Lupine seeds are healthy and delicious. But be careful! Not all lupins are suitable for consumption - many are even poisonous.
Lupins (Lupinus) are now considered the regional, vegetable protein source par excellence. Because in contrast to soy, lupins also grow here. That is why you can find more and more products made on the basis of lupine on the shelves of many health food stores. But that doesn't mean that every lupine seed can be safely eaten. The original species are all poisonous.
contents
- Lupine seeds: protein-rich super seeds
- Poisonous wild lupine
- Non-toxic sweet lupins: breeding makes the difference
Lupine seeds: protein-rich super seeds
Lupins are full of valuable vegetable protein. With around 40% they are the Soybean In no way - in contrast to soy, they can also be grown regionally. The protein-rich seeds are now processed into a wide range of products that will make the hearts of lovers of healthy and regional nutrition beat faster. Here you will find a selection of
Lupine productsthat will convince you of the diversity of these super seeds.
Poisonous wild lupine
Originally the seeds and, to a small extent, the leaves of the lupine also contain poisonous alkaloids, lupinine and sparteine. These bitter substances have a toxic effect on humans. Fortunately, the seeds are usually spit out immediately because of their bitter taste, which is why there is usually only very slight poisoning. In contrast, animals are much more likely to be poisoned. Large animals such as cows, horses, goats and pigs, but also cats, dogs, rodents and birds are at risk. The alkaloids, however, are tolerated by wild animals. Cooking the lupine seeds also makes them inedible. The seeds have to be soaked in salt water for at least 14 days before the bitter substances are flushed out.
Poisonous wild lupins: symptoms of poisoning
The following symptoms of poisoning must be expected from the consumption of about one untreated pod:
- Racing heart
- Motor disorders
- Dry mouth
- dizziness
- confusion
- nausea
In severe cases, cardiac arrest and respiratory paralysis can result. In animals, too, there are typical symptoms of poisoning such as:
- Shortness of breath
- Stomach and intestinal discomfort
- salivation
- Restlessness
- Tremble
Feeding lupins to calves and cows can lead to skeletal malformations.
Poisonous wild lupins: first aid in case of poisoning
After consuming it, it is important to drink plenty of fluids in the form of water. This dilutes the toxins. It is also advisable to consult a doctor. This prescribes detoxification and charcoal in the case of less poisoning. Parents of small children in particular should always have charcoal tablets in their home pharmacy, because every moment counts in the event of poisoning. In the event of more severe symptoms of intoxication, an emergency doctor must be called immediately. Animals showing symptoms of intoxication are taken to the veterinarian. Even if you are not happy about veterinary bills, you should not think long about whether the visit is really necessary. After all, this is about a family member.
Non-toxic sweet lupins: breeding makes the difference
The lupine products that are offered in stores are based on the seeds of so-called sweet lupins. They were bred in the 1930s and, in contrast to wild or garden lupins, are not poisonous or barely poisonous because the poisonous alkaloids were bred out. This considerably shortens the time that has to be put into preparing the seeds. In addition, the lupins can be used directly as animal feed and thus offer an alternative to the imported soy.
Things to know about harvesting and using Lupine seeds you can find out in our special article.