Are Lupins Poisonous? What you should know

Lupins contain poisonous substances, which, however, can be rendered harmless with the right processing. Here’s what to look for with lupins in food.

Lupins are a type of plant that originally comes from Mexico, but grows in many gardens here. The name “Lupine” comes from the Latin term for “wolf”, which is why we also know it as the wolf bean. They belong to the legume family, just like Chickpeas and peanuts. The lupins are also known as “domestic soy“Because, like soybeans, they can be processed into vegan milk and coffee.

Lupins are very nutritious and even serve as a meat substitute. They include, among other things:

• Proteins (40 percent)
• Fiber
• Minerals like calcium

Another advantage: you can use the lupins Lupine flour that is entirely gluten-free.

The legumes, however, are not entirely harmless: Depending on the variety, lupins can contain various poisons. We explain to you what you should look for when buying lupine products and why the seeds of typical garden lupins are not edible.

Lupins and their dangerous poisons

The seeds of blue sweet lupins are mainly used for food processing. These are a cultivated variant of the plant that, unlike wild lupins, no longer contains any poisonous bitter substances. These so-called Alkaloids often lead to in animals such as sheep, cattle or horses Deformation of the skeleton. In humans, the toxic substances can cause dizziness, palpitations, nausea, dry mouth, loss of motor control and, if the dose is too high, even cardiac arrest and respiratory paralysis.

When buying lupine products, you should make sure that they only contain “sweet lupins” or “debittered bitter lupine seeds”. Between 2010 and 2016, the Federal Office for Risk Assessment (BfR) 30 cases of lupine poisoning of varying degrees of severity reported. Especially when buying unprocessed seeds, it is usually not clear where they come from and what type it is. In addition, the risk of poisoning is even higher with them than with already processed foods. That is why the BfR advises that when purchasing a product, make sure that it is safe.

Debittered lupins also contain other harmful toxins such as Lectins. Lectins are protein compounds that are present in most Legumes available. They make the red blood cells clump together, which affects the transport of oxygen in the body. Lectins can be loud Quarks however, destroy them by soaking, boiling and further processing. Lupins are poisonous raw, but you can eat them cooked.

Another concern of the BfR is that lupins allergic reaction can trigger. In particular come Cross allergies with other legumes such as soybeans or Peanuts in front. This is why you should stay away from lupins if you are allergic to certain legumes.

Read more on Techzle.com:

• Lupine Recipes: These 3 dishes are based on lupine
• “Lupine milk”: few people know this regional milk substitute
• The lupine: regional soy alternative and meat substitute