You can overdose on nuts

Question

This article claims that nuts, specifically Brazil nuts, should be consumed carefully as too many nuts a day can cause excessive weight gain and illnesses.

"More importantly, eating too many nuts can actually lead to food toxicity which can range from mild symptoms to severe illness."

Answer 1

According to Yahoo Prevention, you can over eat Brazil nuts and die. This is because Brazil nuts have selenium in them which is toxic to the human body that can cause your nails to become brittle and even aching in joints and muscles. It is recommended that an individual only consume four nuts a day to stay below that limit. 

It is worth noting that this is specific to Brazil nuts only, however in theory nuts can kill you because they are very calorie dense leading to a gain in weight and cholesterol over a long period of time if over consuming (just like most things in life).

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/3-surprisingly-bad-things-happen-165400967.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHk7xlR0-QS9HZoREurzU05XKPNZHbMzByps73VHtPg_ucufmWdOQIvirqY9PG0wefEvN7FHP9N1XTp5r6H6hcVFRAwC4sUVniO9sCokanTCHrUCaQt7nk8Mm6vXeLkNAUkeC2bW446-g88NP_PE9yuVEHehHUTUEEdbcRowye0k

Answer 2

According to the entertainment times, it is possible to overdose on selenium if too many Brazilian nuts are consumed. Additionally, almonds contain hydrocyanic acid which can cause respiratory issues and nervous breakdowns. Eating too many nuts can also cause diarrhea due to the different fats they contain. 

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/diet/this-is-why-you-should-not-eat-too-many-nuts-in-one-go/photostory/76427257.cms?picid=76427306

Answer 3

Yes, it is possible to overdose on nuts. Consuming too many nuts can result in adverse health effects due to their high calorie and fat content, as well as the potential for certain types of nuts to contain high levels of certain minerals and compounds.

One reference to support this claim is a study published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology in 2015. The study found that excessive consumption of nuts, particularly macadamia nuts and Brazil nuts, can lead to elevated levels of certain minerals such as selenium, which can have toxic effects on the body if consumed in excess. Additionally, the high calorie and fat content of nuts can lead to weight gain and other health problems if consumed in excessive amounts.

Reference: Griel, A. E., Eissenstat, B., Juturu, V., & Hsieh, G. (2015). A review of the safety and efficacy of nuts consumption in the US. Journal of Clinical Lipidology, 9(6), 825-846. doi: 10.1016/j.jacl.2015.07.002

Answer 4

The consumption of too many nuts can be dangerous and has been proven to lead to weight gain and illness. 

According to a study done by Harvard University, “You can overdo it when it comes to nut and seeds consumption.” The study suggests that eating more than one or two handfuls of nuts per day adds extra calories which will lead to weight gain.  

Overall, nuts have been proven to be beneficial to health but like many things, nuts in excessive amounts can be dangerous and lead to negative health effects including weight gain and illness.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/avoiding-nuts-and-seeds-for-better-gut-health-you-shouldnt-2019090317593#:~:text=You%20can%20overdo%20it%20when,in%20terms%20of%20small%20portions.

Answer 5

While nuts are proven to be incredibly beneficial to one's health in moderation, excessive consumption of nuts can cause adverse reactions. Brazil nuts in particular can be dangerous in large doses because very high amounts of the nutrient Selenium over time can cause symptoms such as skin rashes, loss of hair or nails, diarrhea, rashes and nervous system problems. According to the National Institutes of Health, "Extremely high intakes of selenium can cause severe problems, including difficulty breathing, tremors, kidney failure, heart attacks, and heart failure". Everything in moderation! 

Source: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Selenium-Consumer/#:~:text=Yes%2C%20if%20you%20get%20too,Garlic%20breath

Answer 6

"Because they are such a nutrient- and calorie-dense food, portion control is essential to avoid excess weight gain. More importantly, eating too many nuts can actually lead to food toxicity which can range from mild symptoms to severe illness" says an article by University Hospital. So technically no, you can not "overdose" on nuts, it would just make you sick. You'd also have to eat an absurd amount of nuts too. 

Comments

Don't forget to include hyperlinks to all your sources.

Answer 7

While the term "overdose" may not necessarily be appropriate, eating nuts without regard to moderation can have adverse effects on one's health. For example, according to a University Hospitals article, excessive almond intake can lead to kidney stones and liver issues, overconsumption of pecans can lead to digestion issues, and overconsumption of brazil nuts could lead to liver failure, cardiac arrest and even death due to their selenium content.

In sum, consume everything in moderation.

https://www.uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2023/01/can-you-overdose-on-nuts#:~:text=Because%20they%20are%20such%20a,mild%20symptoms%20to%20severe%20illness.

Comments

This source was used within the claim itself. It's best to dig deeper and find a reputable source that hasn't been used within the claim next time. Thanks!

Answer 8

According to the University Hospitals Science of Health, you can overdo eating nuts. "Because they are such a nutrient- and calorie-dense food, portion control is essential to avoid excess weight gain. More importantly, eating too many nuts can actually lead to food toxicity which can range from mild symptoms to severe illness." There are a lot of health benefits to eating nuts, but eating too many can be detrimental to your health.

https://www.uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2023/01/can-you-overdose-on-nuts#:~:text=Because%20they%20are%20such%20a,mild%20symptoms%20to%20severe%20illness.

Comments

This source was used within the claim itself. It's best to dig deeper and find a reputable source that hasn't been used within the claim next time. Thanks!

Answer 9

According to livestrong.com, eating too many nuts is associated with weight gain, and too much gas from the fiber content. However Brazil nuts, nuts that are high in selenium, are capable of being overdosed on.

According to The National Institutes of Health, Selenium is an important nutrient that is involved in DNA production, protecting against free radicals, and many more functions.

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Selenium-Consumer/

https://www.livestrong.com/article/410236-the-effects-of-overeating-nuts/

Answer 10

According to seed guides, Brazil nuts do in-fact have side effects when consumed in large quantities, one of those side effects being serious illness and even overdose. It is not the nut itself but the selenium they contain. "The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences advises a maximum limit of 45 mcg of selenium for kids and 400 mcg for adults daily." Brazil nuts contain high amounts of aflatoxins and consequently the European Union has strict restrictions on the importing of Brazil Nuts. It is important to remember to combine the nuts with other food sources as to dilute the amount of toxins being consumed. 

http://www.seedguides.info/brazil-nuts/#:~:text=An%20overdose%20of%20selenium%20can%20be%20toxic%20and,placed%20strict%20restrictions%20on%20import%20of%20Brazil%20nuts. 

Comments

You did a great job clarifying that the nut itself does not cause overdoes, but selenium. Without that key piece of information, that claim would've sounded exaggerated. Also, including the safety amount is very informative, though I doubt many people understand what mcg stands for, is there perhaps another way of giving a visual as to how much that is?