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It is up to you whether you eat the core of your apple – though some people choose not to, fearing it may be poisonous. That’s only partly true, says Germany’s Centre for Nutrition (BZfE). Apple cores, or more specifically the seeds, contain amygdalin, a cyanide-and-sugar based molecule which is converted into hydrogen cyanide – a highly poisonous substance – by the digestive system, the BZfE explains. But the substance is only released if you bite into the seeds, and only lethal if you eat very large quantities of them. However an adult would need to eat a staggering amount of crushed seeds t…

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