Foods Containing B17 (Nitrilosides)
Vitamin B17 appears in abundance in untamed nature. Because B17 is bitter to the taste, in man’s attempt to improve tastes and flavors for his own pleasure, he has eliminated bitter substances like B17 by selection and cross-breeding. It can be stated as a general rule that many of the foods that have been domesticated still contain the vitamin B17 in that part not eaten by modem man, such as the seeds in apricots. Listed below is an evaluation of some of the more common foods. Keep in mind that these are averages only and that specimens vary widely depending on variety, locale, soil, and climate.
| Fruits | Range* | Seeds | Range* |
| blackberry, domestic | low | apple seeds | high |
| blackberry, wild | high | apricot seed | high |
| boysenberry | med. | buckwheat | med. |
| choke cherry | high | cherry seed | high |
| wild crabapple | high | flax | med. |
| market cranberry | low | millet | med. |
| Swedish (lignon) cranberry | high | nectarine seed | high |
| currant | med. | peach seed | high |
| elderberry | med. to high | pear seeds | high |
| gooseberry. | med. | plum seed | high |
| huckleberry | med. | prune seed | high |
| loganberry | med. | squash seeds | med. |
| mulberry | med. | ||
| quince | med. | ||
| raspberry | med. |
| Beans | Range* |
| black | low |
| black-eyed peas | low |
| fava | high |
| garbanzo | low to med. |
| green pea | low |
| kidney | low to med. |
| lentils | med. |
| lima, U.S. | low |
| lima, Burma | med. |
| mung | med. to high |
| shell | low |
| Nuts (all raw) | Range* |
| bitter almond | high |
| cashew | low |
| macadamia | med. to high |
| Sprouts | Range* |
| alfalfa | med. |
| bamboo | high |
| fava | med. |
| garbanzo | med. |
| mung | med. |
| Leaves | Range* |
| alfalfa | high |
| beet tops | low |
| eucalyptus | high |
| spinach | low |
| water cress | low |
| Tubers | Range* |
| cassava | high |
| sweet potato | low |
| yams | low |
Range*
High — above 500 mgs. nitriloside per 100 grams food
Medium — above 100 mgs. per 100 grams food
Low — below 100 mgs. per 100 grams food