Who does not know such wisdom from ancient times, passed down from generation to generation. But what is there to these traditions? Closer examination reveals that many of these wisdoms are only based on half-truths or even represent fallacies. “Poppies make you stupid” – There might even be a grain of truth in this saying, however. Only the term “stupid” must be interpreted somewhat more generously. From time to time, after all, it is also said “poppy makes stupid”, and “stupid” comes from “deaf”.
Small traces of opiates
Thus the connection to the poppy. The poppy, in fact, contains an anesthetic from which morphine is made. Although morphine is obtained from opium poppy, nevertheless, the edible poppy contains small traces of opiates, which can be detected even in urine. One gram of the black seed has the same pharmacological effect as 2 to 251 micrograms of morphine (1 microgram = 1 millionth of a gram).
Assuming an average morphine content per gram, a child would have to eat 4 to 8 poppy seed rolls or 200g of poppy seed cake before a measurable effect would occur. For this reason, nutritionists consider the consumption of edible poppies to be safe. Thus, a conclusion that poppy seeds make you stupid cannot be justified either.