Top 5 Surprising Foods You Should NEVER Eat Raw
#5: Eggs
Top 10 Superman Easter Eggs in Pop Culture
As seen in dozens of films and television shows over the years, the supposed ultimate hangover cure or pre-workout energy booster is a raw egg cracked into a smoothie. If you’ve been taking dietary advice from such fictional characters... stop! While it’s true that raw eggs have high amounts of protein, they can also contain salmonella. For those of you who don’t know, this is a group of bacteria that infects the human body and can cause vomiting, fever, diarrhea and more. Some cases may even result in hospitalization. So avoid spending the next few days on the toilet and fry that egg before eating it.
#4: Red Kidney Beans
Also in: Top 10 Superman Easter Eggs in Pop Culture
Top 10 Superman Easter Eggs in Pop Culture
We promise… no “musical fruit” references. Beans are loaded with proteins called lectins. While the lectins found in certain beans aren’t toxic, those found in red kidney beans can be very harmful if consumed in large amounts. Thankfully, these proteins will break down when cooked, allowing for safe consumption. Known as phytohemagglutinin, the lectin found in red kidney beans, if consumed uncooked, can cause nausea and vomiting, and has the potential to send you to the ER if you seriously overdo it. Another bean worth mentioning is... the castor bean, which isn’t even a true bean. But similar to the red kidney bean, it also contains a dangerous lectin, called ricin, and which castor oil comes from. Unlike the kidney bean, however, cooking it won’t save you and you should stay far far away from it.
#3: Cassava
Also in: Top 10 Superman Easter Eggs in Pop Culture
Top 10 Superman Easter Eggs in Pop Culture
This native South American plant is consumed around the world, serving as an excellent source of carbohydrates. However, proper preparation is a MUST before it can be safely ingested. You see, while both the roots and the leaves of the cassava plant are edible, they need to be cooked first, with the root also needing to be peeled. Uncooked cassava contains a compound that, when eaten, will turn into hydrogen cyanide in the human body. The trouble here is that hydrogen cyanide is super poisonous; and depending on the variety of cassava, eating it raw can deliver a fatal dose. People have died within an hour or two on consumption.
#2: Rhubarb Leaves
Also in: Top 10 Superman Easter Eggs in Pop Culture
Top 10 Superman Easter Eggs in Pop Culture
As we’ve already seen, sometimes the most innocuous foods have the potential to end a person’s life. Rhubarb leaves are another example. It turns out that the leaves are bursting with high levels of oxalic acid – a term that here means: dangerous toxin that can kill you if eaten in large quantities. Even in small portions, the leaves can cause severe stomach pain and kidney damage. Unlike other entries on this list, rhubarb leaves should NEVER be eaten, raw or otherwise. So if your neighbor ever invites you over for a leafy green rhubarb salad… skip the invite and alert the authorities. If it’s pie though, which uses cooked stalks, then dig in!
#1: Potatoes
Also in: Top 10 Superman Easter Eggs in Pop Culture
Top 10 Superman Easter Eggs in Pop Culture
It’s hard to imagine that such an unassuming starchy food could potentially kill you. You see raw potatoes contain solanine, a poisonous compound. Symptoms of solanine poisoning include: headaches, stomach pain and even paralysis. Potatoes are similar to taro root in this way. Both are excellent sources of potassium but potentially dangerous if left uncooked. Raw taro has calcium oxalate in it, and if ingested will cause your mouth to go numb - eventually making you feel as if you’re choking. While the average raw potato likely doesn’t contain enough solanine to kill you, why risk it? It’s not like raw potatoes are particularly appetizing anyways.
