Shrimp and Vitamin C Hoax Resurfaces

An old hoax is now resurfacing via Facebook lately. Honestly, it's pretty funny. But for those who have no idea, well, DUH?! It is kinda scary especially with "scientific bull added to make things convincing right"??? Anyways, the story goes:

"Please read if you eat shrimps - Very Educative:
A woman suddenly died unexpectedly with signs of bleeding from her ears, nose, mouth & eyes. After a preliminary autopsy it was diagnosed that death was due to arsenic poisoning.
Where did the arsenic come from?

The police launched an in-depth and extensive investigation. A medical school professor was invited to come to solve the case. The professor carefully looked at the contents. In less than half an hour, the mystery was solved. The professor said: 'The deceased did not commit suicide and neither was she murdered, she died of accidental death due to ignorance!'
Everyone was puzzled, why accidental death?
The professor said: 'The arsenic was produced in the stomach of the deceased.' The deceased used to take 'Vitamin C' everyday, which in itself is not a problem.
The problem was that she ate a large portion of shrimp/prawn during dinner. Eating shrimp/prawn is not the problem that's why nothing happened to her family even though they had the same shrimp/prawn. However at the same time the deceased also took 'vitamin C', that is where the problem was!

Researchers at the University of Chicago in the United States , found through experiments, food such as soft-shell contain much higher concentration of five potassium arsenic compounds.

Such fresh food by itself has no toxic effects on the human body.

However, in taking 'vitamin C', chemical reaction occurs and the original non-toxic elements change to toxic elements.

Arsenic poisoning has magma role and can cause paralysis to the small blood vessels. Therefore, a person who dies of arsenic poisoning will show signs of bleeding from the ears, nose, mouth & eyes. Thus as a precautionary measure,

DO NOT eat shrimp/prawn when taking 'vitamin C'.

After reading this; please do not be stingy. Re-share to your friends."

FACT: Shrimp does not turn into Arsenic when combined with vit.C elements. Arsenic is a basic element (see Periodic Table) and is not formed by combining any one thing with another.

FACT: This email (original post) scare originated in Taiwan in 2001. Obviously, if this was true, there would have been countless accounts of healthy-but-dead seafood lovers.

FICTION: This bunch of sh*t scaring people to not eat shrimp/prawns and take vit C at the same time.

FACT: When I was younger--and I mean, when I was a toddler, I started loving shrimps and prawns. I'd prefer it over hot dog, bacon, burger, etc. I was pretty sickly back then. I would always catch cold, get asthma, get the flu, and some other sort of viral ailments. Because of that, I have to take Vitamin C everyday. And since I love shrimps, and well, what way to ease colds is to cook soup--or in my case, SINIGANG NA HIPON. So, tell me, if that were true, how come I'm still alive 20+ years later???

FACT: Signs of Arsenic poisoning are as follows:

• Headaches
• Confusion
• Drowsiness
• Convulsion
• Fingernail pigmentation
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Blood in urine (hematuria)
• Muscle cramps
• Hair loss
• Stomach pains
• Night blindness
• Coma (or death)

FACT: If you were really dying of arsenic poisoning, you'll have seizures and go into shock before flatlining.

All I'm saying is, with our phones, laptops, and all them gadgets at the touch of our fingertips, let's check the web first and verify if these spreading rumors were true. That way, you don't have to deprive yourself of either of them.

It's not too bad to be careful. But let's first think before doing or believing on something. Who knows? It just might be a myth.