Re: Lima Beans=Cyanogens

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Posted by BabyHerp on June 26, 1999 at 10:43:00:

In Reply to: Re: one food to limit GREATLY posted by BabyHerp on June 25, 1999 at 18:04:35:

Cham3...didn't want to leave you hanging about the cyanogen reference I mentioned...I still can't find the internet link on it...It was done by a university...Texas? Cornell? I can't find it ...but here's a little info from Normal & Clinical Nutrition by Whitney c. 1998 pg 498 under the heading "Natural Toxicants in Foods"
'Lima beans and fruit seeds such as apricot pits contain cyanogens--inactive compounds that produce the deadly poison cyanide upon activation by a specific plant enzyme. For this reason, many countries restrict commercially grown lima beans to those varieties with the lowest cyanogen contents.' Then it goes on about fruit seeds.
and concludes...'Natural toxicants include the goitrogens in cabbages, cyanogens in lima beans, and solanine in potatoes. These examples of naturally occuring toxicants illustrates two familiar principles. First, any substance can be toxic when consumed in excess. Second,poisons are poisons,whether made by people or nature.It is not the source of a chemical that makes it hazardous,but its chemical structure and the quantity consumed.'
Hope this helps
Gina

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: Cham3...didn't want to leave you hanging about the cyanogen reference I mentioned...I still can't find the internet link on it...It was done by a university...Texas? Cornell? I can't find it ...but here's a little info from Normal & Clinical Nutrition by Whitney c. 1998 pg 498 under the heading "Natural Toxicants in Foods" : 'Lima beans and fruit seeds such as apricot pits contain cyanogens--inactive compounds that produce the deadly poison cyanide upon activation by a specific plant enzyme. For this reason, many countries restrict commercially grown lima beans to those varieties with the lowest cyanogen contents.' Then it goes on about fruit seeds. : and concludes...'Natural toxicants include the goitrogens in cabbages, cyanogens in lima beans, and solanine in potatoes. These examples of naturally occuring toxicants illustrates two familiar principles. First, any substance can be toxic when consumed in excess. Second,poisons are poisons,whether made by people or nature.It is not the source of a chemical that makes it hazardous,but its chemical structure and the quantity consumed.' : Hope this helps : Gina

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