How many bitter apricot seeds a day

Some sellers promote them as a cancer-fighting food and promote intake of 10 and 60 kernels per day for the general population and cancer patients, respectively. According to European Commission Regulation No. To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.

However, moderation is the key. Eating it in a limit may help in some ways, but this does not make it a cure for cancer. When we connected with our expert Nutritionist, Dr. Rupali Dutta, she explained, "Apricot seed contains a toxic chemical called amygdalin which has cyanide in it that may cause serious harm to health. Also, it hasn't been scientifically proven by AFSP, European Food Safety Authority or any other trusted food safety authority who qualifies apricot seeds as curers for cancer.

I recommend people to be careful of what they are consuming for such serious ailments like cancer. Even if you are consuming it, be very sure of the dosage and see if you are prone to its toxicity.

Always refer to a doctor before taking a decision. On the contrary, according to the book, Healing Foods by DK Publishing, The seed inside the stone of apricot is edible. Along with its anticancer properties, the author claims, apricot seeds help remove toxins and strengthens the body's defenses against disease. The kernels also contain vitamin B17 laetrile , shown in laboratory studies to kill cancer cells.

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Nutrients Claims Warnings Research Success rate Takeaway Overview The apricot kernel is a small but powerful seed that has been linked to possible cancer treatment. Is this alternative treatment safe and effective? Read on to learn more. What nutrients do apricot seeds contain? Cyanide poisoning can occur at much lower levels, however. Commercial sources that promote the consumption of raw apricot kernels recommend between 6 and 10 kernels per day. Some recommend more for people with cancer, but this can be dangerous.

People who follow these dose recommendations are likely to be exposed to cyanide levels that cause cyanide poisoning. The European Food Safety Authority EFSA have warned that a single serving of three small apricot kernels or one large apricot kernel could put adults over the suggested safe levels of cyanide exposure, while one small kernel could be toxic to an infant.

The EFSA advise that no one should consume more than 20 micrograms mcg of cyanide per kilogram of body weight at one time. This limits consumption to one kernel for adults.

Even half a kernel would be over the limit for children. Researchers note that the seeds of bitter apricots have a particularly high level of amygdalin at 5. Laetrile, also called B, is a partly synthetic form of amygdalin. It has been proposed as an alternative treatment for cancer. In , the biochemist, Ernst T. Krebs, Jr. His father had tried apricot seeds as a cancer treatment in , but this proved to be toxic.

Some people with cancer might take laetrile in the hope that it will:. It is deemed unsafe for food and drug use. It has not been shown to have any use in the treatment of any disease. They include :. Some sources have promoted the use of laetrile as an anti-cancer agent, and it is available as a treatment in Mexico and some clinics in the U.

There is currently no scientific evidence to support the use of laetrile for these purposes or to treat cancer. In , the National Cancer Institute NCI pointed out that laetrile leads to cyanide production in the body and that the American Institute of Nutrition Vitamins have not approved it as a vitamin. The NCI note:. They add that there are no reports of any controlled clinical trials that have taken place in people.

Also, they point out that because laetrile comes from Mexico, it may not carry the same safety standards governing purity and contents when manufactured. There is also concern that people might take laetrile instead of following proven therapy regimes for cancer, such as targeted drugs or radiation therapy. Using unproven methods in place of conventional medicine can cause serious harm. Also present in apricot kernels is another so-called vitamin, B, or calcium pangamate.

This, too, has been proposed for treating cancer.