Apricot kernel

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An apricot kernel (Prunus armeniaca, "Armenian plum" in Latin) refers to the kernel of a species of Prunus, classified with the plum in the subgenus Prunus. It is commonly known for containing amygdalin, a toxic cyanogenic glycoside, sometimes incorrectly referred to as "vitamin B17". However it is not regarded by the scientific community as a vitamin since it has not been proven to be essential to achieving or maintaining good health, as is the widely accepted scientific definition of a vitamin.^[1] Amygdalin was once thought to help prevent cancer by attacking cancer cells, but clinical studies related to laetrile, as discussed in the amygdalin article, were unsuccessful. A review of the clinical evidence was published in 2006 with the conclusion "Therefore, the claim that laetrile has beneficial effects for cancer patients is not supported by sound clinical data."^[2]

Apricot kernels can sometimes be strong-tasting and bitter, and are known in culinary contexts as bitter almonds or apricot almonds. They feature in recipes for apricot jam, marzipan and Italian amaretto cookies and liqueur.^{[citation needed]}

Taken in excess, they may produce nausea, fever, rash, hive nose, headaches, insomnia, increased thirst, weakness, lethargy, nervousness, various aches and pains in joints and muscles, a drop in blood pressure. A clinical trial of Laetrile (amygdalin) carried out in 1982 by the Mayo Clinic and three other U.S. cancer centers under National Cancer Institute sponsorship, found among other things that several patients suffered from cyanide poisoning.^[3]

In 1993, The State Department of Agriculture and Markets of New York tested the cyanide content of two 8oz. packages of the bitter kernel which were being sold in health food stores as a health snack. The results returned showed that each package, if consumed entirely, contained at least double the lethal dosage of cyanide needed to kill a human being. [1]

Apricot seeds (kernels are inside)

[edit] Nutritional content

Oil from apricot kernels contains, per 100 grams:

Calories: 883
- Calories from Fat: 100%
Total fat: 100 g
- Saturated fat: 6.3 g
- Monounsaturated fat: 60 g
- Polyunsaturated fat: 29.3 g
- Total fat: 100 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Vitamins
- Vitamin A: 0
- Vitamin C: 0
- Vitamin E: 4 mg (13% DV)
- Vitamin K: 0
- Vitamin B6: 0
- Vitamin B12: 0
Minerals (Calcium, Iron, etc): 0