Brazil nuts and toxicity

Em16 said:

Hello,

I've been fairly reeling the last few days.....since going low carb I've increased the amount of nuts I eat and I've eaten, daily, a lot of brazil nuts.

I'd no idea they were toxic in large amounts.

I've been having symptoms of toxicity without knowing: metalic taste in mouth (I thought this was keto-breath which I'd read about somewhere early on so ignored it). I'd started getting diarrhea again... had some headaches ...have been feeling usually tired. I stopped using hair straighteners a few months ago as my hair was breaking. All symptoms of toxicity. I've felt like I did with undiagnosed diabetes - thinking I must have a virus coming and going.

A throw-away comment from my daughter that only 1 nut provides all the selenium needed, made me look it up. Its given me a real scare. They are deadly in large amounts so I've been literally poisoning myself. I've obviously stopped eating them and think they are probably off my diet forever.

Just thought I'd post here in case anyone else is eating them regularly as a healthy fat, low carb option.

Em

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Em16 said:

Hello,

I've been fairly reeling the last few days.....since going low carb I've increased the amount of nuts I eat and I've eaten, daily, a lot of brazil nuts.

I'd no idea they were toxic in large amounts.

I've been having symptoms of toxicity without knowing: metalic taste in mouth (I thought this was keto-breath which I'd read about somewhere early on so ignored it). I'd started getting diarrhea again... had some headaches ...have been feeling usually tired. I stopped using hair straighteners a few months ago as my hair was breaking. All symptoms of toxicity. I've felt like I did with undiagnosed diabetes - thinking I must have a virus coming and going.

A throw-away comment from my daughter that only 1 nut provides all the selenium needed, made me look it up. Its given me a real scare. They are deadly in large amounts so I've been literally poisoning myself. I've obviously stopped eating them and think they are probably off my diet forever.

Just thought I'd post here in case anyone else is eating them regularly as a healthy fat, low carb option.

Em

Click to expand...

jjraak said:

Very Thoughtful post, em.

I had read that too, when first DX

So reading up when I got diabetes, I got more interested in health & what might effect our brain.

Mum has dementia/Alzheimer's
So very aware of what that entailed .

Selenium, sounded good
Brazil nuts seemed to offer 'some' boost to our cognitive processes & protection to dementia, etc.

So I thought what can it hurt to try ?
Until I read how much was bad for us

I still make sure to eat the one or two most days.

I might add walnuts 1-2 oz daily supposedly offer a little something to protect memory & our brainpower.
(Interesting point 7 re depression & T2D & see conclusions )

I see brazils as beneficial
But in limited amounts.

So not banned in our house, but carefully monitored.

For those unsure of thinking "too fussy" ....fair play.
We each 'risk assess ' daily in our lives.

But here's a thought about looking after ourselves.

If just simple sugar, which we all loved as kids, right

Can end up being the cause of major medical issues at the extremities of our toes & feet.

Imagine how much more fragile our brains are....mmhh.

For me, I saw the benefits in print, so was happy to try,
But eating to excess ?

I don't see the worth of the 'risk', over a 'food or treat' most of us could happily live without.

l do look back in horror when I remember boxes of Brazil's nuts Xmas time ...omg

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