Foods from animal sources contain vitamin A. But many plant foods contain carotenoids, which your body turns into vitamin A. More than 500 carotenoids have been identified, with beta-carotene being the best known. You can overdose on vitamin A, but it's highly improbable that you'll ever suffer carotene poisoning.
Pumpkin seeds contain high levels of important nutrients and have been long thought to produce several medicinal benefits, although not everything about them is 100 percent healthy. The seeds and seed extracts can cause allergi...
Autumn is the time of year when people take to the woods and fields to forage for wild mushrooms. While many species of wild fungi are tasty and safe, others contain deadly poisons and can be easily mistaken for the edible vari...
...other bodily functions. In combination with genetic factors, environmental pollutants like manganese have been investigated as possible causes of ALS. Learning about the nature of ALS and manganese poisoning can help you u...
In spring 2011, a plant touted since ancient times for its medicinal properties was implicated in outbreaks of food poisoning that sickened more than 4,000 Europeans and killed 49 people. After investigating, the European Union...
Gingko seeds are contained in the fruit of the gingko biloba or maidenhair tree, which dates back to about 200 million years ago. The Chinese have grown the tree for thousands of years and have long used its seeds for food as w...
Despite its pungent odor and strong flavor, garlic is not poisonous. It's been a staple of cuisines around the world for thousands of years and was even used to prevent gangrene during the first and second World Wars and to fen...
...iculture National Nutrient Database. Because your daily requirement for potassium is 4,700 mg, you could exceed this limit by consuming fewer than 10 large bananas in a single day. However, potassium poisoning from eating ba...
..., Mongolia and Siberia. This vegetable played a medicinal role for centuries before it began to be consumed as food in the 18th century. While rhubarb stalks are safe to eat, rhubarb leaves can cause poisoning if consumed ra...
Cinnamon adds a pungent flavor to a variety of baked goods and savory foods. In addition to its culinary uses, some traditional medicine practitioners use cinnamon as a healing agent. While this common spice is not toxic in sma...
Ginkgo products come from the ginkgo tree. Ginkgo dietary supplements are among the bestselling herbal remedies in the U.S. and Europe, according to information from the University of Maryland Medical Center. People use ginkgo ...
Early American explorers who had to survive solely on lean meats, such as rabbits, sometime developed medical problems that resembled starvation. This condition, known as protein poisoning or rabbit starvation, is a medical con...
...United States until the end of the 18th century. The vegetable is often considered a fruit and is commonly used in pies. It has a tart, earthy flavor. Rhubarb stalks are edible, but the leaves can be poisonous if eaten cooke...
Niacin is a B-complex vitamin -- B-3 -- available in foods and vital for transforming carbohydrates, proteins and fat into energy. Niacin also exists as a dietary supplement to treat a nutrient deficiency or high cholesterol. B...
Sun poisoning is another term for heat stroke or heat exhaustion. It is caused by over-exposure and over-exertion during high temperatures which results in dizziness, increased heart rate, shallow breathing and possibly faintin...
Potassium poisoning or toxicity occurs when your blood potassium levels are higher than what your doctor considers normal and safe. The condition of hyperkalemia occurs when your serum potassium is higher than the healthy range...
...ntain your protein intake while restricting calories or as a busy individual to add essential amino acids to your diet quickly and conveniently. Although the protein in whey supplements is not itself poisonous, toxins may co...
...or salt to add flavor to food. As with any chemical ingested in significant quantities, use of potassium chloride in large amounts creates medical risks, but potassium chloride is not classified as a poison. Moderate use of ...
... a strong oxidizer, and can change compounds in the body that are necessary in order for your body's cells to function properly. You should seek immediate medical treatment if you believe you've been poisoned by potassium ni...
...nk. Although there is no known function for it, your body also contains small quantities of aluminum. If you are healthy, aluminum is usually not an issue. If your body is unable to excrete aluminum, poisoning can occur.
...nd found in a wide variety of common foods. In some people, this substance combines with calcium in the urine and leads to the formation of crystalline structures called kidney stones. Oxalate is not poisonous, but if you ea...
Vitamin B12 poisoning is so rare and the substance considered so nontoxic that a maximum daily dosage limit does not exist for the vitamin, according to the eMedTV website. However, the vitamin can produce negative side effects...
Far from being toxic, pomegranate seeds brim with health benefits. In fact, all parts of the pomegranate tree, including the seeds and bark, are full of polyphenols -- plant chemicals that battle disease. Extracts of pomegranat...
Acetylcholine is a brain chemical with various functions in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Substances that inhibit an enzyme known as cholinesterase cause acetylcholine poisoning when inhaled, ingested or applied ...
Artificial sweeteners have a long history of warnings about potential health consequences. Sugar substitutes are substances that provide sweetness without the abundant calories and carbohydrates common in pure sugar. Unlike man...
Yohimbine is the active alkaloid in yohimbe---a plant used in alternative medicine for its stimulant effects. Despite its natural origins, yohimbine can cause dangerous health effects in some users. Understanding the effects ...
...hout the body, and maintaining proper levels of zinc is vital for good health. Although health supplements containing zinc are generally safe and well-tolerated, taking too much zinc can lead to zinc poisoning, resulting in ...
... health effects due to the small amount of nitrites used. However, some people who drink water contaminated by nitrites, such as infants or severely ill adults, may suffer from the effects of nitrite poisoning.
...S., and also one of the most frequently tested for safety. Rumors about aspartame's safety were rampant in the 1980s and 1990s, but little scientific research backs the suggestion that you can become poisoned from consuming ...
...gar, or sucrose, contains fructose. And fructose is a sweetener in many processed foods and beverages. Most people have no problem digesting fructose, so it's not considered to be a substance that is poisonous or toxic. But ...
...grass," pennyroyal is a species of mint that has been used for centuries to prevent fleas and provoke abortions, among other uses, but more research is required to confirm efficacy. Pennyroyal can be poisonous, toxic and eve...
...vered by a chemist at G.D. Searle company in the 1960s, and received U.S. government approval in 1981. Aspartame remains controversial as of 2011, with some consumer groups and doctors claiming it is poisonous, while the man...
Lobelia is a plant that typically provides blue flowers, and you can find it throughout the United States. Historically, lobelia has had a place in herbal medicine, particularly for breathing problems and to help a person stop ...
Controversy about the use of the artificial sweetener aspartame, also known as NutraSweet and Equal, has existed for decades. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration renounced claims of aspartame toxicity in 1981, officially app...
Sun poisoning or polymorphous light eruption is a type of rash that results from the skin being exposed to too much sunlight, explains MayoClinic.com. Sun poisoning generally starts off as a really bad sunburn. It is important ...
Chemical poisoning can occur when the body comes into contact with a toxic substance. According to MayoClinic.com, chemical poisoning can occur through inhalation or swallowing. It can also result when the skin, eyes or mucous ...
A day outdoors without adequate sun protection can lead to a painful, itchy sunburn, an extreme case of which is referred to as sun poisoning. Severe sunburns, or sun poisoning, can cause small blisters, fever, nausea, dizzines...
The Aconitum species of plant produces several toxic alkaline chemicals including aconitine, mesaconitine and hypaconitine, commonly referred to as aconite poison. Ingestion or absorption via the skin of significant quantities ...
Children are often attracted to the interesting shapes and bright colors of blooming flowers. While exploring the backyard flower garden or examining the flower arrangement on your dinning room table, curiosity may get the best...
...lor and life to your home. According to the Colorado State University Extension, plants also help keep the air inside your house cleaner, removing pollutants from the air. But some houseplants can be poisonous if eaten. Keep...
...ing to touch or taste. Unfortunately, some species are toxic or can cause dermatitis on contact. Choosing only non-toxic fern species will help keep the children in your house safe. But even with non-poisonous ferns, avoid l...
Houseplants may be pretty and colorful, inviting to both children and pets. While there are many house plants that are non-toxic, others are quite dangerous to ingest. Never have a houseplant that is poisonous in reach of pets ...
Strychnine is a poison that is sometimes used in some pesticides. It has a powerful effect on the nervous system and disrupts certain signals from the nerves to muscles. This results in muscles throughout the body contracting i...
...s of too much sun can cause damage to the skin and to your body, according to the Mayo Clinic. A knowledge of how much sun is too much and how sun can affect your body helps you to avoid sunburn, sun poisoning and even, pote...
...lood pressure and stimulates production of serotonin, the "feel good" hormone. However, overexposure to the sun can cause a number of problems with no offsetting benefit. One potential problem is sun poisoning. Sun poisoning...
Aluminum cookware has been around for a long time, but in the 1960s, safety concerns began to be raised over possible leaching of aluminum into food. The popularity of aluminum pots and pans is mainly based on two things: They ...
Strychnine is derived from the strychnos nux vomica tree, specifically, a tree found in southeast Asia, the seeds of which have come to be associated with toxic properties in rat poison as well as a healing compound in homeopat...
Sun poisoning, or polymorphous light eruption, is the skin's reaction to excessive sunlight or UV ray exposure. Sun poisoning can occur due to prolonged exposure to natural sunlight, or artificial light, such as tanning lamp ex...
Blood poisoning is the lay term for septicemia, which is the presence of bacteria and/or toxic products of bacteria in the blood. The infection nearly always begins elsewhere and gets into the bloodstream as a secondary complic...
...is found in the tobacco plant and is an active ingredient in chewing tobacco, cigarettes and cigars. Nicotine is also found in smoking-cessation products, including gum and wearable patches. Nicotine poisoning can occur when...
When toxins enter the body, they are metabolized by the liver or kidneys. After long-term exposure to toxins or short-term exposure to high amounts of toxins, these organs can sustain damage, allowing toxins to build up in the...
Sun poisoning is an extreme form of sunburn. It is an allergic reaction to excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays. Those with light colored skin and hair such as blondes and redheads are generally more susceptible to sun poison...
According to the website "The Herb Garden," the perennial Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is poisonous; it is also neither Russian nor sage.
Any household preparation starts with the number of your local poison center posted prominently near the phone. Beyond that, you should make an inventory of toxic chemicals in your home, read their labels carefully and determi...
Many poisonous plants sport very beautiful flowers, which may make them attractive to small children. The good news is that distinctive flowers can be easily spotted, telling you which plants should be avoided. Foxglove, for i...
Sarin is a nerve agent originally developed by the Nazis. It can be inhaled as a gas, mixed with water as a poison or exposed to the skin or eyes. The most important first step is to get clear of the sarin and keep the victim ...
...eparated. Wash exposed skin with a strong detergent and a lot of water. Be sure to check under the fingernails and similar hard-to-clean places. Wear sturdy gloves when you wash a victim of herbicide poisoning, so you don't ...
Atropine poisoning can significantly interfere with breathing and heart rate. Watch the victim's vital signs, and administer oxygen or CPR if you need to. This is especially important when administering gastric lavage or other...
Foxglove is usually ingested. It contains digitalis, which can be useful in treating heart conditions if properly applied, and people may take it as a part of some homeopathic treatment. Once it is swallowed, the best thing yo...
Chances are that you haven't gotten plankton poison directly. Rather, you've eaten some form of seafood that consumed toxic plankton before being caught. It is now passing the love on to you in the form of ciguatera, shellfish...
Like many other poisonous plants, winterberry shrubs need to be expelled from the body as quickly as possible. If the victim took them within a few hours, induce vomiting by sticking your finger down his throat or by administer...
Acute poisoning takes place fairly quickly after you've been exposed to a dangerous quantity of pesticide. Doctors can detect it more easily because its symptoms are more obvious. Allergic poisoning comes about when you have a...
If you can identify the animal immediately, that can be helpful, but don't waste time searching for it. Get to safety first and tend to the injury. Searching for the animal may waste precious time and if it is defending its te...
Every part of the mistletoe plant is poisonous, but particularly the berries and leaves. Find out how much mistletoe was taken and what part of the plant was involved. Then call the doctor or poison control center and report th...
In cases of botulinum poisoning, a doctor can administer an antitoxin to treat it. The medicine treats the botulism in the victim's bloodstream before it has time to attach to the nerves. Because of that, it's important to hav...
Ricin is produced by processing Castor beans, which is used in Castor oil and similar substances. It prevents the manufacture of proteins within your cells, which eventually kills them. Ricin can be swallowed, inhaled or inject...
If the victim has ingested enough juniper shrub to cause poisoning, it needs to get out of his body as quickly as possible. Clear his mouth of any plant matter, including juice extracts, leaves and bark. If he absorbed the jun...
The first step to treating exposure is to remove the victim from the pesticide. If the poisoning took place in an enclosed space, get him out to fresh air where there are no traces of the insecticide. If it got on his clothes,...
Like many other plants, wisteria vine poisoning is treated by first removing the toxins in your system and then treating the symptoms. You should induce vomiting within the first few hours of ingesting the wisteria vine. Stick ...
Excess magnesium usually comes from medication such as laxatives and antacids. Some people may also take magnesium in oral form to compensate for a deficiency in their bodies. People with kidney problems are especially at risk...
Cases of black locust poisoning are infrequent in humans. The flowers are sometimes used in teas to treat headaches, nausea and stomachaches. If a poisonous amount has been taken, the first step is to get the black locust out ...
...icides, laundry detergents, cigarette smoke, environmental pollution and even table salt, seafood, beer and water. However, people who work with pesticides and mining are at a greater risk of arsenic poisoning. While the maj...
Mothballs usually contain either dicholorobenzene or naphthalene to kill the moths. The second chemical is older and tends to cause more health problems. When swallowed, it kills red blood cells, which tires the body out and m...
...aces with a high amount of cadmium, such as smelting plants or industrial factories. Over time, it can damage the lungs and kidneys and make the bones extremely fragile. In cases with high amounts of poisoning, cadmium can c...
Poisons dumped into sewers or storm drains may end up in a nearby water supply, causing environmental damage. They may also be re-filtered back into people's drinking water and cause health problems for some unsuspecting neigh...
...s a recreational drug. Symptoms include a slow response time, shallow breathing, weak pulse, pinpoint or dilated pupils and a bluish tinge to the skin (especially around the lips and fingers). Call a poison center or get the...
Treatment for arsenic poisoning often depends on how much arsenic is in the victim's body, which you can determine in part by checking the symptoms. If the victim has been exposed to moderate amounts of arsenic over time, he m...
...s, and most doctors now use more reliable anesthetics. People are now mostly familiar with it from television and the movies, when kidnappers use rags soaked in chloroform to knock their victims out. Poisoning comes from bre...
... powerful anesthesia into the body. It's mixed with air to ensure that it remains safe. Car enthusiasts also use it as a propellant because it increases the amount of oxygen that the engine can burn. Poisoning usually occurs...
When you or someone around you has been chemically poisoned, summon help immediately if you can and always rely on your doctor's advice first. Every area has a local poison center, and a national number exists in the United St...
Like arsenic and similar kinds of poison, barium is very dangerous because it is an element. While it may appear in more complex compounds, barium itself cannot be broken down, which means it's always very dangerous. It interf...
... mask or give a chest massage to assist him. Do not give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Cyanide residue may be in his mouth and throat, and all you'll succeed in doing is giving yourself a dose of the poison.
Bismuth is like a lot of other poisons such as mercury and arsenic in that it is an element. That makes it tricky to treat because you can't break it down into a safer form. It usually enters the body through bismuth chelate, ...
Styrchnine is an extremely dangerous poison with fast-acting effects. It was originally used as a pesticide, but it has long since been replaced by safer chemicals. The symptoms of strychnine poisoning appear between 10 and 30...
Cyanide actually includes a number of different poisonous chemicals, called the "CN group." It includes cyanogens chloride, hydrogen cyanide, potassium cyanide and sodium cyanide. They work by replacing oxygen in the body and ...
Symptoms of mushroom poisoning vary wildly depending upon which mushroom is consumed. They can range from stomach and kidney pains to nausea, diarrhea, heart palpitations, muscle spasms, dehydration, hallucination and comas. S...
Much of the damage from a stingray jab comes not from the poison but from the wound itself, which can become abscessed and infected very easily. Irrigate the wound with clean water or sterile saline solution and then let it so...
...st them when we eat anything containing byproducts of animal fat. It made news recently when Ukrainian politician Viktor Yushchenko--a member of his country's opposition party--was treated for dioxin poisoning. It tends to h...
Nicotine affects the central nervous system as a stimulant, although some people claim they feel calm from it. It increases blood pressure, respiration and heart rate, and constricts blood vessels. Nicotine suppresses hunger a...
Early symptoms of nickel poisoning usually come from inhaling nickel or nickel-compound fumes. They include nausea, vomiting, headaches and sleeplessness. The symptoms get worse later on--from 12 to 24 hours after exposure--a...
...n certain kinds of cheese, such as Swiss, and in improperly processed soy products. Because of that, it may make several people who eat the same meal sick at once and lead to the impression that food poisoning is the cause. ...
Poison hemlock features a very straight, erect stem with easily identified ridges along the surface. The stems are hollow inside--except at those points where the leaves attach--and feature purple spots near the base of the po...
The early stage of antifreeze poisoning involves symptoms similar to alcoholic intoxication. Your pet may stumble or weave when he moves, exhibit a lack of coordination or vomit excessively. He may also appear depressed and le...
Aspirin poisoning is often accidental, incurred when someone takes far more aspirin than they should to treat an otherwise harmless ailment. In some cases, a suicide attempt may result in aspirin poisoning. Children are more s...
Cadmium can be found in batteries, in fertilizer, in types of metal and ceramic, and in industrial components such as glazing for glass or pottery. You can check the packaging to determine any significant amounts of cadmium in...