BITTER APRICOT KERNALS
FULL OF VITAMIN B17

Taken from: GRAPEVINE SPRING/SUMMER 2006 Julian Graves
Original Link PDF


In response to customer demand, Julian Graves is now stocking bitter apricot kernels - full of vitamin B17, or laetrile as it is also known.

Many people, particularly those into alternative medicine, believe that eating up to five or six kernels a day may offer significant health benefits, including helping protect the immune system.

Chief executive Nick Shutts said the kernels, the seeds of the apricot fruit, are one of the highest sources of vitamin B17. “But the kernels have a bitter aftertaste and can be toxic if eaten in large amounts.

“However as more data becomes available - particularly on the internet - about vitamin B17, people are willing to accept the bitter taste in the belief these kernels may help maintain their health.

“As a responsible retailer, we cannot make any claims about the product’s ‘alleged’ benefits and to date, no scientific research has been carried out into these benefits.

“But it’s interesting to note that cultures such as the Navajo Indians and the Hunzas have always eaten seed kernels high in vitamin B17 and seem to live long and disease free lives.

Bitter Apricot Kernels, 250g for £6.99, are in all Julian Graves stores, via mail order or online at http://www.juliangraves.co.uk. For a mail order catalogue call 0845 602 4816 or email snacks@juliangraves.co.uk

---------

Desire to live a longer life led to apricot kernels

Julian Graves customer David Snelling is determined to live as long as his 91-year-old mum - and believes eating bitter apricot kernels may help.

His father died of cancer of the pancreas at 62 and David suffered a stroke some years ago which led him to change his diet to include more natural foods like nuts, seeds, dried fruit and green tea.

David, 62 a retired financial adviser, from Ivybridge in Devon, said: “I would love to live to be my mother’s age so I started to look into the benefits of foods such as almonds, walnuts and brazil nuts.

“While on the internet I discovered vitamin B17, or laetrile, which is found in apricot kernels so I thought I would give them a go.

“I eat a maximum of six kernels a day and it does give me the feeling I am going in the right direction.

“As they have rather a tart almond flavour, I usually take them with dark chocolate or poach them with fruit to make a crumble.

“They also go down well with green tea”.

David, who runs a website to raise money for cancer charities (http://www.operationhenry.com), buys the kernels at Julian Graves in Totnes, Devon.

“It’s fantastic that they are readily available off the shelves - and I would recommend them to anyone”.