5 Healthy Foods that can be Toxic If Over Consumed

Being mindful of your healthy eating habits is vital for proper immune functions of the body. What you eat has a direct impact on your physical, emotional, and social well-being.

But do you have an idea that over-consuming healthy foods can be toxic for your body? Yep! You read that right. Certain foods can prove seriously harmful in large amounts.

Here, we have 5 common healthy food items that can lead to toxicity if consumed in higher quantities:

• Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a widely used spice that may have some great medicinal properties. It is rich in antioxidants and has been shown to fight inflammation and lower blood sugar levels. It has also been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. However, it contains high amounts of a compound called coumarin, which can be harmful in large doses. The advisable daily intake of coumarin is 0.1 mg per kg of body weight. Consuming much more than that can cause liver toxicity and cancer too.
• Coffee: Coffee has a rich aroma and taste which attracts most people. It is loaded with antioxidants and other health benefits like reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, liver diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. A daily intake of 400 mg coffee is generally considered to be safe. However, consumption of more than 500–600 mg per day can be excessive and cause adverse health effects to many. This may overwhelm the nervous system, causing insomnia, nervousness, irritability, stomach cramps, heart palpitations, and even muscle tremors.
• Cruciferous vegetables: Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, and collard greens. These veggies provide many health benefits such as a reduced risk of developing cancer, heart disease, and lowers inflammation. However, they contain a compound known as thiocyanates that can block the body’s ability to absorb iodine. This may contribute to a condition called hypothyroidism. People who are sensitive to thyroid problems should not eat these veggies in large amounts.
• Nutmeg: Nutmeg is a unique spice that contains powerful antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties when consumed in small amounts. Nutmeg contains a compound known as myristicin which is a psychoactive substance. Nutmeg may cause myristicin poisoning if consumed in large doses. The effects of myristicin poisoning include giddiness, heart arrhythmias, seizures, nausea, dizziness, pain, and hallucinations.
• Omega-3 rich foods: Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as fish oil, fish( tuna, mackerel, salmon, and sardines), nuts and seeds( flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts) can help in improving brain health, fights inflammation, reduces the risk of heart diseases among other benefits. However, over-consumption of such foods can lead to toxicity and have blood-thinning effects in healthy individuals. Also, taking high amounts of fish liver oil may result in excessive vitamin A intake, which may cause vitamin A toxicity.

Over to you:

It is important to consume a well-balanced diet filled with healthy foods and enriched with all the essential nutrients. However, just because something is healthy for you doesn’t mean you over consume such foods. Always remember more is not always good, so keep in mind the above-mentioned foods and consume in restricted amounts.