Too much bitter almonds can lead to poisoning and even death.

Bitter almonds are easy to produce poisoning when taken orally in large quantities. First of all, it acts on the vomiting, respiratory, vagus and vasomotor centers of the medulla oblongata, all of which cause excitement, followed by coma, convulsions, and then paralysis of the entire central nervous system, and death due to paralysis of the respiratory center.

Almonds are divided into two kinds, one is sweet almonds, also known as south almonds, non-toxic, taste slightly sweet, delicate, more for food, but also as raw materials to join the cake, cookies and dishes, with moistening the lungs, cough, slippery bowels and other effects, dry cough without phlegm, lung deficiency cough and other symptoms have a certain role in alleviating the problem, you can rest assured that consumption.

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Principle of toxic action of bitter almond:

The mechanism of bitter almond toxicity is mainly due to the hydrolysis of bitter amygdalin by the β-glucosidase of the intestinal flora, producing hydrocyanic acid which is absorbed. Cyanide ions can combine with cytochrome oxidase trivalent iron (Fe3+), blocking the transfer of electrons in the oxidative respiration process, resulting in the loss of oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin, and finally the tissue cells due to hypoxia and asphyxia.

After hydrocyanic acid is absorbed by stomach and intestines, the cyanide ion combines with the iron of cytochrome oxidase, preventing the role of cytochrome oxidase in delivering oxygen, and the normal cellular respiration can not be carried out, resulting in intracellular asphyxiation, and thus tissue hypoxia, the increase of carbon dioxide and lactic acid content in the body, and the body is in an asphyxiated state. Hydrocyanic acid can also act on the respiratory center and vasomotor center, making it paralyzed, and finally lead to death.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Bitter Almond

Baidu Encyclopedia - Bitter Almond (Traditional Chinese Medicine)