By: Alexandria Addesso
Carcinogens, substances that are capable of causing cancer in living tissue, seem to be everywhere. Processed foods, microwaves, and plastic goods are just a few of the many, many everyday items that can cause cancer. With known carcinogens becoming more apparent in the collective societal consciousness, alternative treatments and natural preventative measures have become more popular.
Bitter almonds are known to contain vitamin B17. B17 is a glycoside nutrient used by alternative medical practitioners in cancer prevention, and some have even claimed that it is a cure for cancer yet no medical studies have backed up that claim. The commercial sales of bitter almonds have been illegal since 1995. The commercial sale of the supplement form of B17 has been banned by the FDA since the 1980s.
Recently there has been a swarm of controversy around the ban of the commercial sale of bitter almonds, with some coming to the inaccurate conclusion that the use of bitter almonds in any fashion is illegal in the United States. This has caused many conspiracy theories to form as to why the government would make such a ban on a natural substance that could combat cancer.
Is the government simply making laws to keep its citizens ill and fully reliant on drugs made by big pharmaceutical corporations? Although that statement may not be totally incorrect, there is another reason why the commercial sale bitter almonds and most forms of B17 in general iare banned. The extract of B17, laetrile, contains prussic acid which is a chemical precursor for cyanide. Yet other natural foods also contain benign forms of prussic acid such as apple seeds.
Human beings have been eating bitter almonds for thousands of years with little to no documented reports of poisoning. Yet lawmakers cite that the commercial sales of bitter almonds are banned due to a possible link to the commercial sale and production of cyanide. Currently possession and the consumption of bitter almonds is not illegal. Bitter almond trees grow wildly in the US and cooks are allowed to farm small quantities of bitter almonds for specific dishes and pastes.
Carcinogens, substances that are capable of causing cancer in living tissue, seem to be everywhere. Processed foods, microwaves, and plastic goods are just a few of the many, many everyday items that can cause cancer. With known carcinogens becoming more apparent in the collective societal consciousness, alternative treatments and natural preventative measures have become more popular.
Bitter almonds are known to contain vitamin B17. B17 is a glycoside nutrient used by alternative medical practitioners in cancer prevention, and some have even claimed that it is a cure for cancer yet no medical studies have backed up that claim. The commercial sales of bitter almonds have been illegal since 1995. The commercial sale of the supplement form of B17 has been banned by the FDA since the 1980s.
Recently there has been a swarm of controversy around the ban of the commercial sale of bitter almonds, with some coming to the inaccurate conclusion that the use of bitter almonds in any fashion is illegal in the United States. This has caused many conspiracy theories to form as to why the government would make such a ban on a natural substance that could combat cancer.
Is the government simply making laws to keep its citizens ill and fully reliant on drugs made by big pharmaceutical corporations? Although that statement may not be totally incorrect, there is another reason why the commercial sale bitter almonds and most forms of B17 in general iare banned. The extract of B17, laetrile, contains prussic acid which is a chemical precursor for cyanide. Yet other natural foods also contain benign forms of prussic acid such as apple seeds.
Human beings have been eating bitter almonds for thousands of years with little to no documented reports of poisoning. Yet lawmakers cite that the commercial sales of bitter almonds are banned due to a possible link to the commercial sale and production of cyanide. Currently possession and the consumption of bitter almonds is not illegal. Bitter almond trees grow wildly in the US and cooks are allowed to farm small quantities of bitter almonds for specific dishes and pastes.
