© Shutterstock

Chocolate -

You might be familiar with the fact that chocolate is toxic for dogs. This is because it contains a substance called theobromine. Well, it turns out that this substance is also toxic for humans, though in much larger quantities.

© Shutterstock

Chocolate -

Consuming 1,000 milligrams of theobromine for each kilogram a person weighs can be fatal. For example, a man who weighs 90 kg (200 lbs) would have to consume 90,000 milligrams of theobromine. Milk chocolate has about 2.4 milligrams of this substance per gram, so this hypothetical man would need to eat about 857 chocolate bars of 44 g (1.55 oz) for the dose to be lethal.

© Shutterstock

Oranges -

Oranges are a popular source of vitamin C, and while it’s difficult to overdose on this vitamin, it is certainly possible. You would have to eat 11,000 of them at once to do so though. Or you could reach the same effect by consuming just over 800 vitamin C supplement pills.

© Shutterstock

Toothpaste -

Yes, fluoride can kill you, but don’t use it as an excuse to skip on dental health. You would have to consume around 24 tubes of 170 ml for it to happen.

© Shutterstock

Salt -

Indeed humans need salt, but too much of it can be lethal. How much of it? Between 0.5 and 1 gram (1.1 to 2.2 lbs) per kilogram of body weight. For a 90-kg (200 lbs) person, that would be somewhere between 45.5 and 90 grams (1.6 and 3.17 oz) of salt.

© Shutterstock

Salt -

Individual salt packets have around 0.75 grams (0.02 oz) of salt each. This means this hypothetical person would need to consume at least 61 packets of salt. That’s around 48 teaspoons.

© Shutterstock

Sugar -

About 13.5 grams of sugar for each pound of bodyweight in one sitting is enough to kill you. This is about 2.44 kg (5.4 lbs) of sugar in one sitting for an 80-kg (180 lbs) person.

© Shutterstock

Caffeine -

Many of us can’t live without caffeine, either in our coffee, tea, or soda. But caffeine, with all its positive effects, can also be harmful, and, in certain doses, fatal. Over 500 milligrams of caffeine per day can find you in a dangerous territory.

© Shutterstock

Caffeine -

About 687 milligrams per day is how much it takes for the risk of cardiac arrest to be high. So, how much does this mean in reality? About 71 cups of coffee, more than 250 cups of tea, or 300 cans of caffeinated soda would be fatal for a 70-kg (165 lbs) person.

© Shutterstock

Bananas -

Bananas are a great source of potassium, but overdosing on them can be fatal. To reach such levels you’d need to eat around 42 bananas as quickly as possible. We’re talking about timed eating competition speed here!

© Shutterstock

Bananas -

If you were to eat the bananas “normally,” you’d have to regularly consume over 400 bananas per day to reach a deadly level of potassium.

© Shutterstock

Alcohol -

Alcohol is consumed by millions, and many of us have experienced the symptoms of toxicity when we have had one too many. The way toxicity is calculated is through blood alcohol content, or BAC, which measures how much alcohol is in one’s blood.

© Shutterstock

Alcohol -

For instance, a BAC of 0.05% means the person has 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood. Levels above 0.3% of BAC can be potentially deadly. But it’s hard to calculate how much this is in terms of alcohol units, as there are many variables that can dictate the BAC, including the person’s weight and sex.

© Shutterstock

Water -

Lack of water will certainly kill you, but too much of it can also be fatal. Excessive water consumption can lead to an imbalance in electrolytes, more specifically low sodium levels, or hyponatremia. The kidneys won’t be able to process the excess water and cells swell, and when that swelling reaches the brain, it can be game over.

© Shutterstock

Water -

Our kidneys can process about a liter (33.8 oz) of water per hour. How much water a person needs to drink for toxicity to occur depends on a number of factors, including the person’s weight as well as things such as activity level and environmental factors. For example, in certain circumstances, six liters of water could kill a person who weighs 75 kg (165 lbs).

© Shutterstock

Acceleration -

Fast speeds are not great for the human body. G-force is a measurement unit used to determine acceleration. More than 9 g's will most likely kill you. At 14 g’s of lateral acceleration, your organs will detach from their place.

© Shutterstock

Nutmeg -

This spice contains chemical compounds that affect the central nervous system and neurotransmitters that work in a way similar to amphetamines.

© Shutterstock

Nutmeg -

About 10 grams (approximately two teaspoons) is toxic enough to cause severe symptoms, including hallucinations and convulsions. Over 50 grams of it can be fatal. It’s also worth mentioning that nutmeg can interact with some medications.

© Shutterstock

Botox -

Botox is a neurotoxic protein used for a variety of purposes, including cosmetic ones. It takes about 68 nanograms of Botox to kill you.

© Shutterstock

Botox -

Don’t worry too much though, as there is just 0.73 nanograms per 100 unit vial. On average, people get around 10 units per session.

© Shutterstock

Music -

Many of us like to listen to loud music, and indeed are exposed to it in different settings, such as at live shows or nightclubs. Just make sure you don’t blast it over 185 decibels. This is loud enough to create an embolism that can travel to your heart and kill you, or the air pressure can simply burst your lungs.

© Shutterstock

Apple seeds -

You have probably heard that apple seeds contain cyanide, which is poisonous. The question is how many seeds you’d have to consume to reach deadly levels. The answer: it depends on the type of apple.

© Shutterstock

Apple seeds -

Some apple varieties have more cyanide than others, but generally speaking you’d have to consume somewhere between 150 and 1,000 seeds to reach a lethal dose. Plus, these would have to be chewed thoroughly, not just swallowed whole.

© Shutterstock

Fruit pits -

Peaches, plums, mangos, and cherries can also cause trouble. In fact, consuming between three and nine cherry pits (of certain varieties) can lead to serious health consequences. But again, the pit would have to be chewed or somehow damaged for the toxins to be released.

© Shutterstock

Essential oils -

Essential oils are quite popular, but it turns out consuming as little as 5 milliliters can be fatal for a child. For adults, somewhere between 5 and 15 milliliters can be deadly, too. This will also depend on the essential oil one consumes.

© Shutterstock

Body temperature -

Being too hot or too cold can kill us. An internal body temperature above 40°C (104°F) can be fatal. Internal body temperatures below 35°C (95°F) will trigger hypothermia, which can also be fatal.

© Shutterstock

Altitude -

Our bodies stop acclimatizing to the limited oxygen at about 8,000 meters (26,247 feet) above sea level. This is known as the “death zone” in mountaineering. Stays over 16 to 20 hours in this zone (or sometimes less) can be deadly.

© Shutterstock

Holding your breath -

It’s safe to say that most of us have tested out how long we can hold our breath, though most of us hardly get to dangerous levels. Four minutes without oxygen can cause brain injury, and at the six-minute mark death is very likely.

© Shutterstock

Holding your breath -

This is, of course, for the average person. Free divers, for instance, train to hold their breath for much longer periods.

Sources: (Grunge) (Gizmodo) (The Irish Times)(Mind The Bleep) (AsapSCIENCE)

See also: Everyday foods you didn't know could kill you

© Shutterstock