Can too much squash make you sick?

Vegetables like courgette and squash that have high levels of cucurbitacins won't necessarily look poisonous – making them more dangerous as you only know they could be toxic after eating them and then tasting bitterness. Symptoms of toxic squash poisoning can include: Nausea. Diarrhea.

metro.co.uk - What is toxic squash syndrome and how to safely grow courgettes

Is black beans keto friendly?

Due to their high carbohydrate content, most types of beans, such as red kidney beans, black beans, and pinto beans, should be avoided on a typical...

Last updated Dec 4, 2021

Does fiber cancel out carbs?

Healthy carbohydrates such as fruit and vegetables are usually high in fiber, while processed carbohydrates typically lack fiber. While fiber does...

Last updated Dec 26, 2021

Promotion

Gardening and growing vegetables and plants at home is a source of relaxation for all those with a green thumb, but home-grown produce isn’t always as innocent as it appears – or, at least, that is the case when it comes to rare ‘toxic courgettes’. These green squashes are perfect for griddling on the BBQ, and make for a delicious and healthy addition to any diet, so long as they are grown properly. If not, courgettes, pumpkins, melons, and other kinds of squashes can make you very ill indeed.

So what causes potentially poisonous, toxic courgettes and how can amateur gardeners avoid falling victim to the veg in the future?

What is toxic squash syndrome?

Toxic squash syndrome occurs when a person eats something from the gourd fruit and vegetable family that contains unusually high levels of cucurbitacins.

Plants in the gourd family include courgette, melon, pumpkin, squash, and cucumber.

Cucurbitacins are bitter-tasting compounds that can be poisonous to humans.

Cucurbitacins are rare because farmers tend to cultivate plants carefully so that they produce little to none of the compounds that can be toxic to humans. However, if there is an accidental cross-pollination of crops or a rogue batch of seeds used by amateur gardeners, then produce can grow that has the potential to cause illnesses when eaten. Vegetables like courgette and squash that have high levels of cucurbitacins won’t necessarily look poisonous – making them more dangerous as you only know they could be toxic after eating them and then tasting bitterness.

Symptoms of toxic squash poisoning can include:

Nausea

Diarrhea

Abdominal pain

Vomiting

Dizziness

Hair loss, in rare instances

If you eat produce that tastes bitter and then experience any of the above symptoms, you should seek medical advice. Guy Barter, chief horticulturalist of the Royal Horticultural Society, explained to Metro.co.uk: ‘Toxic squash syndrome can happen with home saved garden seed or volunteer plants that have seeded themselves and if bitterness detected the fruits should be immediately discarded, and medical attention sought if required.

What is the best diet for picky eaters?

Aiming for vegetables with mild or sweet flavors can be the best way to begin because they tend to be more acceptable to picky tastebuds....

Last updated Nov 6, 2019

Can you eat too much salmon?

Well, it is possible to consume too much salmon. Salmon is a fatty fish, and just like any other food, consuming too much of it can lead to weight...

Last updated Oct 20, 2021

Promotion

‘This is very, very rare in the commercial seed industry as seed raisers take precautions to avoid cross-pollination with gourds and other cucumber family plants that contain potentially harmful compounds. ‘Supermarket courgettes, squash etc are usually raised from hybrid seed with very little possibility for cross-pollination in the seed raising company, so commercial produce is very safe indeed.’ To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

How to safely grow courgettes at home

The Royal Horticultural Society advise that cucurbitacins are caused by a mutation within the plant and therefore anyone considering growing courgette or summer squash should be careful with what seeds they use to cultivate the plant. ‘The problem is more likely when plants are grown from saved seeds, where inadvertent cross-pollination may have occurred.’ To safely grow courgettes at home, avoid using saved seeds or plants grown from clippings of other plants. Buying seeds from a reputable brand or garden centre should be safe. The RHS advise that any plants likely affected by cucurbitacins are completely removed from your garden: ‘Affected fruit should not be eaten as it causes stomach upsets and affected plants should be removed.’