What Happens if You Eat an Apple Seed?

Some seeds can be a delicious addition to your diet, like pomegranate or sunflower seeds. Have you ever wondered about apple seeds?

While some seeds are safe to eat, apple seeds can actually be very dangerous.

Apple seeds contain amygdalin, a plant compound that can have a toxic effect. Amygdalin is actually harmless when it’s attached to the apple, but if it’s chewed or broken open, it can have consequences.

After you eat an apple seed, amygdalin converts to cyanide poisoning in your body. Some mild symptoms include headaches, dizziness, and anxiety. More serious symptoms can include high blood pressure and a coma.

The good news is that you shouldn’t experience any dangerous symptoms unless you decide to eat a lot of apple seeds. Swallowing one on accident here or there shouldn’t give you cyanide poisoning. It would take an estimated 85 apple seeds to make you sick.

Cherry pits, apricots, and peaches also contain amygdalin. To avoid these seeds, carefully slice your fruit and remove the seeds. You could even use an apple corer to stay clear of apple seeds.

Do you still wonder what will happen if you swallow a watermelon seed? The answer might surprise you!