Kidney Beans and Hamster

Kidney beans contain Phytohaemagglutinin: this is a lectin found in plants. Lectin's are proteins capable of damaging the intestinal mucosa, and is found in the highest concentrations in uncooked red kidney beans. Before they are eaten, the raw bean must be boiled for at least ten minutes to degrade the toxic compound. The lectin Phytohaemagglutinin - found in the bean would otherwise cause severe gastric upset in humans and animals. This compound is present in many varieties of beans but is especially concentrated in the red kidney bean.  Only cooking will reduce or destroy most of the poison in the bean. It is not recommended to feed them to hamsters cooked, or uncooked.

 

 

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