APRICOT SEEDS - TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT?

Apricot seeds are the tiny seeds discovered within the pit of an apricot. Multiple health benefits have been linked to these highly-controversial seeds and many credit apricot seeds for curing or preventing the spread of cancer. In addition to its cancer-fighting properties, apricot seeds are credited with lowering blood pressure, serving as a natural analgesic, treating lung conditions such as asthma, enhancing intestinal health, and serving as an antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial agent.

The health benefits of apricot seeds were studied extensively by Dr. Ernest Krebs, a biochemist who felt that cancer is usually a metabolic reaction to a poor diet. In the 1950s Krebs spent a great deal of his time studying a group of people known as the Hunzas. The Hunzas, native to the Himalayan region in Northern Pakistan, were revered for their incredibly long lifespans (upwards of 135 years), great health, and extremely low instances of health issues that plague the Western world, such as diabetes, obesity, and cancer. The Hunzas kept a very simple diet consisting principally of fruits, vegetables, fresh grains, raw milk, and small quantities of meat. In addition to this hunter-gatherer style of dining, it was noted that the Hunzas farmed apricots and ingested a large number of apricot seeds. Dr. Krebs soon began to wonder if this notable addition to their diet was worth exploring.

What Krebs discovered through his research was that apricot seeds contain high doses of Amygdalin, also known as B17, a cancer-fighting compound that is often found in fruits such as apples and plums, and wild plants. In the 1920s the patented drug referred to as Laetrile was produced to contain high levels of amygdalin derived from apricot seeds, and it proved promising in the war on cancer. Seemingly because of the natural levels of cyanide found in Amygdalin, the FDA took this miraculous drug off of the market in the ’60s. Although many proponents feel that the particular level of cyanide is safe in small doses (except for cancer cells) and that the benefits far outweigh the risks, this was the reason given for taking a low-profit prescription out of the running for cancer treatments. In the years that followed, Laetrile became the subject of a considerable amount of controversy in the political cancer world, resulting in cover-ups, scrapped research, and job losses for scientists promoting the benefits of this all-natural, low-cost cancer treatment.

What all of this boils down to is that Laetrile is illegal in the United States, but that there are still other ways to reap the benefits of apricot seeds. The health benefits can be garnered by consuming raw apricot seeds, which are available through various sources. The disease-fighting proponents of apricot seeds have been further substantiated through a few studies in recent years. A study in Germany in 2014 showed that Amygdalin reduced the growth and proliferation of bladder cancer. A 2013 study proved amygdalin’s effectiveness against the spread of kidney disease, by demonstrating that it served as an antifibrotic agent.

A healthy whole-food, low-sugar diet is paramount, and the seeds should be consumed with this in mind. Building up the immune system should be a primary goal. Apricot seeds can be eaten by themselves, although they are rumored to be bitter, or they can be added to smoothies, sprinkled on soup, eaten alongside something sweet such as a piece of fruit, or ground and added to sauces.