X
theAsianparent Philippines Logo
theAsianparent Philippines Logo
EnglishFilipino
Product GuideSign in
  • Building a BakuNation
  • Becoming a Parent
    • Trying to Conceive
    • Pregnancy
    • Delivery
    • Losing a Baby
    • Project Sidekicks
  • Ages & Stages
    • Baby
    • Toddler Years
    • Preschool Age
    • Kids
    • Preteen & Teen
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • News
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Health & Wellness
    • Diseases & Injuries
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Preschool
    • K-12
    • Special Education Needs
  • Lifestyle Section
    • Celebrities
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Home
    • Travel and Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Fitness
    • Wellness
    • Money
  • Become a VIP
  • COVID-19
  • Press Room
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023

8 Dangerous foods you probably have lying around your kitchen

3 min read

We all try our best to keep dangerous substances out of reach from our kids, but you might not know that some common foods in your pantry could be posing dangers to you and your children.

1. Fruit seeds

Watch out for the pits of cherries, plums, apricots, and peaches. All of these fruits contain a type of hydrogen cyanide called prussic acid. So when eating any of these fruits, don’t suck or chew on the seed.

Apple seeds also contain cyanide, but in smaller doses. You’d need to consume a high amount to get sick, but it’s still important to be mindful of the danger.

2. Tomatoes

Ever wondered why we don’t eat the leaves and stems of tomatoes? They contain the glycoalkaloids, which cause extreme anxiety and an upset stomach. You can still use tomato stems and leaves for flavor, but should be removed before eating.

dangerous foods

Photo: Pixabay

3. Potatoes

The leaves, stems, and sprouts of potatoes can contain glycoalkaloids, which lead to cramping, diarrhea, headaches, confusion, coma, and even death. It can also build up in potatoes that have been left too long, especially in light. If you observe a greenish tinge in your potatoes, throw them away. Just 3 to 6 mg per kilo of body weight can be fatal.

4. Kidney beans

The toxin phytohemagglutinin can be found in kidney beans, which is why beans should be boiled for at least 10 minutes before cooking. NEVER just add them to a stew without boiling them first. A better alternative is using canned kidney beans. If you ingest just a few poorly prepared kidney beans can make you very sick. In some rare cases, they have even caused death.

Click to the next page to read about other common dangerous foods.

5. Nutmeg

Nutmeg contains myristicine, a hallucinogenic. Eating just 0.2 oz of nutmeg can lead to convulsions, while 0.3 oz can lead to seizures. Consuming the equivalent of one whole nutmeg can bring on “nutmeg psychosis,” an acute psychiatric disorder that includes symptoms like agitation, hallucination, and a sense of impending death.

6. Almonds

Almonds are not actually nuts, but are seeds that are more related to cherries. There are two kinds of almonds: sweet and bitter. Bitter almonds contain hydrogen cyanide, which is why they need to be processed before consumption. Eating just 7-10 raw bitter almonds can make adults very sick, and can kill children.

dangerous foods

Photo: Pixabay

7. Tuna

Tuna fish contains relatively high amounts of mercury, which is harmful for your brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and immune system when consumed in large amounts. This is why children and pregnant women are recommended to not consume tuna at all. Though it’s unlikely that a meal of tuna can harm you, you should monitor how much you eat in a week.

Partner Stories
Sabaw recipe: 7 Pinoy comfort food for the family during rainy days
Sabaw recipe: 7 Pinoy comfort food for the family during rainy days
A mom’s responsibility: Getting vaccinated for her children
A mom’s responsibility: Getting vaccinated for her children
These 5 Easy Holiday Recipes Will Make the Christmas Filling At Home Extra Special
These 5 Easy Holiday Recipes Will Make the Christmas Filling At Home Extra Special
SEE, TASTE AND LOVE THE NEWEST DAIRY-FREE MILK IN THE METRO
SEE, TASTE AND LOVE THE NEWEST DAIRY-FREE MILK IN THE METRO

8. Cassava

Cassava is the third most consumed starchy food in the world. However, it contains cyanide, and unless processed, can kill. There are two kinds of cassava: sweet cassava, and bitter cassava. The bitter has more cyanide; one pound of bitter unprocessed cassava can kill a cow, and even humans.

READ: Cassava poisoning kills 6-year-old boy; siblings hospitalized

Be sure to check out theAsianparent Community for more insightful stories, questions, and answers from parents and experts alike. If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Google+ to stay up-to-date on the latest from theAsianparent.com Philippines!

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Cristina Morales

Become a Contributor

  • Home
  • /
  • Health
  • /
  • 8 Dangerous foods you probably have lying around your kitchen
Share:
  • How to count menstrual cycle? 4 phases of menstrual cycle

    How to count menstrual cycle? 4 phases of menstrual cycle

  • PCOS symptoms: What you need to know about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

    PCOS symptoms: What you need to know about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

  • Sabaw recipe: 7 Pinoy comfort food for the family during rainy days
    Partner Stories

    Sabaw recipe: 7 Pinoy comfort food for the family during rainy days

  • How to count menstrual cycle? 4 phases of menstrual cycle

    How to count menstrual cycle? 4 phases of menstrual cycle

  • PCOS symptoms: What you need to know about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

    PCOS symptoms: What you need to know about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

  • Sabaw recipe: 7 Pinoy comfort food for the family during rainy days
    Partner Stories

    Sabaw recipe: 7 Pinoy comfort food for the family during rainy days

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Baby Names
    • Delivery
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Advice for Parenting Kids
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Lifestyle Section
    • Local celebs
    • Celebrities
    • Money
    • News
  • FAMILY & HOME
    • Couples
    • Weekend & Holiday Guide
    • Health
  • Building a BakuNation
    • More
      • TAP Community
      • Advertise With Us
      • Contact Us
      • Become a Contributor


    • Singapore flag Singapore
    • Thailand flag Thailand
    • Indonesia flag Indonesia
    • Philippines flag Philippines
    • Malaysia flag Malaysia
    • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
    • India flag India
    • Vietnam flag Vietnam
    • Australia flag Australia
    • Japan flag Japan
    • Nigeria flag Nigeria
    • Kenya flag Kenya
    © Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
    About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
    • Tools
    • Articles
    • Feed
    • Poll

    We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

    We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

    theAsianparent heart icon
    Nais naming magpadala ng notification sa'yo tungkol sa latest news at update sa pag-aalaga ng baby at kanilang kalusugan.