March 18, 2021 One of the possible causes of the formation of kidney stones is poor nutrition, in particular the consumption of certain foods. This explains why treatment necessarily includes following a certain diet. She takes into account which foods contribute to the formation of kidney stones and advises limiting them or completely eliminating them from the diet.
Caffeine
Foods that cause kidney stones include coffee and caffeinated drinks. It provokes the removal of calcium from the bones, which then settles in the bladder and ureter. This relationship has been confirmed by clinical studies. When drinking more than 3 cups of coffee per day, the concentration of calcium compounds in the excreted urine increases sharply within a few days. It also contains citrates, magnesium and other substances involved in the formation of stones. If after drinking coffee there is pain in the lumbar region, this may indicate that the process of stone formation has already begun.
Cherry pits contain cyanide
Cherry seeds contain a substance called amygdalin, which releases cyanide when metabolized. The seeds contain enough amygdalin to produce cyanide when chewed. However, cyanide produces only minimal toxicity that the body is able to neutralize.
Chewing cherry pits can be dangerous because they break and mix with saliva in the mouth, releasing cyanide. Children are most vulnerable as they may not know how to properly eat cherries.
For newborns
Intestinal colic is often observed in infants. To alleviate their condition, toys or special pillows filled with cherry nuts are offered.
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Warmer
You can buy or make your own heating pad that keeps you warm for a long time. Cherry pits, freed from pulp, are boiled in water to which table vinegar is added.
After 15 minutes, drain the water through a colander. The raw materials are scattered onto a dry baking sheet and placed in the oven at 50 degrees. It is necessary to stir the grains regularly until they are completely dry. The finished filler is poured into a bag made of thick cotton fabric.
For colic
When newborn babies experience pain caused by colic, it is necessary to warm up the bag of bones by placing it in the oven for five minutes at 150 degrees.
You can use the microwave for 3 minutes. They also warm up the heating pad on a hot radiator, leaving it for 40 minutes. Apply a warm heating pad to the area where spasm and pain are observed.
Solving cosmetic problems
Cherry seed oil is used to moisturize, soften, rejuvenate, and provide nutrition to the skin. It is used in its pure form or as part of cosmetic masks.
For pigment spots
It is recommended to prepare your own brightening agent. To do this, extract kernels from cherry seeds - 100 g. They are ground to a powder and poured into a glass container with 500 ml of olive oil.
Under a tight lid, keep the container in a dark cabinet for two weeks. Then squeeze the product through gauze folded in three layers. It is recommended that they lubricate their skin every evening.
With the regularity of such cosmetic sessions, pigmentation gradually becomes less noticeable. The skin acquires a pleasant shade, small wrinkles are smoothed out, and the contour is tightened.
Rejuvenating mask
Combine cherry pit oil, grated cucumber pulp, finely chopped dill and parsley in equal parts. After thorough kneading, distribute the mass in an even layer onto the skin of the neck and face.
After 15 minutes, remove the residue with a soft cloth and wash with warm water. Repeat the procedure every other day. Suitable for normal and dry skin, restoring its elasticity and freshness.
What is hydrocyanic acid
Hydrocyanic acid and its compounds (cyanides) are a natural insecticide, that is, a substance that protects plants from pests. The plant world is rich in them. They are found in the fruits and even leaves of many plant species. Hydrocyanic acid itself is a colorless liquid with a bitter almond odor, which can be felt at low concentrations. It has high volatility and low density, and is a highly toxic substance.
Hydrocyanic acid in pits is a natural compound. It is contained in glycosides, which are low-toxic as long as the integrity and dryness of the seeds is maintained. As soon as these conditions are violated, chemical reactions occur leading to the release of hydrocyanic acid, that is, hydrocyanic acid.
Under the influence of moisture, hydrocyanic acid is formed in the pits of cherries, plums, apricots, peaches, rowan berries, cherries, apples, black elderberries, and bitter almond kernels. All these plants belong to the Rosaceae family. It is the latter that is characterized by the presence of glycosides capable of releasing hydrocyanic acid.
Separately, it is necessary to say about grapes. It belongs to the grape family, and they do not tend to release hydrocyanic acid in the seeds. Therefore, grapes in the form of whole berries are used to make wine, which cannot be done with the listed “dangerous” fruits.
Examples and experiments
An experiment conducted at the Department of Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine at Erciyes University in Turkey revealed the toxic effects of apricot kernels, which contain components similar to cherry kernels. A total of 13 patients with cyanide toxicity due to apricot seeds were admitted and all were retrospectively reviewed.
They experienced symptoms such as coma, seizures, hypotension, metabolic acidosis, hyperglycemia and more. They received appropriate treatment within (on average) three days and were discharged.
Study proves that apricot kernels are poisonous. But in this case we do not know the number of seeds consumed. Similar results may apply to cherry pits since they contain cyanide, but further research is needed.
Useful Features
Analyzing the composition of kernels extracted from cherry pits, it can be noted that they are rich in fatty oil, the concentration of which varies from 19 to 37.5%.
It is extracted for food and industrial purposes. After refining, the content of unsaturated acids reaches 87%, and saturated acids - 7.7%.
Cherry seed oil is widely used in cosmetology, allowing you to rejuvenate facial skin, even out color, and smooth out wrinkles.
This effect is due to the presence in the structural formula of antioxidants, vitamins E, A, eleostearic polyunsaturated acid, and various minerals.
The benefit of using cherry seed oil in hair care is to restore natural shine. The strands become silky, manageable, and elasticity returns. It is added to tonics and creams, obtaining a pronounced rejuvenating effect for the skin.
Medicinal properties
It is recommended to take products based on cherry seeds orally to regulate cholesterol concentrations. It has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system.
Recommended for pneumonia, colds, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Beneficial for anemia.
Malicious properties
The following can lead to disruption of the body's functioning:
- Incorrect preparation of the product.
- Poor heat treatment.
- Violations of product storage standards.
- Individual intolerance of the body.
- Diseases of the digestive and cardiovascular system.
to consult a doctor before consuming plum seeds .
The main danger to the body is the substance amygdalin. When it enters the stomach, it begins to interact with microflora. The process produces hydrocyanic acid, a dangerous substance that causes the following problems:
- Decreased oxygen in the body.
- Rapid breathing, shortness of breath.
- Disturbance in the functioning of the nervous system.
- Slow heart rate.
- Changes in blood pressure.
- Development of cardiovascular failure (can lead to death).
- Metabolic disease.
However, the amygdalin content noticeably decreases during heat treatment. High temperatures reduce the danger of consumption. Therefore, jams, compotes and marmalade are the most popular among housewives. Such products can be stored for no more than a year. However, if you remove the seeds themselves, harmful substances will not enter the product.
Myths and facts
- It is a misconception that hydrocyanic acid smells like almonds.
This is what the ancient pharmacists decided. They noticed the smell when they obtained a weak solution of hydrocyanic acid from almond kernels by distillation. Yes, during the distillation the smell of bitter almonds appeared, but it had nothing to do with hydrogen cyanide. The fact is that benzaldehyde is also distilled with water vapor. This is what gives the smell of almond bitterness. And hydrogen cyanide itself smells less pleasant - its smell is heavy. - The French first used hydrocyanic acid as a toxic agent in warfare in 1916.
- Hydrocyanic acid was used by the Nazis. They included it as the main component in the drug Zyklon B, notorious for its use during the Second World War in concentration camps.
- Hydrocyanic acid is not only a strong poison. Hydrocyanic acid is used in many industries. For example, in electroplating, gilding and silvering. And also in the production of aromatic substances, rubber, organic glass.
Content of hydrocyanic acid in plants
How much hydrocyanic acid does the seeds contain?
The specific gravity of amygdalin, from which the toxic substance is released in the peeled seeds, is:
- bitter almonds - 2.5–3%;
- apricot - 1–1.8%;
- peach - 2–3%;
- plum - 0.96%;
- cherry - 0.82%;
- cherry - 0.8%;
- apple tree - 0.6%.
Consequently, apple seeds contain the least amount of hydrocyanic acid, so the risk of poisoning from these fruits is 4–5 times less than from bitter almonds.
How many cherry pits can you eat?
So, have we found out that cherry pits are poisonous? What is the lethal dose? The answer depends on many factors.
If you just swallow the seeds, you don't have to worry about it. However, you cannot grind them and eat them in this form, as this can lead to poisoning.
The amount of cyanide required to cause death is approximately 1.5 milligrams per kilogram of a person's weight. Thus, to kill an adult weighing 70 kg, it would take about 100 millirams of cyanide.
One cherry contains 0.17 mg of cyanide for every gram of seed. Thus, depending on the size of the pit, it would take many freshly ground cherry pits (approximately 588) to obtain a lethal dose. So accidentally swallowing one or two seeds won't kill you.
Plum pit
The edible part of the product is the kernel. It is difficult to pull it out from under the thick layer of shell. The seeds must be subjected to heat treatment, otherwise their use can be harmful to the body. Amygdalin is particularly dangerous . However, its concentration is greatly reduced if the kernels are exposed to high temperatures. Therefore, most often, jams, jams, compotes, liqueurs, sauces and juice are prepared from plum seeds. Plum kernel oil is especially popular. It is used in folk medicine and cooking.
Storage of canned products should not exceed 1 year . The product accumulates harmful substances that can cause poisoning and digestive problems.
Contraindications
Taking any type of cherry seeds should begin after consulting a doctor and a detailed analysis of contraindications:
- pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract;
- pancreatic diseases, including diabetes mellitus;
- diseases of the gallbladder, liver;
- immunodeficiency states.
It is prohibited to consume cherry seeds during pregnancy, individual intolerance, or during breastfeeding.
With proper use of cherry pits without exceeding the recommended standards, the body receives the necessary beneficial elements.
This has a beneficial effect on health. In any situation, you must first obtain a doctor’s advice.
