What is the difference between poisonous lamb's quarters and lamb's quarters? Teach you how to tell them apart

Spring is the season for picking wild vegetables, and many people go out to dig wild vegetables. Lamb's quarters (Chenopodium album) is a wild vegetable with health benefits. However, not all lamb's quarters can be eaten, so you must pay attention to the difference between poisonous lamb's quarters and lamb's quarters.

1. The difference between poisonous lamb's quarters and lamb's quarters

The underside of poisonous lamb's quarters is purple, while the new shoots at the top of lamb's quarters are purple, and the underside of the leaves is also purple. If poisonous lamb's quarters is eaten by mistake, it will cause poisoning.

2. Will eating lamb's quarters cause poisoning?

Eating lamb's quarters will not cause poisoning, but lamb's quarters is a wild vegetable rich in photosensitizing substances. After people eat lamb's quarters or their skin comes into contact with the juice of lamb's quarters, if they are exposed to the sun, it will cause photodermatitis.

Pictures of lamb's quarters that cannot be eaten The difference between poisonous lamb's quarters and lamb's quarters

If you eat too much lamb's quarters at one time or eat it for a week straight, the person eating it will show signs of edema. Some people will think this is a sign of poisoning, but it actually is not. However, lamb's quarters cannot be eaten in large amounts, otherwise it will also cause physical discomfort.

Any food will produce two kinds of effects, and lamb's quarters is no exception. Lamb's quarters is a photosensitive plant containing purine substances. After eating a lot of it, combined with long periods of sun exposure, it can cause acute phototoxic inflammation, with symptoms such as red and swollen skin, stinging all over the body, and itching. Therefore, after eating lamb's quarters, you should try to avoid long periods of strong sunlight exposure.