Healthy Foods: 4 Items That Can Be Dangerous in Excess

These are healthy foods, but not everyone knows that excessive consumption can harm your health or even be fatal. Here are 4 common foods you should be aware of for their potential danger:

1. Rice

One of the most common sources of arsenic is rice. This is a toxic chemical element found on the World Health Organization's list of carcinogens. Arsenic is present in water, soil, and air, and it also absorbs into our food, particularly those from agricultural crops. Prolonged exposure to low doses of arsenic increases the risk of developing several types of cancer. However, experts estimate that the amount of arsenic one is exposed to from eating rice 2-3 times a week does not pose a danger. Nevertheless, in children and infants, whose bodies are more sensitive, it is recommended to limit the consumption of rice and its products.

2. Almonds, Cherries, and Apples

Bitter wild almonds contain a substance known as amygdalin, which decomposes in the body to form cyanide acid, a dangerous poison (cyanide). Therefore, it is essential to avoid eating large quantities of raw bitter almonds. In contrast, cultivated almonds contain a lower amount of amygdalin, hence their sweeter taste, and there is no problem consuming them in large quantities.

In cherries and apples, fruit trees belonging to the same family as almonds, there is a similar danger as cherry pits contain cyanide, and any crack in the pit's shell can release this toxic material. This is why the pit should not be chewed or sucked on when eating cherries. Note that even the small seeds in the apple core contain cyanide, and it is not recommended to swallow them, although experts believe the amount is insufficient to cause poisoning.

3. Brazil Nuts

Brazil nuts are rich in iron, potassium, zinc, and vitamin E, and they provide a valuable dietary source of selenium, an antioxidant mineral that can protect our body cells from damage. Eating one nut a day is enough to provide the body with nearly double the recommended selenium allowance for adults (55 mcg). However, it is crucial to know that excessive selenium (over 400 mcg) can lead to poisoning (selenosis) and death. Therefore, due to the risk, it is not recommended to consume more than 2 Brazil nuts a day.

4. Fish

While fish is a quality source of protein and healthy fats such as omega-3 and omega-6, they also contain toxic substances, particularly mercury, a toxic metal that can harm the central nervous system with prolonged exposure to accumulating levels. Each fish has a different mercury content, mainly depending on the fish's size and its geographic origin.

Due to the potential harm to a fetus from mercury exposure, the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that pregnant women avoid eating large fish, which have higher mercury content, and limit the consumption of small fish to 225-340 grams per week.