You must be afraid of swallowing a seed with fruits or vegetables. If it happens accidentally, you may become panicked and tense and try to vomit out. Why? The reason is that you may grow up with stories of growing a tree in your stomach if you swallow a seed.
Actually, it’s not true. Our elders told us such stories just to make us curious and keep us away from swallowing seeds. Now, you must want to know what happens if you swallow a seed?
Generally, swallowing a fruit seed is harmless. It will not harm you in any case. There are some fruit seeds that have health dangers only when you chew them like intestinal injury, choking issues, intestine blockage, appendicitis, and poisonous effects. Eating apple seeds in big amounts can create poisonous effects on your health.
As you know fruits are the healthiest food in this world but what about the seeds of fruits? Are they healthy for you or not? Commonly fruit seeds may not harm you because they easily come out of your stomach in the stool. They are indigestible but pass through your intestine without touching your inner skin.
Let’s read this post to know more about this amazing part of fruits and vegetables!
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What Happens If You Swallow a Fruit Seed
What happens if you swallow a fruit seed while eating it carelessly or you have swallowed it consciously? Is it bad for your health and stomach? Is it possible that seed starts growing inside your body?
These are the queries that every person wants to know. Don’t be worried about such a condition because there is no chance of growing plants with a seed inside your stomach. If you hear about it, it’s only a myth, not a reality.
Nothing bad will happen if you swallow a fruit seed accidentally. If you swallow it, it will pass through the intestine without harming the inner skin and comes out with other waste material. If you have chewed it, it will be digested with the food you have eaten easily.
Remember that not all types of seeds are edible and beneficial. It is essential to know which seeds are good to eat and which are not healthy for your body. Some fruit seeds are healthy if you consume them. These are listed below:
- Pear
- Papaya
- Watermelon
- Avocado
- Jackfruit
These are helpful to reduce cholesterol levels, improve the bowel system, maintain blood pressure, and digestive system. There are some other seeds that have poisonous effects on the human body. Some of them are given below:
- Apple
- Peach
- Plum
- Apricot
If you take a large amount of these seeds, you will have to face poisonous effects and there is a big danger to your health. So, be careful eating such fruits.
What Happens If You Swallow a Date Seed
It is a common problem to swallow a seed of fruit while eating. Small seeds can easily pass through the intestine and can’t damage any inner part of your body. On the contrary, it is impossible to swallow large-sized seeds like the seed of a date. If you swallow the seed of date, you have to be serious about it. Basically, it will not harm you and leave no bad effect on your health.
A date seed can easily pass out in stool without being digested because it will dissolve in stomach acid and can’t be digested. Don’t be relaxed if your child swallows a date seed because it will get stuck in his food pipe and cause choking and difficulty breathing. If you chew a seed instead of swallowing it, it will be dangerous for your health as it discharges a type of poison Cyanide that is not good for your stomach.
As we talk about date seed, it has many health benefits for humans. It is free of toxic effects and is a big source of natural fibers for food and a mixture of healthy supplements.
What happens If You Swallow an Orange Seed
There is an old saying that you should not try to eat or swallow orange seeds as they are harmful to health and create different fatal diseases. What do you think?
No, it’s only a myth not true at all. The fact is that orange seeds are also beneficial just like orange itself. Orange seeds are a big source of vitamin C and when you chew them you can get natural fibers from them. Wao! It’s amazing.
As soon as you swallow orange seeds, they will come out of your stomach when you shit. So, you need not worry. It gives you a bitter taste but is a good addition to your food. There are many benefits that you can get not only from oranges but also from seeds. Let’s figure out some of these advantages:
- It provides Vitamin C and increases metabolism levels high.
- It gives power to our body and makes us active because of its antioxidant properties.
- It helps to treat stomach and digestive problems and improves the production of digestive juices.
Have you ever heard about these benefits? So, get these advantages and stop throwing orange seeds.
What Happens If you Swallow a Lemon Seed
Have you ever experienced swallowing or eating lemon seeds? How do you feel after doing so? Some people have bad signs after eating or swallowing lemon seeds but normally it does nothing harmful to your health.
In Fact, lemon seeds have the same properties as the lemon has. Lemon seeds are rich in Vitamin C and are a big source of antioxidants.
Swallowing one or two seeds can’t create any issue and will pass out in stool but a lot of seeds will be harmful. There are some health benefits of lemon seeds that are listed below:
- They are best to increase immunity to fight against diseases and heal infections.
- Lemon seeds have essential oils that are used in medicines and beauty products.
- Lemon seeds are good for parasitic infections.
- They can be used to cure fungus that is created by a skin infection.
- Lemon seeds powder is found in pain killer medicines.
If you have swallowed lemon seeds with lemon, don’t worry it will pass out in stool without harming your stomach. If you have chewed them, it is good for your health. So, you need no medical treatment after swallowing lemon seeds.
What To Do If a Child Swallows a Seed
The most difficult task for a mother is to get her child to agree to eat food. Children are always selective about eating. Don’t leave your child alone with fruits that have small seeds. If your kid swallows a fruit seed accidentally, what to do?
Simply, there is no need to worry because it will not harm the child. It can easily pass out through the intestine and come out in the stool. If the seed is big and stuck in the throat or respiratory tract, you should have to contact your doctor. For first aid, hold the kid in your lap and tap on his back not very hard. It will help the seed to come out of the throat.
You can do the process two to three times. Soon you will see the result. If you see no bad effect on a child and he/she shows no reaction like vomiting or difficulty while breathing, be relaxed and wait for the seed to come out of the stomach through poop.
There are some seeds that are harmful to health so you should be careful and keep an eye on your child after giving him fruits to eat like apples, peach, and some other fruits with small seeds.
Frequently Asked Questions (Faqs)
Is it ok to Swallow a Fruit Seed?
Usually, seeds in small amounts can easily be handled. It can be flushed out by the digestive system without harming your body. So, you don’t need to worry if you have swallowed a seed accidentally and wait calmly until it comes out.
Can a Seed Grow in Your Stomach?
Normally, the chances of seed germination in the human body and stomach are completely zero. In rare cases, it is seen that a seed may grow in the lungs. Basically, the atmosphere of the stomach is not suitable for a seed to grow.
What Happens If a Child Swallows a Date Seed?
There is no need to worry if your child swallows a date seed accidentally. It will create no health issues because it will pass out in the stool. Despite it, you should be careful and keep your child away from such small things.
Summary
Finally, it is clear from the above discussion that swallowing a seed is not a serious issue. No matter what kind of seed you have swallowed. It will not harm you in any way.
The fact you have to think about is that be careful while eating any kind of fruit and spit out seeds. If you chew seeds unconsciously, it will be serious because some seeds have poisonous effects.
There are some fruits that have a lot of seeds that are impossible to remove. So, you can swallow them without any fear of health risks. It is said that apple seeds have cyanide in them so avoid eating apple seeds. It’s better to remove them before eating.
Share this post with your loved ones and free them from thoughts of side effects that occur from swallowing seeds.
FAQs
What will happen if you swallow a seed? ›
Seeds Can't Grow In Your Stomach
Your stomach mainly consists of churning acid that eats away at everything inside it - a pretty bad place for a plant to grow. Even if a seed did sprout, it wouldn't make it very far before your stomach broke it down.
If your kid swallows fruit seeds, there is nothing to worry as the seeds might enter the stomach, get digested and come out in the form of stool. However, if the seeds enter the nose, then you should visit a doctor immediately, says Dr Fazal.
What happens if you swallow a large seed? ›As seeds are not digestable they will come out of your body through elimination in your stools. Don't worry.
Can stomach acid dissolve seeds? ›Gastric digestion
The acidic gastric juices and strong mechanical forces in the proventriculus and gizzard potentially cause destruction, or loss of viability, of ingested seeds.
Intestinal obstruction caused by plant seeds (IOPS) is rare because the shape of plant seeds is oval, and their size is small. There have been only four previous reports on IOPS [4-7].
Can seeds get stuck in esophagus? ›They can absorb many times their weight in water and expand and may become lodged in a patient's esophagus, especially if there is a history of swallowing problems. However when used properly, chia seeds are safe. They should only be mixed with sufficient amounts of liquid to allow them to expand before consumption.
How do you get a seed unstuck from your throat? ›- The 'Coca-Cola' trick. Research suggests that drinking a can of Coke, or another carbonated beverage, can help dislodge food stuck in the esophagus. ...
- Simethicone. ...
- Water. ...
- A moist piece of food. ...
- Alka-Seltzer or baking soda. ...
- Butter. ...
- Wait it out.
It may feel uncomfortable to swallow something else, but sometimes one food can help push another down. Try dipping a piece of bread in some water or milk to soften it, and take a few small bites. Another effective option may be to take a bite of banana, a naturally soft food.
How long does it take to pass a swallowed object? ›Most swallowed objects will pass through your body without any problem and show up in your stool within 3 days. If the object does not show up in your stool within 7 days, your doctor may order tests to find out where it is in your body.
What happens if you accidentally swallow a seed and a cherry? ›Cherries contain cyanide compounds (called cyanogenic glycosides) in small amounts found inside the hard-outer shell called the pit or stone. If someone accidentally swallows the pit, it will pass through the system intact and come out in the stool. Cyanide is released only if the pit has been crushed or chewed.
Is it bad to eat small seeds? ›
Tiny little seeds are also loaded with great big benefits. In one tablespoon of chia seeds, for example, you'll get 2 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber, and 78 milligrams of calcium. A tablespoon of flaxseed has 2 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber.
What happens if you swallow a seed shell? ›It's not harmful if you accidentally swallow small pieces of shell. Nonetheless, if you eat a large amount, the shells may cause a blockage in your intestinal tract, which can be dangerous. Seed shells from any type of edible plant can collect in your small or large intestine and form a mass, also called a bezoar.
How long do seeds stay in your stomach? ›Seeds that are high in fat (like sesame and sunflower as well as pumpkin seeds) take around 2 hours to digest. Nuts (raw peanuts, almonds, cashew nuts, walnuts, etc.) require around 2.5 to 3 hours to digest.
What seeds Cannot be digested? ›- beans.
- corn.
- grains, such as quinoa.
- peas.
- seeds, like sunflower seeds, flax seeds, or sesame seeds.
- skins of vegetables, such as bell peppers or tomatoes.
“Many seeds, including tomatoes, have an impermeable outer layer that protects the seed and allows the delicate embryo to survive the trip through an animal's digestive system,” said Kerry Barringer, curator of the herbarium at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
What happens if you swallow a cherry seed by accident? ›Quick Facts About Cherry Pits:
If someone accidentally swallows the pit, it will pass through the system intact and come out in the stool. Cyanide is released only if the pit has been crushed or chewed. This is very unlikely while eating fresh cherries because the pit is too hard to be broken open.
Of the six major plant parts, seeds are the dominant source of human calories and protein. A wide variety of plant species provide edible seeds; most are angiosperms, while a few are gymnosperms. As a global food source, the most important edible seeds by weight are cereals, followed by legumes, nuts, then spices.