The Distinctive Bitterness of Apricot Kernels – Recommended Intake, Possible Adverse Reactions, and Consumer and Expert Perspectives
Katarzyna Mazur
2026-05-28
5 min. read
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In recent times, bitter apricot kernels have garnered attention as a potentially effective, alternative approach to supporting cancer treatments. However, is their regular consumption entirely safe for human health? Which specific chemical compounds found within these seeds might exert the described anticancer effects? Does scientific evidence substantiate their purported efficacy, or is this merely another health-related myth rooted in anecdotal claims?
Fistfuls of bitter morel
Morella common, common (Prunus armeniaca L..) is a species of perennial plant in the pink family. Its native range includes Kyrgyzstan, China and Korea, it grows wild in Japan as well. It is cultivated in many countries around the world, including Poland. Morella is a well-known and popular fruit.
The properties of the morel fist
It is an organic compound of the glycoside group. It was first isolated in 1830 by Robiqueta and Boutrona-Charlard. It is a white, odorless powder with a strong bitter taste.
Doseing of morel seedlings
However, if the consumer chooses to consume them, an adult should not consume more than 1 2 bitter morels* or bitter almonds per day a higher dose may pose a serious health risk. The acceptable, safe quantity suggested by the GIS has been calculated on the basis of the Maximum Tolerable Daily Intake of 20 μg/kg body weight/day as determined by the FAO/WHO Joint Committee on Food Additives (FAO/WHO Committee on the Joint Food Expert JEC) and based on an average of 5 mg per day in the amount of 0.0 mg of fats [1].
The pests have side effects
The effects and course of poisoning depend on the rate at which the adult metabolizes the cyanocytes in the body and on the salt and glucose content, which regulate the ability to absorb substances from the digestive tract. However, the mechanism of toxicity of the cyanic ions is also linked to the ability of the body to bind to the blood of the ferric acid Fe3. This also depends on the rhythm of the administration of the ion from the heart to the heart cell. This may lead to the loss of blood supply from the brain to the brain, to the spinal cord and to the liver.
The pests have their opinions
For several years now, bitter morel mushrooms have been gaining increasing interest, especially in view of the increasing incidence of cancers in the world. Although a large proportion of raw morel Mushrooms found in the European Union are imported from abroad and sold via the Internet. It is advertised as a prophylactic and cancer cure. Information available on vendor websites often encourages the consumption of large quantities of pesticides (up to 60 per day). Despite the fact that amygdalin in bitter morels alone has anti-inflammatory effects, the risk of causing cyanobacteria appears to be too high to encourage consumers to incorporate it into the diet by simply using it as a preventative agent.
