If you’ve ever been told that swallowing a fruit seed could land you in the hospital with appendicitis, you’re not alone. This myth has been circulating for generations. But is there any truth to it?The appendix is a small, finger-like pouch attached to the large intestine. For years, it was considered a vestigial organ—something leftover from our evolutionary past with no real purpose. However, recent research suggests it might play a role in maintaining gut health by serving as a reservoir for beneficial bacteria. So, while it’s not essential for survival, it does seem to have some function in our digestive system.The belief that swallowing fruit seeds leads to appendicitis likely stems from a combination of anecdotal stories and misunderstandings of how the digestive system works. Seeds are indigestible, and it’s easy to imagine them causing blockages. However, the reality is more nuanced.
Several studies have examined the relationship between fruit seeds and appendicitis
One study published in 2011 in the Asia Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, “Fruit seed was found in one case (0.05%) with presence of pus in appendix lumen, undigested plant residuals in 7 cases (0.35%). It was determined that there were appendix inflammation in 2 of the plant residuals cases, while there were obstruction and lymphoid hyperplasia in the appendix lumen of 5 cases. No mortality was observed.” “Among 1969 cases diagnosed as acute appendicitis that underwent appendectomy between 2002 and 2009, 8 cases with presence of undigested plant residuals and fruit seeds were studied (0.4%, 8/1 969) with female/male ratio of 7/1. Their average age was 39 and all showed similar main complaints and examination findings as other acute appendicitisThese numbers suggest that while it’s possible for seeds to contribute to appendicitis, it’s exceedingly rare. “The ratio of acute appendicitis caused by plants is minimal among all appendectomised patients, but avoidence of eating undigested fruit seeds and chewing plants well may help to prevent appendicitis,” says the study published in 2011.Appendicitis is most commonly caused by a blockage in the appendix, which can result from Fecaliths or hardened stool that obstructs the appendix; infections or bacterial or viral infections can cause inflammation and trauma or injury to the abdomen can lead to appendicitis.
Fruit seeds that are difficult to digest
Some fruit seeds are notoriously tough to digest. Take guava seeds for example — they’re tiny, rock-hard, and if you’ve ever crunched down on one by accident, you know they’re not going down easy. Same goes for pomegranate seeds — while the juicy bits around them are delicious, that inner seed is fibrous and can be tough on sensitive stomachs, especially if you’re eating a lot of them.Then there’s watermelon seeds — people used to think they’d sprout vines in your stomach (total myth, by the way), but they are hard to break down unless you chew them well. Swallowed whole, they’ll usually just pass through your system like a bored tourist.Cherry, apricot, peach, and plum pits are another story — they’re not just hard to digest, they’re downright dangerous if cracked open, because they contain amygdalin, which can turn into cyanide in the body. Don’t eat those, obviously. Your body’s pretty good at handling most seeds in small amounts, but go easy on the really tough ones unless you’re planning to chew like a champion or let nature carry them out the old-fashioned way.
Shocking reasons of appendicitis
A study published in 2013 in the journal World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery founds that several ingested foreign bodies can affect the appendix. “Despite the fact that cases of foreign-body-induced appendicitis have been documented, sharp and pointed objects are more likely to cause perforations and abscesses, and present more rapidly after ingestion. Various materials, such as needles and drill bits, as well as organic matter, such as seeds, have been implicated as causes of acute appendicitis. Clinical presentation can vary from hours to years. Blunt foreign bodies are more likely to remain dormant for longer periods and cause appendicitis through obstruction of the appendiceal lumen,” the researchers have said.
Debunking the biggest myth: Can appendicitis cause appendix cancer ?
Not really—but let’s unpack it.Appendicitis and appendix cancer are two totally different things, even though they both involve the same tiny organ. Appendicitis is when the appendix gets inflamed, usually because it’s blocked by something like hardened stool or (very rarely) a seed. It’s painful and needs quick treatment, usually with surgery. But it’s not cancer, and it doesn’t turn into cancer.Now, here’s where it gets a little interesting: Sometimes, people go in for surgery thinking they have regular appendicitis, but when doctors examine the removed appendix, they find a tumor. So in that sense, appendicitis can lead to the discovery of appendix cancer—but it doesn’t cause it.Appendix cancer is super rare and often doesn’t cause symptoms until it’s advanced. There are different types, like carcinoid tumors and mucinous adenocarcinoma, and they tend to be found incidentally—like during an appendectomy.So no, having appendicitis won’t make your appendix turn cancerous. But it might accidentally help doctors catch a hidden cancer early.
