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Is the western brackenfern poisonous?
Although the young shoots from the western brackenfern may be a culinary delicacy in some parts of the world, the plant is still mildly toxic. The entire plant contains a number of different carcinogenic compounds and dangerously-high amounts of thiaminase - excessive, long term consumption will lead to chronic poisoning. Symptoms of a poisoning from the western brackenfern take time to appear, depending on how much of the plant has been eaten. They usually involve a vitamin B1 deficiency, meaning blindness, weight loss, and depression, as well as an increased risk of esophageal and gastric cancers. Several studies have found a link between those who consume the plant in high amounts and the rate of stomach cancers. Although the western brackenfern is eaten as a seasonal vegetable, it needs to be prepared in a specific way in order to lower toxin levels. Those who do not do this, or those who eat the plant in excess, are most at risk of being poisoned.
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Western brackenfern
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