You must have been told many a time not to eat certain types of food as they are not good for your health and can cause harm, but you still eat them and may have just experienced weight gain, a few pimples, and problems like diabetes. But do you know there are also certain foods, which if not made the right way, can make you fall very sick or may even kill you just with one single serving?
The Top 7 Most Poisonous Foods in the World:
Hákarl
Hákarl is a kind of shark meat that is quite popular in Greenland. What this shark does not have are urinary tract or kidneys. This means the toxic substances and wastes are present elsewhere in this fish and if you consume this fish it can make you experience food-borne illness. It only can be consumed if prepared the right way which requires fermenting, followed by hanging it up for up to six months. If you do not know the correct way of preparing it, better avoid cooking it.
Fugu
Fugu is a Japanese delicacy that you must eat only at your own risk. Also called the puffer fish it is one of the most poisonous animals in the whole world. Chefs need to have a two years training before they can prepare this dish and have to pass a test, which about a third of the applicants fail. Some parts like the ovaries, intestines, and the liver have a chemical compound known as tetrodotoxin that is 1,200 times more toxic compared to cyanide. It is famous because of a tingling sensation it causes on the lips. This toxin can even paralyze the muscles of a person and result in suffocation even when the person is fully conscious. As per the UK Daily Mail. 30-50 people end up dying every year after eating fugu.
Elderberry
Elderberry is considered to be of great medicinal value and can treat flu and cold symptoms and also if placed on skin wounds it can help in healing it. The fruit of elderberry trees are used to make alcohol, and it provides flavor to foods like syrup, pies, and jam. Yet, you have to be very careful. The USDA suggests that though the purple and blueberries can be eaten, some of the red berries species are toxic. Botanical and medical experts say that the stems, leaves, and uncooked or unripe berries may result in nausea, vomiting, and also diarrhea.
Rhubarb
Rhubarb can be used to make a delicious pudding or pie but if you eat the wrong part it can end up being your last meal. The leaves of this plant have a chemical called oxalate. If you eat them it can make it difficult for you to breathe and also cause seizures, kidney failure, and may even cause death. These stems also have this chemical, though in not a very big amount.
Bitter almonds
Almonds that are actually not nuts but seeds are full of health benefits and this is something all of us know. However, there are some people who instead of opting for sweet almonds prefer bitter almonds because of them being richer in flavor. But do you know these bitter almonds contain cyanide? It is very important for them to be processed so as to remove the poison, or else they can prove to be fatal.
Sannakji
Sannakji is a raw baby octopus dish of Korea that is not poisonous, will not cause death, but certainly is dangerous. Even if you cut it up into really small pieces before eating, it still will do its job. Its suction cups will latch onto your throat and mouth and can cause you to choke. This is something thrill seekers like experiencing, but is really worth the risk?
Cassava
Cassava is known for its root called tapioca, which is popularly used to make tapioca pudding. You need to peel cassava and boil them properly before consuming. Raw cassava has a toxin that your body can convert into hydrogen peroxide. If you do not prepare cassava properly, it can prove to be fatal.
