Water is toxic, if you drink too much.
Of course, you'd have to drink a lot of it, but the point is, everything you put in your mouth as a food or drink could be toxic IF you eat or drink enough of it.
Bottom line? It’s the dose that makes the poison.
For instance, did you know that black licorice, if eaten in excess, can cause your heart to beat irregularly?
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) black licorice contains the compound glycyrrhizin, which is the sweetening compound derived from licorice root.
Glycyrrhizin can cause potassium levels in the body to fall. When that happens, some people experience abnormal heart rhythms, as well as high blood pressure, edema (swelling), lethargy, and congestive heart failure. (Read the entire FDA report here.)
There is a naturally occurring substance in squash, cucumbers zucchini – called cucurbitacin – that can make these veggies toxic to humans if the concentration is high enough. So, if your cucumbers, zucchini or squash ever taste really bitter, stop eating right away! Symptoms of cucurbitacin poisoning include stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea.
However, when cucurbitacin levels are normal, health benefits could be realized, particularly Cucurbitacin E, which has anti-inflammatory properties as well as tumor growth inhibitors.
The dose makes the poison is important when it comes to the use of pesticides on your food, too. Farmers don’t “douse” their crops and produce with pesticides. In fact, the amount of pesticide used per acre of cropland (which is about the size of a football field without the end zones) is about 22 ounces, or about the same as two cans of pop.
Watch this video from Common Ground featuring North Dakota farmer Sarah Wilson talking about how much pesticide farmers use.
Even when there is pesticide residue, it is well below the level deemed harmful for human consumption. If you still have concerns about pesticide residue, all you have to do is wash the produce, which you probably already do anyway!
Check out this handy pesticide calculator from the Alliance for Food and Farming to find out how much your child would have to eat in one day and still not be harmed: http://safefruitsandveggies.com/pesticide-calculator
Aristotle said, "Moderation in all things." Seems like pretty good advice!