B17

As many of you know I love learning about nutrition and health. And like most topics it is often hard to get factual information about things that seem like they should be pretty black and white.

A few years ago, I learned about vitamin B17. A natural occurring substance, B17 is found in seeds within the Apricot pit. B17 is interesting to read up on because some claim that it cures cancer while others claim that it will kill you.

According to HealthKeepers magazine (Vol 11, Nov 2009), B17 (Laetrile) in conjunction with betaglucosidase, an enzyme only found in cancerous cells, unlock cyanide and benzaldyhide within the cancer cell, killing it.

The US FDA has numerous articles and information on B17/Laetrile but they view it as a dangerous product that can do more harm than good. They claim that studies prove that it has no effect on cancer and can poison people and cause death.

I read a few articles from both sides regarding B17. Most of the articles claim that people can ingest too many apricot kernels and experience side effects such as nausea, headaches, and dizziness. Some articles say that no one has ever died from apricot kernels while other articles claim that there are reported overdose deaths.

I don't know anyone who has ever taken B17 or munched on apricot seeds but I know plenty of people with cancer. I'm sure this topic will remain controversial for some time. A safe, effective natural cure for cancer would seem like a god send to everyone but the pharmaceutical industry would take a huge hit if no one needed their drugs that seem to often make people even sicker than they were to begin with.

So, next time you are bored read up on B17 and let me know what you find or what you think. thanks :)