However, she wasn't sure about the exact origin of the headline. A food allergy occurs when your immune system thinks your food is an invader. Like kale, these are all members of the Brassicaceae family. Cabbage and Its Cousins. People who eat kale often at are a higher risk of developing a kale allergy. Conaway, C. C., Yang, Y. M., and Chung, F. L. Isothiocyanates as cancer chemopreventive agents: their biological activities and metabolism in rodents and humans. Research conducted in California by molecular biologist Ernie Hubbard connected complaints of fatigue, brain fogginess, nausea and other symptoms in patients at an integrative health clinic to their kale consumption. Cell Cycle 2005;4(9):1201-1215. Morel F, Langouet S, Maheo K, Guillouzo A. Basic Report: 11233, Kale, raw. He also pointed out to Vox that canola, that oil everyone has in their kitchens, is also a very good accumulator of heavy metals. When those who were exposed to rapeseed oil occupationally were tested, the number jumped to 14 out of 37. People with an allergy to cruciferous vegetables should avoid kale. Thallium is primarily produced from coal-burning and smeltingand then enters the air, water, and soil. In a recent study, researchers who assessed the role of dietary iodine and cruciferous vegetables in thyroid cancer among women living in New Caledonia reported an increased incidence of thyroid cancer among women who had both iodine deficiency and consumed large amounts of cruciferous vegetables. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. A Dietitian Explains. Symptoms of methanol poisoning can include: Breathing difficulty Blurred vision Pupil dilation Weakness and fatigue Leg cramps Weakness Low blood pressure Agitated behavior Confusion Difficulty walking Dizziness Headache Bluish-colored lips and fingernails Diarrhea Nausea Severe abdominal pain Expiring kale may cause digestive problems, such as nausea, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. Robin Berzin, M.D., is a functional medicine physician and the founder of Parsley Health. The report tells the story of Ernie Hubbard, a doctor in Marin County, CA whobegan to find detectable levels of a thallium, a toxic-heavy metal,in patients blood samples at higher-than-normal levels. A superfood leafy green, kale is OK to eat raw (as in, you wont die), but you should do so in moderation. While a single study from Czechoslovakia published in 2006 found that kale accumulates thallium from the soil, my search of the medical literature found nothing to suggest that eating kale or other cruciferous vegetables leads to thallium poisoning. Upon reviewing Craftsmanship's story, Sharma expressed concern that Hubbards research, presented as it is, could give Americans a dangerous and counterproductive message about green leafy vegetables. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. At least the first death by kale overconsumption has yet to occur. High cholesterol. What are the symptoms of too much kale? They may refer you to a specialist or conduct allergy testing. Now, there is no denying kales rightful superfood status. He had health-fanatic patients who had been experiencing symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, digestive troubles, nausea, and skin and hair issuesall symptoms of low-level thallium poisoning. The heaviest hitters were watercress, radish, turnip, and green cabbage. But while Nachman praised Hubbard for finding interesting correlations in a small group of people, the relationship between kale consumption and heavy metal levels in the body should in no way be generalized to the wider population, he said. Mother Jones wrote that based on Hubbard's experiments, "today's kale-fixated juice-heads may doing themselves a disservice." I eat two to three bunches of kale a week, and I'm not going to stop because of this article. There are some concerns about eating raw kale, as goitrins can decrease the uptake of iodine, which is essential for the production of thyroid hormones ( 8 ). (2017). The elderly, children, and those with suppressed immune systems may be at an increased risk of developing a serious Salmonella infection. Actually, the primary issue is the bad journalistic tendency to take any new "study" or research at face value, without asking enough questions. ANTIDOTE: The FDA has approved Prussian blue (Radiogardase) as an antidote for thallium toxicity. Marilyn Medina is a food expert with over 15 years of experience in the culinary industry. Taken within their context, Hubbards questions do have merit, according to Joshua Nachman, a nutritionist at the Johns Hopkins Integrative Medicine and Digestive Center. Usually, a case of Salmonella poisoning will produce symptoms between 12 and 72 hours after infection. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. It was also Saddam Husseins favorite poison to use on his enemies. Chemoprevention of breast cancer. However, I also wouldn't promote juicing one to two bunches a day. If you are consuming too much kale through your juice diet and you are diagnosed with hyperkalemia, your doctor may recommend a low-potassium diet. One patients thallium levels measured at .7 parts per million (ppm), which is seven times higher than whats considered the threshold limit. While we enjoy the occasional raw collard or kale salad, you should never eat the stems raw. Yikes. Dietary isothiocyanates, GSTM1, GSTT1, NAT2 polymorphisms and bladder cancer risk. Butkale? Then youll reintroduce them one by one to see if you have symptoms. Raw kale in particular can be hard on the digestive system meaning it can cause bloating, gas and other abdominal issues and also contains a compound that can suppress thyroid function in certain people, she adds. Even the most beloved superfoods harbor dirty little secrets. J Agric Food Chem 2003;51(18):5319-25. High iron levels in the blood cause symptoms such as headache, weight loss, fatigue, skin color changes and stomach upset. First things first: Kale and collard stems are tough, chewy, and fibrous. View abstract. This news gives us pause because kale has taken the culinary world by storm over the last few years: Back in 2007, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recorded 954 farms harvesting the green, but by 2012 the number of growers soared to 2,500. Join Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging, your online guide to the anti-inflammatory diet. I just read that kale and other cruciferous vegetables are high in heavy metals and can make you very sick. (The metal works exquisitely for poison because it is tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless.) But dont start supplementing with iodine just yet. A nutritionist weighs in on the nasty rumors circulating about this leafy green. If you have issues with blood clotting, speak to your doctor before consuming kale juice. More research is needed to see how much of the population has a cruciferous vegetable allergy. However, it can damage all body systems, as can all the toxic metals, depending upon where it lodges in the body. Hubbard also found thalliumin kale leaves from the region. He also pointed out to Vox that canola, that oil everyone has in their kitchens, is also a very good accumulator of heavy metals. Myzak MC, Dashwood RH. What are the symptoms of too much kale? Verhoeven DT, Verhagen H, Goldbohm RA, van den Brandt PA, van Poppel G. A review of mechanisms underlying anticarcinogenicity by brassica vegetables. The safety of cruciferous plants in humans: A systematic review. Because conventionally grown kale is sprayed with organophosphate insecticides, considered highly toxic to the nervous system, the Environmental Working Group included them in the Plus category to their traditional . Nachman noted that it's pilot studies like this one -- those that seek to answer a question that hasnt been sufficiently explored by other scientists -- that are exactly the sort of seeds that could one day lead to a randomized controlled trial. Stomach pain or cramps. ", Bottom line: Keep eating those leafy greens. Our online classes and training programs allow you to learn from experts from anywhere in the world. Luckily, our bodies have great mechanisms for eliminating heavy metals. It is a rich source of fiber, minerals (manganese, copper, calcium, potassium and magnesium) and vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6, folate and E). In my view, the health benefits of including kale and related vegetables in your diet far outweigh any possible risk. If you have an allergic reaction, you should see a doctor for testing. Crucial facts about health benefits of popular cruciferous vegetables. While those who tested positive hadn't consumed poisonous levels of the metal, it was enough to cause fatigue, heart arrhythmia, nausea, digestive. These articles were not based on forthcoming peer-reviewed research or new government guidelines. Another three months went by. And because kale is high in oxalic acid, it can cause kidney stones. She clearly had hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid or low thyroid), which in addition to consuming large quantities of raw kale had been exacerbated by high levels of chronic stress. (2012). For instance, consuming an excessive amount of kale can take a toll on your gastrointestinal system, causing gas, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. The link between the two veggiesand other crucifers like broccoli, cauliflower, mustard, and collard greensis that theyrehyperaccumulators of thallium, which means theyare capable of growing in soil with very high levels of the toxic heavy metal. Some cruciferous vegetables fall into the category of brassica oleracea. This dark leafy, cruciferous green a member of the Brassica family is chock full of antioxidants as well as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer nutrients (in the form of sulfur-containing compounds known as glucosinolates). He also reported finding traces of other heavy metals including cesium, cadmium, aluminum and arsenic in cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and collard greens. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Thallium has been a common ingredient in rat poison. This is worrisome, as thyroid hormones help regulate your metabolism. In fact, according to the CDC, eating cabbage past its use-by date can lead to gastrointestinal problems, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. That case involved a 52-year-old woman, a vegetarian who reported eating kale almost every day; she complained that her hair was falling out and that she had occasional fatigue and brain fog. Even more, kale is an exceptional source of vitamins A, C and K, essential for blood clotting and bone health. When health journalism fails, there is a threat to the public health: Some readers may eschew much-needed vegetables as a result of headlines and stories like these. Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) is a common food-related allergy that develops in adults. Cooks too much kale story is not an unfamiliar one. Along with kale, other foods to avoid on a low-potassium diet include potatoes, oranges, orange juice, broccoli and spinach. View abstract. For instance, a former editor of mine used to snack on raw kale morning, noon and night until she experienced the same symptoms as Cook. B. and Ichikawa, H. Molecular targets and anticancer potential of indole-3-carbinol and its derivatives. accumulate a heavy metal called thallium, list of metals and their associated symptoms, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4144270/. In fact, between 1973 and 2012, 85% of the food poisoning outbreaks in the US that were caused by leafy greens such as cabbage, kale, lettuce and spinach were traced back to food prepared in a restaurant or catering facility ( 13 ). In two days, it's already rounded up more than 35,000 Facebook shares and is taking over Twitter, suggesting that kale consumption commonly leads to too-high levels of thallium, a toxic metal, in the bloodand that thatleadsto chronic fatigue, skin problems, arrhythmias, gluten sensitivity, and Lyme disease. On Sept. 15, a customer notified Baker Farms that one of its bags of kale tested positive for listeria contamination. Plus,a single serving meets your daily needs of both vitamins A and B. Instead, they were aggregations of a feature story from Craftsmanship, a magazine about handmade objects and their makers, that chronicled the small-scale private experiments of Ernie Hubbard. Some foods are more associated with foodborne illnesses and food poisoning than others. Signs that your kale is no longer safe to eat include: Black specks on the foliage. Depending on the symptoms and organ systems that are being affected, medication, change in diet or even surgery may be in order to get your dog back to . For example, the thallium levels of a 52-year-old female vegetarian, who both exercises for two hours and consumes kale on a daily basis, measured 0.7 parts per milligramthat's seven times higher than what has been deemed the "threshold limit.". If this is the case, your doctor could recommend reducing your iron intake and avoiding foods such as kale, other green leafy vegetables, beans, nuts, dried fruits and whole grains. He had health-fanatic patients who had been experiencing symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, digestive troubles, nausea, and skin and hair issuesall symptoms of low-level thallium poisoning. Leafy greens are especially risky because they are often consumed raw ( 12 ). Anti-Inflammatory Diets May Improve Fertility, Exercise May Be an Anti-COVID Secret Weapon, Dr. Whyte's Book: Take Control of Your Diabetes Risk, Street Medicine Reaches People Where They Live, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox. Chemoprotection by sulforaphane: keep one eye beyond Keap1. "This stuff bioaccumulates," he added. It will be easier on your stomach if you cook them instead of eating raw. Kale can also cause bloating in people who have difficulty digesting FODMAPs. It effects on the body are horrific, affecting mainly the nervous system, the neuromuscular system, and the energy production systems of the body. Free radical scavenging and antioxidant activity of ascorbigen versus ascorbic acid: studies in vitro and in cultured human keratinocytes. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for kale. If the gut is unhealthy, an excess of oxalates can be absorbed into the body instead of being filtered out. As a Parent Living With Mental Health Issues, the Holidays Can Be Hard, The Best Exercises for Every Part of Your Menstrual Cycle, Christmas Tree Syndrome Might Be The Real Reason For Your December Flu, 8 Steps to prevent the flu without a shot, Crispy chicken thighs with braised kale and mashed potatoes, Thinx Period Underwear Has Settled in a Lawsuit Over Harmful Chemicals & Twitter Has Thoughts, A Mom Canceled Her Sons Birthday After He Made a Sexist Comment, But Reddit Wants Her to Reconsider, Childhood Vaccination Rates Are Still Declining & The CDC Finds It Alarming, We Need to Talk About Mental Health Services for People of Color, This Trio of G-Spot Toys from Yoni Pleasure Palace Will Make You Feel Absolutely Royal. Brassica vegetables and prostate cancer risk: a review of the epidemiological evidence. But as always, moderation is a good rule of thumb. If your body misidentifies the food in this way, it will release antibodies, which can result in an allergic reaction. Signs of urea poisoning can appear within several hours and include muscle twitching, teeth grinding, frothy salivation, bloat, colic, frequent urination, forced rapid breathing, staggering, bellowing, and terminal seizure activity. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. Kale is one of the most nutrient-dense foods available. Okay, so we don't have to panicyet. Unlike Hubbards findings, or the sparse research on heavy metal poisoning via vegetables in general, scientists know for sure that people get many health benefits from eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. She recommends one to two servings maximum of kale per day, leaving room for other healthy foods that provide an assortment of nutrients. For example, some people experience gastrointestinal distress when they consume large amounts of kale. Caution With Kale and Vitamin K If theres too much vitamin K in your body, it may prevent warfarin from working properly putting you at risk for blood clots that can lead to stroke. In other words, the non-organic crops are treated with a high volume of pesticides, and those pesticides remain even after the produce is washed. Even worse, you no longer can. While that may sound easy, its safe to say a certain subset of yuppie Americans in coastal cities are addicted to the leafy green. And, to be extra clear, theres no reliable evidence to suggest you should kick your kale to the curb, confirmed Shreela Sharma, a registered dietitian and associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. However, consuming too much can potentially have a negative impact on your health. Should we research kale and heavy metals to begin with? Specifically, raw kale contains a type of goitrogen called goitrins. 2009 - 2023 MindBodyGreen LLC. So before we dumped our kale in the compost pile, we ran the story past dietician Alexandra Caspero, R.D., owner of Delicious Knowledge. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. But there are risks associated with eating too much kale. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. A craftsmanship magazine's decision to give one man's tiny pilot study a multi-part feature series is questionable enough (more stories are forthcoming), but why were Hubbard's findings uncritically parroted by otherwise very reputable media outlets, now advising readers to go easy on the kale and other cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage? Arsenic is predominantly found in its organic form in rice, other grains, and vegetables. Part of HuffPost Wellness. Hubbard, an unaffiliated scientist from Marin, California, who works at an alternative health clinic, has been testing local kale and soil and has arrived at the conclusion that the cruciferous vegetable's ability to hyperaccumulate the heavy metal thallium is posing a health risk to his community. If you already have a problem with kidney stones, it may be a good idea to avoid kale. Home Vegetables What Is Kale Poisoning? In severe cases, a person, If you suspect you have a food sensitivity, you may be wondering whether it's worth purchasing an at-home test. Low thyroid function often leads to weight gain and cold sensitivity (feeling cold all the time when others are perfectly comfortable). Cell Biol Toxicol 1997;13(4-5):323-329. Suspected food poisoning. I have low thyroid and I eat plenty of kale, broccoli, cauliflower and other cruciferous vegetables but only cooked. You also agree to receive emails from DrWeil.com, and you may opt Often, animals are found dead near the source of the urea supplement. While those who tested positive hadn't consumed poisonous levels of the metal, it was enough to cause fatigue, heart arrhythmia, nausea, digestive trouble, neurological problems, and hair loss. View abstract. In a recent study, molecular biologist Ernie Hubbard found that kalealong with cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and collard greensis a hyper-accumulator of heavy metals like thallium and cesium. After drinking several glasses of raw kale juice over a period of three months, you start to feel a numb sensation in your fingers as well as increased fatigue. He also found that organically grown kale accumulates more of this heavy metal than conventionally grown kale. Keep reading to learn about nightshade allergies and. These processes can also help support a healthy gut, manage inflammation, and support the basic biochemical process called methylation. Dalessandri, K. M., Firestone, G. L., Fitch, M. D., Bradlow, H. L., and Bjeldanes, L. F. Pilot study: effect of 3,3'-diindolylmethane supplements on urinary hormone metabolites in postmenopausal women with a history of early-stage breast cancer. Terms and Conditions If you are consuming too much kale through your juice diet and you are diagnosed with hyperkalemia, your doctor may recommend a low-potassium diet. He had health-fanatic patients who had been experiencing symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, digestive troubles, nausea, and skin and hair issuesall symptoms of low-level thallium poisoning. Aggarwal, B. Todd Oppenheimer, The Vegetable Detective. Craftmanship, July 7, 2015, http://craftsmanship.net/the-vegetable-detective/, Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice. She is also a certified yoga instructor and a meditation teacher, and has formally studied Ayurveda. Mutat Res 2001;480-481:285-297. "His study was not the industry standard randomized controlled trial, nor was it designed to be that way, Nachman wrote in an email to HuffPost. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2006;6(2):135-145. Accumulation of thallium in the skeletal, cardiac, and nervous systems result in symptoms that tend to be non-specific and involve multiple organs. For instance, some of the most common symptoms include: Salivation Bleeding Swelling Vomiting Tears. Ive heard similar stories from other women. For instance, consuming an excessive amount of kale can take a toll on your gastrointestinal system, causing gas, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. View abstract. Hubbard acknowledged the limitations of his research to HuffPost, and wrote in an email that he never intended for his preliminary results to stand on their own, without corroboration, as a prescription for the general public. Thanks to their significant seed count, tomatoes contain a large number of lectins which can trigger digestive issues if protein binds to the stomach wall. The source? If you find yourself among the small population with an allergic reaction to cruciferous vegetables, you should avoid eating kale and other vegetables in this category. If you are concerned about metals, get tested at a functional medicine practice, and once you know your levels, work with a doctor to decide the next steps. It can be absorbed by plants and can also build up in fish and shellfish., RELATED: A Chef Explains How to Make Kale and Other Healthy Foods Not Taste Awful. "Down the road, it's going to kick you in the ass one way or another." A doctor will prick your skin and inject a small amount of the allergen in question. If you ever experience anaphylaxis, get emergency medical treatment. Kale is a leafy green vegetable that is low in calories and high in nutrients such as iron, potassium, calcium and vitamin K. The fact that kale is packed with nutrition makes it a common choice for juicers. Kale has many amazing health benefits, but it may not be the right food choice for everyone. Kale may cause digestive issues in some people and may also result in a higher risk of kidney stones. That said, all of them can be harmful to the body at very high levels. Wagner AE, Huebbe P, Konishi T, et al. While Hubbard wasnt able to determine the source of the thallium in the soil or the vegetable, he concluded that the complaints he was hearing from patients, their reported kale consumption, urine test results, and the thallium levels he found in local kale and soil all suggested low-level thallium poisoning. Iodine deficiency is a primary cause for hypothyroidism throughout the world. Nutr Cancer 2004;50(2):161-167. Talk to your doctor before increasing your consumption of this nutritious vegetable. It's also rare for metals to accumulate to dangerous levels, unless someone has been exposed to contaminated water supplies or occupational exposure, such as mercury fumes in industrial settings. The use of primary hepatocyte cultures for the evaluation of chemoprotective agents. Chem Biol Interact 1997;103(2):79-129. After six months of eating kale as her primary green, Cook began to experience dysfunctional symptoms: excessive hair shedding and hair thinning, feeling cold all the time and slow digestion. Here's the thing:Anything in large amounts can be dangerous. After all, too much water can cause dangerously low sodium levels, too much tuna can cause mercury poisoning, and in people with thyroid problems, too much broccoli can exacerbate symptoms, says Caspero.
