- Nutritionists generally advise to avoid sugary, processed items in favor of healthy whole foods like fruits, nuts, and whole grains.
- But even a few traditionally "healthy" foods and drinks can have negative side effects when consumed in excess.
- We rounded up a few nutritious items that have been found to contain certain toxins or cancer-causing properties.
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We've all been told that swapping starchy potatoes for a plate of green beans is good for our bodies. But not all nutritionist-recommended food and drink is unequivocally healthy.
A few of the "healthy" foods you've been told to eat, including spices, nuts, fruits and veggies, and even nutritional supplements, could actually have negative side effects when consumed in excess. But that doesn't mean you should stop eating them.
Read more: The top foods nutritionists swear by to be your healthiest self - and 2 they'll never touch
One of the general principles of toxicology is that the dose makes the poison. We can get sick when we're exposed to chemicals in extremely high amounts, but it's usually difficult to consume so many servings of a single food that we see negative health effects.
That said, scientists are constantly learning more about the relationship between food and our bodies. Here are a few foods and drinks that have been found to contain certain toxins or cancer-causing properties, as well as a few that may lead to higher risk of bleeding or liver damage.