Juicing has become a popular way for people to get more fruits and vegetables into their diets. With the wide variety of juicers available, it’s easier than ever to make fresh, homemade juices. Apples are a common fruit used for juicing. But what about the seeds? Should apple seeds be included when juicing apples?
The Pros and Cons of Juicing Apple Seeds
There are some potential benefits and downsides to consider when deciding whether or not to juice apples with the seeds:
Potential Benefits
- Apple seeds contain amygdalin, which turns into hydrogen cyanide when digested. Some proponents claim this has anti-cancer effects.
- Apple seeds provide vitamin B17, also known as laetrile. Advocates suggest laetrile can help prevent cancer growth.
- Apple seeds supply small amounts of nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
Potential Risks
- Apple seeds contain cyanide, which can be toxic when consumed in large amounts.
- There is no scientific evidence that the amygdalin in apple seeds has anti-cancer effects.
- The cyanide in apple seeds may lead to side effects like nausea, headaches, and dizziness.
Cyanide in Apple Seeds
One of the biggest concerns with juicing apple seeds is the presence of cyanide. Here’s an overview of how it impacts health:
What is Cyanide?
Cyanide is a natural compound that is toxic to humans. It prevents cells from using oxygen properly, leading to death of the cells. Plants like apples contain cyanide compounds as a defense mechanism against insects and other threats.
Cyanide in Apple Seeds
Apple seeds contain a cyanide compound called amygdalin. When apple seeds are chewed or digested, the amygdalin breaks down into hydrogen cyanide.
| Apple seed component | Amount per seed |
|---|---|
| Amygdalin | 1-3 mg |
| Hydrogen cyanide | 0.06-0.17 mg |
As you can see, each apple seed contains only a small amount of cyanide. However, cyanide poisoning can occur if a very high dose is consumed.
Toxicity and Side Effects
Consuming up to 1-2 mg of hydrogen cyanide per kg of body weight is considered non-toxic. However, consuming over 50-60 mg/kg can be fatal.
Side effects of cyanide poisoning include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Rapid heart rate
- Low blood pressure
- Lung injury
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizures
- Respiratory failure
- Death
The number of seeds that can cause poisoning depends on the apple variety. But eating just a few dozen seeds in one sitting could potentially lead to toxic effects.
Nutrition Facts of Apple Seeds
Despite containing cyanide, apple seeds are also nutritious. Here are some of the nutrients found in apple seeds:
| Nutrient | Amount per 100g of seeds |
|---|---|
| Calories | 508 |
| Fat | 30.9g |
| Carbs | 16.3g |
| Fiber | 27.5g |
| Calcium | 70mg (7% DV) |
| Iron | 6.7mg (37% DV) |
| Magnesium | 69mg (17% DV) |
| Phosphorus | 415mg (42% DV) |
| Potassium | 1160mg (25% DV) |
| Zinc | 1.6mg (11% DV) |
As you can see, apple seeds provide large amounts of fiber, vitamin E, and minerals like iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc. However, the cyanide content makes it unsafe to consume apple seeds in large quantities.
Do Apple Seeds Have Vitamin B17?
Some sources claim apple seeds contain vitamin B17, also known as laetrile or amygdalin. But let’s take a closer look at the facts on laetrile:
What is Vitamin B17?
Vitamin B17 is the term used to refer to the chemical amygdalin. It is not an officially recognized vitamin compound. Amygdalin is found naturally in the seeds or kernels of many fruits like apples, apricots, almonds, peaches, and cherries.
Proposed Benefits
Advocates of vitamin B17 and laetrile claim that it can help prevent and treat cancer. Specifically, it is claimed that laetrile is toxic to cancer cells but harmless to normal cells.
However, there is no reputable scientific evidence to show laetrile is effective at preventing or treating cancer. In fact, the National Cancer Institute has concluded it does not reduce tumor size and can cause dangerous cyanide poisoning.
Lack of Evidence
Despite the proposed anti-cancer benefits of amygdalin and laetrile, well-designed clinical studies have not found any definitive evidence that it helps treat or prevent cancer.
The few small studies that showed positive effects had flawed methodologies and could not be replicated. Larger, better studies found no difference in survival rates between cancer patients who took laetrile compared to placebo.
In summary, calling amygdalin “vitamin B17” and claiming it has anti-cancer effects is incorrect according to scientific research.
What Do Health Experts Say About Juicing Apple Seeds?
With the conflicting information surrounding apple seeds, what do health experts recommend when it comes to juicing them?
Potential Benefits
There are no scientifically proven benefits to consuming apple seeds or amygdalin. While they provide trace amounts of nutrients, you can get these nutrients from eating the apple flesh and other more nutritious foods.
Risk of Cyanide Poisoning
Health experts warn against eating apple seeds precisely because of the danger of cyanide poisoning. Since the number of seeds that can cause toxic effects is unclear, it is best to avoid them.
Recommendation
The universal recommendation by health authorities is to remove apple seeds before juicing or eating apples. The potential risks outweigh the minimal nutrition they provide.
For example, the FDA warns:
You should not eat apple seeds or other fruit seeds because they contain a plant toxin called amygdalin. Apple seeds contain a small amount of cyanide, which can be poisonous.
What About Organic Apple Seeds?
Some people claim that organic or wild apple seeds are safe to eat because they contain lower amounts of toxins. However, there is no good evidence to support this claim.
One analysis found conflicting results about toxin levels in organic versus conventional apple seeds. So there is no proof that organic apple seeds are safer or more nutritious.
Since the cyanide content is unclear, it’s still best to avoid juicing or eating the seeds regardless of whether they are organic or conventionally grown.
What’s the Final Verdict?
Based on the potential risks and lack of proven benefits, health experts advise against juicing or consuming apple seeds.
Here is a summary of the key points:
- Apple seeds contain cyanide, which can be toxic when consumed in excess.
- The amygdalin in apple seeds may have anti-cancer effects, but human studies are lacking.
- Apple seeds provide some nutrition, but not enough to justify the risks.
- There is no evidence that organic apple seeds are safer than conventional seeds.
- Health authorities universally recommend removing seeds before eating apples or making juice.
The small amount of nutrients in apple seeds can easily be obtained from eating the fruit itself or other healthy foods. The potential for cyanide poisoning outweighs any proposed benefits.
Conclusion
Juicing apple seeds is not recommended from a health and safety standpoint. The possible trace amounts of nutrients are far outweighed by the risk of cyanide poisoning. To enjoy apples safely, thoroughly remove the seeds before juicing or consuming the fruit. When in doubt, remember that an apple a day keeps the doctor away—as long as you don’t eat the seeds!
