Want to see apricot kernel benefits and side effects every ethical consumer must know? Here are apricot kernel pros and cons and how buying them will impact your health, the environment, animals and laborers.
Food is something we consume every day and if you’re like me, you do all the research you can to make sure you don’t hurt yourself, the planet, animals or others when shopping. As an ethical consumer myself, I am giving you all the info I’ve found on apricot kernel benefits and side effects.
You are going to learn all about apricot kernel benefits and side effects. This will include apricot kernel benefits for your health and potential risks, apricot kernel water footprint and apricot kernel carbon footprint, apricot kernel sustainability, if apricot kernels are vegan or impacts animals in other ways, and much more.
After learning if apricot kernels are good or bad for you, the environment, animals and human rights, you will be prepared to make the best choices you can the next time you buy food.
This post is all about apricot kernel benefits and side effects that every ethical consumer should know.
Must-Know Apricot Kernel Benefits And Side Effects
Health
Apricot kernel health benefits may include:
- cancer treatment
- blood pressure control
- boost immunity
- arthritis relief
- respiratory health
- anti-aging
- skin health
Apricot kernel health side effects may include:
- cyanide poisoning which can cause nausea, fever, headaches, insomnia, thirst, lethargy, nervousness, joint and muscle aches and pains, and falling blood pressure
Additionally, apricot kernels are…
- Gluten Free
- Not a Common Food Allergen
- Dangerous if consumed in high amounts (more than 10 per day)
Environment
Water footprint: likely low, it takes 1,287 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of apricots / 154 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of apricots
Carbon footprint: likely low, 0.23 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of fresh apricots, a car driving equivalent of 0.5 miles or 0.75 kilometers
Destruction: low, apricot kernel production is relatively sustainable, there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc., be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc.
Apricot kernels are…
- Sustainable
Animals
Kills: none, apricot kernel production does not require any animals
Harms: none, apricot kernel production does not require any animals
Indirectly kills or harms: none, apricot kernel production does not indirectly kill or harm animals as long as there are no toxic chemicals, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Apricot kernels are…
- Vegan
- Harmful to wildlife and ecosystems unless organic
Laborers
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers often experience exploitaion, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place, even if worker protection exists, employer violations may go unreported, refugees and migrant workers are especially vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, fearing consequences of job loss or deportation
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Apricot kernels…
- May have labor issues
apricot kernels (unseasoned) are gluten free.
Are apricot kernels gluten free?
Yes, unseasoned apricot kernels are gluten free. Apricot kernels do not contain gluten. Apricot kernels are a type of seed, therefore making it a gluten free food.
While celiac disease may not be as rampant as many marketing trends lead us to believe, you may have a gluten sensitivity…
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
apricot kernels are not a common food allergen. apricot kernel benefits include being safe for most.
Are apricot kernels a common food allergen?
No, apricot kernels are not a common food allergen. Some people may experience allergic reactions to apricot kernels but it is relatively rare by comparison.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
- milk
- eggs
- fish
- crustacean shellfish
- tree nuts
- peanuts
- wheat
- soybeans
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
apricot kernels are likely sustainable.
Overall, are apricot kernels eco friendly? Are apricot kernels sustainable?
Apricot kernels production is likely sustainable. Be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc. when using regenerative practices.
In fact, 2018 Oxford University study – which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet – found that ‘avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth’ as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.
Consuming animal products and byproducts is not environmentally friendly and is one of the worst things for the Earth. Not only is meat production wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution. The industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change.
apricot kernels are vegan. apricot kernel benefits include not killing, harming or using animals.
Are apricot kernels vegan?
Yes, apricot kernels are vegan. Apricot kernels come from the apricot fruit and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food.
Animals of factory farming are suffering. They live in horrific conditions that often include confinement, physical abuse and unnatural environments…so much so that they need to receive antibiotics to keep from getting ill or spreading disease. Growth hormones allow all kinds of animals to become fatter faster and live short lives.
Because we cannot see for ourselves how these animals live and what they endure does not mean it isn’t happening. The meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.
Go vegan for animals!
Therefore, it’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non Vegan Foods List
apricot kernels may have labor issues and human rights concerns.
Are apricot kernels a product that has laborer issues?
At this time, there are no specific reports of worker mistreatment regarding apricot farming but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. Apricot kernels may or may not have labor issues.
Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized.
Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can even experience harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks. Consequently, laborers can face nausea, dizziness, heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke -the leading cause of farmworker death!
Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation.
Ultimately, fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards.
Finally, we can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
This post was all about apricot kernel benefits and side effects.
Sources:
Apricot kernels (raw) – Food Standards Australia New Zealand
Chemical composition of bitter and sweet apricot kernels
apricot kernel – FoodData Central – USDA
