Autumn is the season when ginkgo leaves turn yellow and ginkgo fruits ripen. Faced with fallen ginkgo fruits, many people believe that they are nutritious and can be used as medicine, so they pick them up and make their own ginkgo fruits. However, professionals remind that it is not recommended for people to pick up ginkgo fruits on the roadside for consumption, as untreated ginkgo fruits may cause poisoning. These parts of ginkgo are all poisonous. Ginkgo fruit, also known as "white fruit". The Compendium of Materia Medica records that "cooked food warms the lungs and nourishes qi, relieves wheezing and cough, reduces constipation, and stops white turbidity", which has health benefits. However, untreated ginkgo fruits contain a high amount of ginkgolic acid, which has clear allergenicity, cytotoxicity, and immunotoxicity. In addition, nuts and embryos also contain cyanide (a highly toxic substance) and alkaloids like toxins. The seed coat and fruit pulp contain allergenic ingredients. If the juice comes into contact with the hands during peeling, it can easily cause contact dermatitis, ranging from mild redness and itching of the hands to blisters and stinging in severe cases. Ruan Guangfeng, Deputy Director of Kexin Food and Health Information Exchange Center, introduced that once poisoned, patients often experience symptoms such as irritability, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc. In severe cases, they may fall into coma, convulsions, and even endanger their lives due to breathing difficulties. In addition, not only are ginkgo fruits toxic, but ginkgo leaves and bark also contain a large amount of ginkgolic acid, which should not be consumed casually. Why do ginkgo fruits have a bad smell? Although ginkgo is beautiful, there are also many people who cannot tolerate the smell emitted by ginkgo fruits. Liao Yi, a senior engineer at Chengdu Botanical Garden, introduced that ginkgo, like humans, has a "gender" distinction. Ginkgo is a dioecious plant, and only female plants bear fruit. Some fallen ginkgo fruits have a strong odor due to the layer of clothing on the outside of the fruit. The seed coat of ginkgo contains a chemical substance called butyric acid, so after being kneaded, it will emit a foul odor of fat spoilage or fruit decay. For the odor emitted by ginkgo fruits, ordinary people may find it unpleasant, but for animals such as squirrels, a strong odor is beneficial for foraging, which can also help ginkgo spread seeds. Three suggestions to remember when eating fruits safely: When you see cases of poisoning, many people may think that ginkgo nuts should not be touched at all, but in fact, after proper handling, ginkgo nuts can also be consumed in moderation as a type of nut. Firstly, ginkgo fruits must not be eaten raw. Toxic parts should be removed according to regulations, and toxicity should be reduced through heating, steaming, frying, and other methods. Secondly, remove the outer seed coat, middle seed coat (fruit shell), and inner seed coat (coat) of Ginkgo biloba fruit, and extract the embryo, which contains high levels of toxic components. Thirdly, the toxic components in ginkgo fruits often have a "heat sensitive" characteristic. High temperature heating can remove the vast majority of toxins, greatly reducing the risk. Cooking can be done through steaming, boiling, stewing, or stir frying, such as boiling water for 10 minutes and then stir frying or other cooking methods. It is recommended to purchase even boiled ginkgo fruits through formal channels and not eat too many. Adults can eat 10-15 at a time. Children, the elderly, and other people with weaker digestive and metabolic abilities should reduce their consumption to avoid increasing physical burden. Pregnant women and infants are not recommended to consume. In addition, try not to pick up ginkgo fruits and leaves on the ground for consumption, as ginkgo fruits and leaves on landscaping have not undergone edible standard testing. At the same time, for the sake of landscape effect, some drugs may also be sprayed for pest control. It is recommended to purchase ginkgo biloba from the market. Ruan Guangfeng also emphasized that ginkgo fruit is just an ordinary nut, like walnuts, pine nuts, and almonds, it contains vitamins, minerals, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which can supplement nutrition for the body. However, it does not have special effects such as "beauty and skincare" or "prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases" that have been circulating online, so it is recommended to try it in moderation. Can we eat the crabapple fruits on the roadside? In autumn, we often see small apple like fruits on the crabapple trees on the roadside. Some people can't help but wonder if these fruits can be eaten? Haitang is a common name for plants in the Rosaceae family, including Haitang Flower, Xifu Haitang, Chusi Haitang, Hubei Haitang, and Shanjingzi. The common crabapple fruit looks very similar to an apple. Since it is the brother of an apple, the fruit can certainly be eaten. But we also find that fresh crabapple fruits are rarely sold on the market because most crabapple fruits have a strong astringency, making them suitable for processing into canned food. After being heavily soaked in sugar water, there is still a slight taste of apples. Different types of crabapples can contribute some fruit, but only the larger ones have edible value. Although the crabapple fruits on the roadside also have some edible value, considering the various pesticides used in greening and maintenance work, as well as pollution factors such as car exhaust, it is best not to taste these roadside fruits. It is also best not to touch these wild fruits. 1. Horse chestnut and seven leaf trees, due to their beautiful tree shape, have been introduced and planted in some cities to enrich the variety of roadside trees. From the end of September to November each year, the fruit of the seven leaved tree, the chestnut, gradually ripens. Although it looks like a chestnut, the chestnut contains saponins that cannot be degraded by the human body. Eating it raw or mishandling it can be life-threatening. Chestnuts and chestnuts can be distinguished by their shells: the spines on the chestnut shell are dense and long, while the spines on the chestnut shell are sparse and bald. 2. Mulberry fruit is similar to mulberries and has strong deceptive properties. Mulberry fruit poisoning usually occurs 30 minutes to 3 hours after consumption. Mild cases may present with dizziness, fatigue, pale complexion, sweating, and drooling, but with clear consciousness and no convulsions. Severe patients present with confusion, drowsiness, dilated or narrowed pupils, repeated convulsions, and purple red lips during convulsions. Especially critically ill patients may experience coma, respiratory failure, and even death. 3. Snake berry fruit pulp contains a certain degree of toxicity, and consuming a small amount will not cause discomfort to the body. If consumed in excess, it can easily lead to food poisoning, manifested as dizziness, vomiting, or diarrhea. 4. Nantianzhu has bright fruits that resemble red beans strung together, but the entire plant is poisonous. The symptoms of poisoning include excitement, irregular and rapid pulse, as well as decreased blood pressure, muscle spasms, respiratory paralysis, and coma. According to the "Analysis of Monitoring Data on Toxic Wild Fruit Poisoning Events in China from 2010 to 2020" published by the Chinese Journal of Food and Health in June 2023, Tie Shu Guo, which began to bear fruit in autumn, ranks second in the number of reported poisoning events, only behind Ma Sang Guo. Iron trees are commonly found in parks, residential areas, and green belts in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai. As a traditional Chinese medicine, the fruit of iron trees can have anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, cough suppressant, and expectorant effects when used in small amounts. However, ingestion can lead to poisoning and symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting, and abdominal pain. (New Society)