If you've ever accidentally bitten into an apple seed and felt a moment of panic, you're not alone. The warning that apple seeds are poisonous has been passed down through generations, and it's not entirely wrong—but it's wildly exaggerated.

Apple seeds contain amygdalin, a plant compound that breaks down into hydrogen cyanide when it comes into contact with digestive enzymes. Cyanide is indeed a potent toxin that interferes with your cells' ability to use oxygen. So yes, technically, there's poison in your apple.

The Dose Makes the Poison

Here's the catch: the amount matters. A single apple contains about 5-8 seeds, and each seed holds roughly 1-4 milligrams of amygdalin. Your body can process small amounts of cyanide without any problem—it's actually present in trace amounts in several foods we eat regularly, including almonds, cherries, and peaches.

To reach a fatal dose, an adult would need to chew and consume approximately 150-200 apple seeds at once. That's 20-40 apple cores' worth. And here's the key detail: you'd need to chew them thoroughly. Swallowing seeds whole means they'll pass through your system intact, amygdalin and all.

Why the Myth Persists

The fear isn't completely baseless. Historical cases of cyanide poisoning from fruit seeds do exist, though they're exceptionally rare and usually involve concentrated extracts or deliberate consumption of large quantities. The myth gained traction because:

Cyanide has a scary reputation (deservedly so)
Many people confuse "contains cyanide" with "will kill you"
Parents use it as a simple warning to keep kids from eating cores

Other fruits in the Rosaceae family—including cherries, peaches, plums, and apricots—also contain amygdalin in their pits. Apricot kernels, in particular, have much higher concentrations and have actually caused poisonings when consumed as alternative medicine.

Should You Worry?

Not really. Accidentally eating a few apple seeds won't hurt you. Your body breaks down and eliminates small amounts of cyanide naturally. The bitter taste of crushed seeds is usually enough to discourage anyone from eating them in dangerous quantities anyway.

That said, there's no good reason to deliberately eat apple seeds. They're unpleasant, nutritionally worthless, and while the risk is minimal, why bother? Stick to the flesh of the fruit—that's where all the fiber, vitamins, and actual flavor live.

So the next time someone gasps when you eat an apple core, you can let them know: yes, there's cyanide in there, but you'd need to be really, really committed to poisoning yourself with fruit. Your morning apple is still the safest part of your breakfast.

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