Is It Safe to Eat Apple Seeds?

Here's what you need to know.

If fall belonged to a fruit, it would be the apple. The seasonal harvest means this time of year is perfectly ripe for apple recipes, from pairings with cinnamon to apple desserts (Apple pies! Apple cakes! Apple crisps!) and savory mains that get a touch of sweetness from the beloved fruit.

But apples also contain a pesky and potentially deadly obstacle—if you’re not careful with them, apple seeds can make you or someone you care about very sick. Read on to find out why it’s best to avoid eating apple seeds, and the best way to remove apple seeds from the equation altogether.

Are Apple Seeds Dangerous?

Yes, they can be, depending on how many you eat. A stray apple seed here and there is no cause for concern, but consuming large quantities of apple seeds poses a risk of cyanide poisoning. “[Apple seeds] contain a compound known as amygdalin, which releases cyanide when metabolized,” says Jacek Szymanowski, PN certified nutritionist and health coach. 

By the way, we’re talking about a lot of apple seeds. “An average adult would need to consume approximately 150 apple seeds to be at risk of cyanide poisoning. Children can get affected if they consume as low as 83-100 seeds,” Szymanowski says. “An average apple contains about eight seeds.” However, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, and Szymanowski says it’s good to avoid intentionally consuming apple seeds.

Apple seeds aren’t the only seeds to exercise caution with—uncooked stone fruit kernels (think apricots, peaches, plums, cherries, and nectarines), lemon seeds, pear seeds, almond seeds, and watermelon seeds all contain amygdalin and run a risk of causing cyanide poisoning. This is also a good reminder not to let your pets near any of those seeds and pits!

What to Do If You Eat Too Many Apple Seeds

If you eat a small amount of apple seeds, you don’t need to do anything but wait for them to pass through your digestive system. “The seeds should pass through your digestive system naturally in 24-48 hours, depending on your digestion speed,” Szymanowskis says. 

However, if you or someone else ingests a concerning amount of apple seeds, stay on the lookout for telltale cyanide poisoning symptoms: dizziness, nausea, and headache. If you sense these symptoms in yourself or another person, seek medical attention immediately—and remember, a child’s threshold for cyanide poisoning is much lower.

The Best Way to Remove Apple Seeds

The best solution for any fears surrounding apple seeds is to remove them entirely. Szymanowski recommends using either an apple corer or small knife to remove apple seeds. 

• With a knife: “Slice the apple into halves or quarters to expose the core and seeds,” Szymanowski says. “Use a small knife to remove the core and seeds.”

• With a corer: Carefully insert your corer into the apple, press down, and twist to remove the core and seeds. 
  

Read the original article on All Recipes.