A balanced diet made with good foods is important, but we also need to pay attention to the way we prepare and handle these items. There are products that, if poorly prepared, can become deadly to humans.
There are different reasons for this risk, such as lack of cleaning of items originating from the field, which may come with pesticides in their surface layers. However, there are also some types of food, such as fish, that contain substances that are naturally toxic to our body.
It is important not to panic, but to be aware of the best food handling practices, avoiding any fatal accident. Meet six foods that if not well prepared can be deadly.
1. Elderberry
One of the most used medicinal plants in the world, elderberry is very common in regions of Europe and North Africa. However, despite its curative potential, it is very important to be aware of the risks that the plant can also bring to health.
Without proper care, the bark, fruit and seeds of the elderberry contain lectin in small amounts, a substance that can cause serious stomach problems.
Another risk is the cyanogenic glycosides contained in elderberry, which can release cyanide in the body, a powerful poison, whose doses, although not higher at 3% of the fatal amount, it can cause problems such as nausea and diarrhea.
2. Potato
Who doesn’t love French fries? Or mashed potatoes? Or potato soup? Dishes with this ingredient are plentiful and our continent is king in this matter. However, care with its handling is essential, such as not consuming it before it is ripe.
Its leaf, stem and bud contain glycoalkaloids, which can cause diarrhea, cramps and, in large amounts, lead to death. Another point to watch out for with potatoes is if they are glowing excessively, or bubbling as if they were fermenting. Potatoes in these cases should be thrown away.
3. Manioc
A good portion of cassava, fried or boiled, is a dish that few people in their right mind would refuse. And they are right, since it is a food rich in carbohydrates. However, whoever wants to prepare it should be aware, since its raw form contains a toxin that, if metabolized in the body, can produce cyanide – a powerful poison capable of killing an adult cow on the spot.
For this reason, it is a food that should not be consumed raw under any circumstances. The ideal is to peel it and let it soak for 24 hours before cooking it. Conducted properly, it’s just joy.
4. African Bullfrog
The African bullfrog is better known for its voracious appetite than as a delicacy, but in Africa, especially in Namibia, is a very typical dish. However, it fits into the crop of products that cannot be prepared in any way.
A chef who decides to serve it as a main course needs to be careful not to use a species that is too young. The reason is that African bullfrogs that have not yet mated secrete a poison capable of causing kidney failure, which, if worsened, leads to death.
5. Red bean
As with soybeans, red beans are one of those foods that can be dangerous. Like other grains in the family, it is an excellent source of protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals, however, when raw, it contains a type of lectin capable of causing severe stomach pain.
The hard lectin name (seriously: phytohaemagglutinin) can cause you to have diarrhea, vomiting and nausea as a result of intoxication. It is worth leaving it soaking for a long period before cooking it.
6. Cashew nut
Be wary if you arrive at a public market and find a sign about chestnuts with a message saying they sell chestnuts of raw cashews. The reason is only one: in this form, the nut contains a chemical substance called urushiol, very similar to the poison contained in the plant known as poison ivy.
All cashew nut, before being taken for sale , is steamed before being toasted, in order to remove the usuhiol. Therefore, only consume it this way and never go out eating the upper part of a cashew.
