Bracken Ferns: How Toxic to Grazing Farm Animals?
Some health-conscious individuals say they want to eat "natural" foods, they don't wish to consume "chemicals". While we understand what they mean, the truth of the matter is, everything natural is constructed of molecules, and all molecules, ultimately, can be called chemicals. Human Foods Containing Toxins While humans eat many plants consisting of chemicals, not all plants are edible. Or if they are edible, it may not be without processing. For instance, cashews are "related" to poison ivy, Toxicodendron radicans. The "nut" within the shell contains a limited amount of the toxic urushiol, and is usually roasted to destroy the irritant. Consuming unroasted cashews can produce an itching rash. In rare cases, even death can result. Another example is the American pokeweed or "poke sallat", the young leaves of the…