3 ms·
“In 1942, Jeanne’s husband (Yvonne’s father) died from cherry poisoning” Wait, what? Cherry poisoning??
by layoutIfNeeded 5y ago
“In 1942, Jeanne’s husband (Yvonne’s father) died from cherry poisoning”
Wait, what? Cherry poisoning??
- ectopod 5y agoApricot kernels, bitter almonds and cherry stones all contain amygdalin, which releases cyanide if you eat it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry#Health_risks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry#Health_risks
- layoutIfNeeded 5y agoStrangely, I remember eating tons of dried apricot kernels as a kid with no ill effects. We were eating them like almonds…
- sitharus 5y agoThat’s because the human body can metabolise a small quantity of cyanide. Going by Wikipedia sweet apricot kernels produce ~0.3mg of cyanide when eaten, but the toxic threshold is around 100mg for acute effects. Still, chronic cyanide exposure isn’t good for you.
- hughdbrown 5y agoCherries and apples have seeds with traces of a cyanide derivative that can be converted in the stomach. > Cherries have a small, hardened pit that surrounds their seed, also called a kernel. The kernels of cherry pits and other stone fruits contain the chemical amygdalin. Amygdalin is a cyanogenic glycoside — a chemical that your body converts into the toxic compound hydrogen cyanide. In Ozark episode S2E19, Darlene poisons her husband Jacob's coffee with ground cherry pits, for a current cultural reference.
- mc32 5y agoYou have to eat quite a few to experience ill effects. One or two are not going to kill you. A couple of dozen will. I've cracked and eaten a cherry pit. It was strangely tasty.