In the story of a recently viral drama called 'Mayapakhi', the heroine dies after eating apple seeds. The scene has left many people asking whether eating apple seeds can really cause death or poisoning. What does science say, and how justified is this fear? Here is a simple explanation.

Apple seeds contain a natural chemical compound called amygdalin, which is found in the seeds of many fruits, such as apples, cherries, apricots and peaches. Amygdalin is not itself directly poisonous, but as it is digested it can break down to produce hydrogen cyanide, a highly toxic chemical.

The key point is that the risk depends on the amount and the circumstances. Eating a few seeds usually does no harm, because the hard seed coat prevents digestion, so the seeds leave the body before any poison can form. If the seeds are chewed or crushed, amygdalin is released and cyanide can form in the body, but even then a small amount does no harm.

Research has found that an adult would need to eat roughly 150 to several thousand chewed seeds, or about 20 to 40 apple seeds crushed together, to reach a dangerous level. An apple usually contains only 5 to 8 seeds. In practice, then, accidental poisoning while eating apples is almost impossible.

If a large amount of cyanide enters the body, it stops the body's cells from using oxygen, putting the body into a state of 'internal suffocation'. This can cause dizziness, vomiting, breathing difficulty and even death. But this requires a very large amount of poison, which apple seeds do not normally provide.

Yes, completely. Apples are rich in fibre and full of vitamins and antioxidants, and they are good for health.

It is true that apple seeds contain a toxic compound, but in small amounts there is no real risk. There is no need to be afraid if a few seeds are swallowed while eating an apple, and no reason to panic about eating apples.

The information is based on Healthline and Medical News Today.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.