Cherries are a delicious and versatile summer fruit, packed with essential vitamins and minerals (via Everyday Health). They can be enjoyed as a nutritious snack or included in a variety of desserts and dishes. This is because there are two primary types of cherries: sweet cherries and tart cherries. Sweet cherries can be eaten fresh, while tart cherries are often used in cooking and baking.
Both sweet and tart cherries are nutrient-rich and can contribute positively to your overall health. “Cherries are a good source of healthy compounds like fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and polyphenols,” says Samantha Heller, a registered dietitian based in New York City, as reported by Everyday Health. These nutrients can help reduce inflammation and lower disease risk. While cherries aren’t a cure-all, they are considered a superfood that can enhance your diet and support health and well-being.
Swallowing cherry pits is a choking hazard
Like plums and apricots, cherries belong to the category of fleshy stone fruits. According to Healthline, stone fruits have seeds in the center, enclosed by a hard pit or stone. While cherry pits should be spat out, they are sometimes accidentally swallowed. Though not uncommon, this poses a risk, especially to young children who are not accustomed to eating cherries and other stone fruits.
The size of the pit can make it a choking hazard for children and even some adults. Cherry pits can block the airway and get lodged in the throat, leading to choking. Therefore, the main concern with cherry pits is the risk of accidental swallowing and choking, particularly for small children, making it essential to keep them out of reach.
Are cherry pits poisonous?
Cherry pits contain a compound known as amygdalin, as explained by MedicineNet. Amygdalin is a chemical that reacts with enzymes in saliva, converting into hydrogen cyanide when ingested. Hydrogen cyanide, or cyanide, is a toxic compound that can deprive the body of oxygen and harm vital organs. Cyanide is only released from cherry pits if they are crushed or chewed.
Chewing a single cherry pit is generally not concerning, but chewing and swallowing multiple pits can be hazardous, especially for children. Each cherry pit contains a small amount of amygdalin, which can be converted into cyanide; chewing and swallowing several pits can increase the risk of cyanide poisoning. It’s important to watch for symptoms of cyanide toxicity, such as headache, confusion, dizziness, gastritis, vomiting, and severe anxiety.
Cherry pits can’t be digested
Experts at MedicineNet note that swallowing a whole cherry pit does not pose a risk of cyanide toxicity. This is because cherry pits are indigestible, meaning they pass through your body without being broken down. Unlike the fleshy part of the fruit, cherry pits remain intact as they travel through the digestive system.
They stay whole as they move through the esophagus and gastrointestinal tract and usually exit the body naturally. It is only when the pits are crushed or chewed that they pose a health risk. Although swallowing a cherry pit can be a choking hazard, it will not harm you or increase your risk of cyanide poisoning—it will simply pass through your system.
What to do if you’ve swallowed a cherry pit
If you or your child swallows a whole cherry pit, there’s no need to panic. Unless choking occurs, swallowing a whole cherry pit or two is generally harmless (via Healthline). However, if the pit is bruised, cracked, crushed, or chewed before swallowing, the amygdalin can be released and converted into cyanide in the body. Still, a significant number of chewed cherry pits would need to be ingested to pose a serious health risk.
For instance, red cherry pits contain 3.9 milligrams of amygdalin per gram of fruit. Depending on the type of pit consumed, this can yield between 0.01 and 1.1 milligrams of hydrogen cyanide in the body. Cyanide toxicity risks arise when 0.2 to 1.6 milligrams of hydrogen cyanide per pound of body weight is present. Using the red cherry pit as an example, chewing and swallowing seven to nine pits could be harmful. This threshold is lower for children. If your child has chewed and swallowed multiple cherry pits and shows symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
How to prevent cherry pits from being swallowed
To prevent cherry pits from being chewed or swallowed, it’s essential to keep them out of reach, according to experts at LiveStrong. You can achieve this by using a tool to remove the pits before giving cherries to children. If they’re old enough, teach them to spit out the pits while eating cherries.
Regardless of age, it’s always best to spit out the pits when enjoying cherries. Accidentally swallowing one isn’t a major concern, but avoiding it is wise. Remember to do this even when using cherries in recipes, such as smoothies or cherry pies.
