Although pine nuts are nutritious and have a number of health benefits, they are not suitable for everyone.

Pine nuts are considered tree nuts and are dangerous for people with tree nut allergies. Allergy to pine nuts can cause life-threatening symptoms, including swelling of the tongue and throat and difficulty breathing. If you have a tree nut allergy, it is important to stay away from all tree nuts.

It is also important to keep in mind that pine nuts are high in calories. While this makes them a great choice for a quick, hearty snack, it’s important not to overdo it when you’re eating pine nuts or any other nut. Consuming too many calories from any source, regardless of whether they are nutritious, can cause weight gain. Eating a handful of nuts is a smart way to control your portion size.

Finally, eating pine nuts can cause a condition called “pine mouth,” or Pine nut syndrome (PNS)15. PNS is a rare taste disorder that causes a person to develop a bitter, metallic taste in the mouth 12 to 48 hours after eating pine nuts. This bitter taste usually gets worse after eating other foods and can last up to four weeks. Although PNS is strange, it is not dangerous, and symptoms usually go away on their own after a few days.