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Can Healthy Foods Be Toxic?

Normal, everyday foods like cherries and Brazil nuts are nutritional powerhouses. Here's how to avoid the circumstances that can turn them toxic.

ByAllison Futterman
Credit: Boule/Shutterstock

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We know that unhealthy foods (fried, fatty, simple carbs) and drinks (soda, sugary drinks) are not good for us, but would you ever give a second thought to the healthy foods you consume? Surprisingly, some extremely nutritious foods have a hidden danger of toxicity. Although these foods can have potentially harmful effects, there’s no need to give up any of them. Just avoid the circumstances that can pose a health hazard, and enjoy!

Not only are cherries delicious, they’re loaded with health benefits — thanks to their potassium, Vitamin C, and fiber. Rich in antioxidants and inflammatory reducing compounds, cherries also hold the potential to improve heart heath, arthritis, gout, and sleep quality. However, this superfood member of the stone fruit family has one potential pitfall: Inside the pit (called the stone) of these fruits, there are seeds, which are not meant to be eaten. These seeds contain amygdalin, which ...

  • Allison Futterman

    Allison Futterman is a Charlotte, N.C.-based writer whose science, history, and medical/health writing has appeared on a variety of platforms and in regional and national publications. These include Charlotte, People, Our State, and Philanthropy magazines, among others. She has a BA in communications and an MS in criminal justice.

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