney beans, remember to proceed with caution—or at least, moderation!
Potatoes – Watch Out for the Green Ones
Who doesn’t love a mashed potato moment, but if your potatoes are green, beware. The green coloration is a sign they are producing solanine, a toxin that will lead to vomiting and diarrhea, and in the worst possible situations, paralysis. The rule of thumb? If the potato is trying to be the Hulk, throw it away.
Tuna – Your Sushi Addiction Might Be Poisoning You
Enjoy a tuna sandwich or sushi roll? Maybe don’t. Too much tuna causes mercury poisoning and symptoms such as memory loss, tremors, eye issues, and nerve damage. Mercury gets stored in larger fish, and tuna is a big offender. If tuna appears on the menu three times a week or more, it may be time to dial it back—or switch to smaller fish like sardines (less sexy but much safer).
Nutmeg – A Spice That Will Mess With Your Head
A sprinkle in your latte? Totally fine. But ingest a few tablespoons of nutmeg and you’re off on a rocket ride from cozy holiday cheer to hallucinations, nausea, and overall distress. Nutmeg contains myristicin, a psychoactive compound that in high doses will induce dizziness, paranoia, and even seizures. In short, it’s not the spice to overindulge in.
Apple Seeds – The Surprising Poison in the Core
Sorry to break it to you, but apple seeds? They contain cyanide too. (Seriously, why does nature love cyanide so much?) Eating a few would not harm you, but if you binge on apple seeds, you will find yourself with dizziness and headaches, or worse. Unless you’re trying to speedrun a science experiment on yourself, it is not a good idea to be crunching on them.
Almonds – Hold On, They Are Toxic?!
Yes, but the bitter ones. Bitter almonds contain cyanide (again with the cyanide!), and eating even a handful would be deadly. The silver lining here is that the almonds sold in the supermarket are the sweet variety and are perfectly safe to consume. But if you find yourself in a survival situation and need to forage for almonds in the wild… maybe don’t.
Cherry Pits – Nature’s Hidden Poison
Watch out before taking a bite into a cherry pit! These little guys contain amygdalin, a compound that will be converted into cyanide in your body. The deadly poison. One or two pits ingested likely will not harm you, but biting into them? No, thank you.
Tomatoes – Leaves and Stems Are the Problem
The tomatoes themselves? Delicious. The stems and leaves? Toxic. They contain tomatine, a compound that will wreak havoc on your digestive system in large doses. You’d have to eat a significant amount to get sick, but it is still a good idea to scratch the homegrown tomato leaf salad off the menu.
Raw Kidney Beans – More Toxic Than You Think
Kidney beans are rich in protein but eating them raw? Not a good plan. They contain phytohaemagglutinin, a toxin that will cause you to puke and have diarrhea with just the amount in a handful. Proper cooking destroys the toxin but undercooked beans? Worse yet! The next time you’re cooking a pot of chili, make sure the beans are fully cooked.
Rhubarb Leaves – Don’t Even Think About It
Rhubarb stalks: delicious. Rhubarb leaves: straight-up poisonous. They contain oxalic acid, and in large enough doses, it causes kidney failure. Too much and it will make you puke and have difficulty breathing. In short: if you’re making rhubarb pie, throw the leaves away—or risk creating a dessert-turned-murder-scene.
Cinnamon – The Choking Hazard You Never Saw Coming
Cinnamon makes any food spicy—until you try to swallow too much in one sitting. The Cinnamon Challenge became a viral fad for a reason: in large quantities, dry cinnamon is a choking risk and will harm the lungs and even deflate the lungs (shudder). Not to mention the fact that it contains coumarin, which can harm your liver if consumed excessively.
Honey – Not So Sweet When It’s Raw
Raw honey sounds healthy, but it can contain grayanotoxins—i.e., natural neurotoxins causing dizziness, sweating, nausea, and even cardiovascular problems. Processed honey is just fine, but if straight-from-the-hive is for you, maybe skip the excesses.
Cashews – The Raw Ones Are a No-No
Those “raw” cashews on the supermarket shelf? They’re steamed to be toxin-free. True raw cashews have urushiol in them, the same toxin found in poison ivy. They would cause a dangerous allergic reaction, burning sensations, and even death in extreme cases. If someone ever tries to offer you wild raw cashews, just… politely decline.
Starfruit – Safe for Some, Deadly for Others
If you have kidney problems, you might want to avoid the starfruit. It contains neurotoxins that the impaired kidneys can’t flush out of the system, and it leads to confusion, seizures, and even coma. No problem if your kidneys are fine—but if they’re not? The starfruit is a silent assassin.
Licorice – Too Much Can Mess With Your Heart
Enjoy the retro candy? Maybe don’t love it too much. Black licorice contains glycyrrhizin, which lowers the level of potassium in the body and causes abnormal heartbeats, increased blood pressure, and even heart failure. The FDA even warns against eating too much in a sitting. So if you’re bingeing Licorice like it’s a Netflix show… maybe pace yourself.
Cassava – The Toxic Root That People Still Eat
Cassava is a staple food in many cuisines but eat it raw, and you’re essentially fiddling with cyanide. Literally. The starchy root contains natural toxins and should be cooked thoroughly to be safe for consumption. If not, it may lead to symptoms from dizziness to cyanide poisoning.
Too Much Water – Yes, Even Water Can Be Toxic
You can actually overdose on water. Excessive water taken in a short time causes water intoxication and diluted sodium levels and leads to confusion and headaches. Maybe rethink the “gallon challenge” before trying to drink like a fish.
The Takeaway
While many everyday foods are safe and even beneficial in moderation, consuming them in excessive amounts can lead to harmful or toxic effects. Being aware of portion sizes, natural compounds, and potential risks helps ensure that these common foods remain part of a healthy and balanced diet.