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See Also
See Again
© Shutterstock
0 / 28 Fotos
The benefits of foraging
- It should be noted that foraging, or searching widely for food or provisions, has numerous benefits. Though it's best not to do like Alicia Silverstone and pick something you don't recognize from a stranger's front yard!
© Shutterstock
1 / 28 Fotos
The benefits of foraging
- Choosing to find and eat food close to where you live can help the environment by mitigating the carbon footprint associated with the shipping and transportation of food, especially if it's produce you'd usually eat, like mushrooms and berries.
© Shutterstock
2 / 28 Fotos
Mental health benefits
- Spending time outdoors and engaging in mindful activities like foraging can reduce stress and improve mental health. But be mindful as to what you're foraging for!
© Shutterstock
3 / 28 Fotos
Jerusalem cherry
- According to the Northern New England Poison Center, consuming Jerusalem cherry can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Eating a large amount may lead to drowsiness, hallucinations, and heart problems. Severe cases have also led to paralysis, coma, and even death.
© Shutterstock
4 / 28 Fotos
Manchineel
- Fruit from the manchineel tree resembles a small apple with a sweet scent. However, consuming the fruit causes vomiting, damage to the digestive tract, and even death. The tree sap alone can blister the skin, and fumes from burning its branches can cause blindness.
© Getty Images
5 / 28 Fotos
Ackee
-
© Shutterstock
6 / 28 Fotos
Datura fruit
- Datura is a spiny, egg-shaped fruit that turns brown when ripe. All parts of the plant contain toxic alkaloids, and consumption can lead to hallucinations, tachycardia, seizures, and death.
© Shutterstock
7 / 28 Fotos
Jatropha fruit
- Jatropha fruit is initially green but turns yellow and then black when ripe. The seeds contain a highly toxic protein called curcin, which can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, and, in severe cases, multiorgan failure and death if consumed.
© Shutterstock
8 / 28 Fotos
Strychnine tree fruit
- The seeds of this orange, berry-like fruit contain the highly toxic alkaloid called strychnine, which can lead to muscular convulsions, respiratory failure, and death if consumed.
© Shutterstock
9 / 28 Fotos
Yew berries
- All parts of this soft, bright red berry-like fruit (except the aril, the fleshy part covering the seed) contain toxic taxine alkaloids. Consuming these berries can lead to vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, and potentially fatal heart arrhythmias.
© Shutterstock
10 / 28 Fotos
Pokeweed berries
- While these dark purple pokeweed berries may look inviting, they contain toxic compounds that can cause vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, respiratory failure, and even death.
© Shutterstock
11 / 28 Fotos
Belladonna
- Belladonna, or deadly nightshade, is a toxic perennial herbaceous plant that produces shiny, black berries that resemble cherries. Consumption can cause blurred vision, dry mouth, hallucinations, and respiratory failure.
© Shutterstock
12 / 28 Fotos
Cotoneaster berries
- The bright red cotoneaster berries contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can release cyanide when ingested, resulting in nausea, vomiting, and, in severe cases, respiratory failure and death.
© Shutterstock
13 / 28 Fotos
Privet berries
- A privet shrub's glossy black berries are incredibly poisonous to humans. Consumption can lead to nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, seizures, and respiratory failure.
© Shutterstock
14 / 28 Fotos
Cherry laurel fruit
- The fruit and leaves of a cherry laurel tree contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can release cyanide when consumed. Side effects include vomiting, dizziness, confusion, respiratory failure, and death.
© Shutterstock
15 / 28 Fotos
Yellow star fruit
- Star fruit is a nutritious fruit that is low in calories but full of vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants.
© Shutterstock
16 / 28 Fotos
Yellow star fruit
- While star fruit does boast nutritional benefits, it can be toxic to people who have kidney disease. In some instances, consuming too much star fruit can lead to kidney damage, seizures, and even death.
© Shutterstock
17 / 28 Fotos
Elderberries
- Raw elderberries, as well as the seeds, leaves, and bark of the tree, contain a toxic substance that can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea if consumed. Cook berries thoroughly and strain out seeds before eating.
© Shutterstock
18 / 28 Fotos
Apricot kernels
- While apricots are safe to eat, the kernels are poisonous in high doses. The kernels contain a toxin called amygdalin, which can react with stomach enzymes and release cyanide in the gut, causing stomach pain, low blood pressure, and death.
© Shutterstock
19 / 28 Fotos
Apricot kernels
- Amygdalin, the substance found in apricot kernels, is sometimes referred to as vitamin B17 and is promoted as an alternative cancer treatment. However, there is not enough reliable evidence that it works.
© Shutterstock
20 / 28 Fotos
European spindle
- European spindle leaves and fruit are both toxic to humans. Consumption can cause dizziness, hallucinations, kidney failure, and even death.
© Shutterstock
21 / 28 Fotos
Pangium edule fruit
- Pangium edule is a tree native to the mangrove swamps of Southeast Asia. The fruit, known as football fruit, contains hydrocyanic acid, which can cause sleepiness, delirium, and death.
© Shutterstock
22 / 28 Fotos
Pangium edule fruit
- Pangium edule fruit can be eaten if prepared correctly. The fruit can also be boiled down or fermented until the poison is removed and made into a cooking oil.
© Shutterstock
23 / 28 Fotos
Rhubarb leaves
- Rhubarb is technically a vegetable, but it is prepared as a fruit. While the stalks are edible, it's best to steer clear of consuming the leaves, as they contain high amounts of oxalic acid, which can cause diarrhea, breathing difficulties, and vomiting.
© Shutterstock
24 / 28 Fotos
Cashews
- Cashews are, indeed, a fruit. And raw cashews in their shell contain urushiol, a toxin that can cause severe skin irritation and, if ingested at a high level, can be deadly.
© Shutterstock
25 / 28 Fotos
Karaka fruit
- The orange-yellow fruit of the karaka tree contains karakin, a toxic alkaloid. If consumed, you may experience vomiting, seizures, paralysis, and, in severe cases, respiratory failure and death.
© Shutterstock
26 / 28 Fotos
Wonderberry
- Wonderberries may look like blueberries, but they are incredibly toxic to humans. They contain solanine, which can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, and, in severe cases, death. Sources: (Parade) (Mothers Always Right) (Mashed)
© Shutterstock
27 / 28 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 28 Fotos
The benefits of foraging
- It should be noted that foraging, or searching widely for food or provisions, has numerous benefits. Though it's best not to do like Alicia Silverstone and pick something you don't recognize from a stranger's front yard!
© Shutterstock
1 / 28 Fotos
The benefits of foraging
- Choosing to find and eat food close to where you live can help the environment by mitigating the carbon footprint associated with the shipping and transportation of food, especially if it's produce you'd usually eat, like mushrooms and berries.
© Shutterstock
2 / 28 Fotos
Mental health benefits
- Spending time outdoors and engaging in mindful activities like foraging can reduce stress and improve mental health. But be mindful as to what you're foraging for!
© Shutterstock
3 / 28 Fotos
Jerusalem cherry
- According to the Northern New England Poison Center, consuming Jerusalem cherry can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Eating a large amount may lead to drowsiness, hallucinations, and heart problems. Severe cases have also led to paralysis, coma, and even death.
© Shutterstock
4 / 28 Fotos
Manchineel
- Fruit from the manchineel tree resembles a small apple with a sweet scent. However, consuming the fruit causes vomiting, damage to the digestive tract, and even death. The tree sap alone can blister the skin, and fumes from burning its branches can cause blindness.
© Getty Images
5 / 28 Fotos
Ackee
-
© Shutterstock
6 / 28 Fotos
Datura fruit
- Datura is a spiny, egg-shaped fruit that turns brown when ripe. All parts of the plant contain toxic alkaloids, and consumption can lead to hallucinations, tachycardia, seizures, and death.
© Shutterstock
7 / 28 Fotos
Jatropha fruit
- Jatropha fruit is initially green but turns yellow and then black when ripe. The seeds contain a highly toxic protein called curcin, which can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, and, in severe cases, multiorgan failure and death if consumed.
© Shutterstock
8 / 28 Fotos
Strychnine tree fruit
- The seeds of this orange, berry-like fruit contain the highly toxic alkaloid called strychnine, which can lead to muscular convulsions, respiratory failure, and death if consumed.
© Shutterstock
9 / 28 Fotos
Yew berries
- All parts of this soft, bright red berry-like fruit (except the aril, the fleshy part covering the seed) contain toxic taxine alkaloids. Consuming these berries can lead to vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, and potentially fatal heart arrhythmias.
© Shutterstock
10 / 28 Fotos
Pokeweed berries
- While these dark purple pokeweed berries may look inviting, they contain toxic compounds that can cause vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, respiratory failure, and even death.
© Shutterstock
11 / 28 Fotos
Belladonna
- Belladonna, or deadly nightshade, is a toxic perennial herbaceous plant that produces shiny, black berries that resemble cherries. Consumption can cause blurred vision, dry mouth, hallucinations, and respiratory failure.
© Shutterstock
12 / 28 Fotos
Cotoneaster berries
- The bright red cotoneaster berries contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can release cyanide when ingested, resulting in nausea, vomiting, and, in severe cases, respiratory failure and death.
© Shutterstock
13 / 28 Fotos
Privet berries
- A privet shrub's glossy black berries are incredibly poisonous to humans. Consumption can lead to nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, seizures, and respiratory failure.
© Shutterstock
14 / 28 Fotos
Cherry laurel fruit
- The fruit and leaves of a cherry laurel tree contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can release cyanide when consumed. Side effects include vomiting, dizziness, confusion, respiratory failure, and death.
© Shutterstock
15 / 28 Fotos
Yellow star fruit
- Star fruit is a nutritious fruit that is low in calories but full of vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants.
© Shutterstock
16 / 28 Fotos
Yellow star fruit
- While star fruit does boast nutritional benefits, it can be toxic to people who have kidney disease. In some instances, consuming too much star fruit can lead to kidney damage, seizures, and even death.
© Shutterstock
17 / 28 Fotos
Elderberries
- Raw elderberries, as well as the seeds, leaves, and bark of the tree, contain a toxic substance that can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea if consumed. Cook berries thoroughly and strain out seeds before eating.
© Shutterstock
18 / 28 Fotos
Apricot kernels
- While apricots are safe to eat, the kernels are poisonous in high doses. The kernels contain a toxin called amygdalin, which can react with stomach enzymes and release cyanide in the gut, causing stomach pain, low blood pressure, and death.
© Shutterstock
19 / 28 Fotos
Apricot kernels
- Amygdalin, the substance found in apricot kernels, is sometimes referred to as vitamin B17 and is promoted as an alternative cancer treatment. However, there is not enough reliable evidence that it works.
© Shutterstock
20 / 28 Fotos
European spindle
- European spindle leaves and fruit are both toxic to humans. Consumption can cause dizziness, hallucinations, kidney failure, and even death.
© Shutterstock
21 / 28 Fotos
Pangium edule fruit
- Pangium edule is a tree native to the mangrove swamps of Southeast Asia. The fruit, known as football fruit, contains hydrocyanic acid, which can cause sleepiness, delirium, and death.
© Shutterstock
22 / 28 Fotos
Pangium edule fruit
- Pangium edule fruit can be eaten if prepared correctly. The fruit can also be boiled down or fermented until the poison is removed and made into a cooking oil.
© Shutterstock
23 / 28 Fotos
Rhubarb leaves
- Rhubarb is technically a vegetable, but it is prepared as a fruit. While the stalks are edible, it's best to steer clear of consuming the leaves, as they contain high amounts of oxalic acid, which can cause diarrhea, breathing difficulties, and vomiting.
© Shutterstock
24 / 28 Fotos
Cashews
- Cashews are, indeed, a fruit. And raw cashews in their shell contain urushiol, a toxin that can cause severe skin irritation and, if ingested at a high level, can be deadly.
© Shutterstock
25 / 28 Fotos
Karaka fruit
- The orange-yellow fruit of the karaka tree contains karakin, a toxic alkaloid. If consumed, you may experience vomiting, seizures, paralysis, and, in severe cases, respiratory failure and death.
© Shutterstock
26 / 28 Fotos
Wonderberry
- Wonderberries may look like blueberries, but they are incredibly toxic to humans. They contain solanine, which can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, and, in severe cases, death. Sources: (Parade) (Mothers Always Right) (Mashed)
© Shutterstock
27 / 28 Fotos
The most poisonous fruits in the world
Don't make the same mistake as Alicia Silverstone!
© Shutterstock
On August 20, actress Alicia Silverstone took to TikTok to film herself eating what looked like a Jerusalem cherry she'd picked from someone's garden as she strolled through London, England. The 'Clueless' (1995) star, was, well, clueless in not knowing that the Jerusalem cherry is, in fact, a deadly plant belonging to the nightshade family!
To ensure you don't make the same mistake, this gallery identifies some of the most poisonous fruits in the world. Click through to find out more.
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