Wait A Minute…Before You Eat That Avocado Seed

Have you seen the articles floating around on how to eat an avocado seed and the health benefits of doing so? If you’re on Facebook, chances are you’ve seen these shared quite a few times. As I read the articles, watched the various videos, I kept waiting to see where the information came from, who had done the research, what studies had been done? Was it true and should I start eating them instead of tossing them in the trash?

A particular video that comes to mind, which shows how to dry the avocado seed, chop it, and then blend it to a powder-like substance which you can add to smoothies or baked goods, has had over 25 million views. It’s made by someone who read an article and decided to experiment, not knowing at the time it would go viral. She does state she is not a nutritionist, chef, or biologist and was a bit surprised the video went viral like it did. What surprises me, or perhaps it really doesn’t, is how quickly “information” (whether it’s true or not) is shared as “fact” and how easily others tend to believe it just because they read it or watched it on the internet.

*Not blaming the person who made the video, but it would be like if I boiled tree twigs, drank it, and told people it could cure the common cold without any facts, and everyone started drinking it.

WHY EAT AN AVOCADO SEED?

The articles I’ve been researching claim that the seed is the most nutrient-dense part of the fruit and can be consumed as a remedy for everything from arthritis to cancer. Three of the top articles cited in various articles  included a couple of nutrition sites that referred to a “Pennsylvania State University study” (without any links to actual research) and a nutritionist who also happens to sell avocado seed extract products.

Now I appreciate natural health remedies, have written many articles on this topic, along with natural ways to clean and garden, which can be beneficial, inexpensive, and help reduce excess waste. But is it safe?

RESEARCH SHOWS…

Avocados themselves are good for you. The fruit is loaded with healthy fats, antioxidants, fiber, and potassium. And while there is some research about beneficial compounds in the seed, the safety of ingesting it hasn’t been established so the risks versus benefits aren’t fully known.

With the limited research that has been done, scientists concluded that additional research needs to be done to determine whether it’s safe to eat the seed. And the existing studies have mostly focused on potential benefits of avocado seed extracts, rather than the consumption of the seed itself.

TO EAT OR NOT TO?

I didn’t find any studies that showed eating the seed would hurt you but neither did I find any that proved it could help fight cancer or cure any specific diseases. Bottom line, it has not been proven to be safe or effective. And in fact, the California Avocado Commission writes on its website that it does NOT recommend the consumption of the avocado pit. “The seed of an avocado contains elements that are not intended for human consumption.”

http://www.californiaavocado.com/blog/march-2016/is-it-safe-to-eat-the-avocado-seed

BOTTOM LINE…

As always, if you have an underlying illness or disease or are on medications, you should ALWAYS check with your doctor before changing your diet.

And do your research! One of the websites, which I won’t name, that came out touting the miracle benefits of eating the avocado seed, also printed an article stating it was dangerous to cook eggs in the microwave and then a week later, had an article showing you how to cook eggs in the microwave. What?

The bottom line…why eat something if you don’t know it’s safe? There are plenty of healthy, nutritional foods you can choose from without going to all the trouble of drying, chopping, and blending a big old avocado seed.

If you have tried eating an avocado seed, have research information or thoughts on this subject, we’d love to hear from you.