4. Bitter Raw Almonds
Almonds are thought of as extremely healthy, and it’s true that there are benefits to be had from incorporating them into your diet, from a boost in antioxidants to lowered blood pressure and better blood sugar control. Research has even found that almonds reduce oxidative damage in the body, making them an excellent weapon in the fight against ageing – but there’s a darker side to this little nut that many people are not aware of.
All almonds contain cyanide, though as the almonds we typically purchase are sweet almonds, they’re generally safe to eat, as the cyanide content is too low to cause any damage to health. If you’ve ever bitten into a bitter almond though, you definitely should spit it out, as the awful taste indicates it contains a higher cyanide content – and studies have proven that cyanide levels in bitter almonds pose a serious risk to human health.
Cyanide is exceedingly toxic, preventing oxygen from circulating around the body, and as bitter almonds can contain up to 1,000 times more of it than sweet almonds, they can cause convulsions, low blood pressure, loss of consciousness and worse. If you do eat bitter almonds by mistake, you should contact your local emergency room as soon as possible, as they’ll be able to give you an antidote, the only possible treatment for cyanide poisoning.
