Fact or Fiction: Apple seeds contain cyanide

Fact: apples contain amygdalin, which is sugar and cyanide as a compound that when consumed changes into hydrogen cyanide, the same chemical compound that was used in the Nazi gas chambers.  Cyanide works by keeping blood from carrying oxygen through out the body, when a human body is denied oxygen, the medical term is hypoxia, the body can suffer from respiratory arrest and death. A well known attribute to apple seeds is their hard, dark coating which is actually an advantage, unless the apple seed is crushed during the consumption process the amount of cyanide is even less than swallowing the apple seed whole. But the amount of apple seeds it would take for any of the previously stated affects to happen to a human would be astronomical. Other common house- hold fruits also contain this deadly chemical compound including, cherries, peaches and apricots, which surprisingly contain a harmful amount but because of their size and texture are less likely to be accidentally swallowed.

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