You’ve probably seen the video if you’ve spent any time on Facebook in the past couple of weeks.
Blogger Sophie with Nourish Me Whole posted a video on why we should be eating the seeds of the avocado — you know, those brown pits that we stab with a knife and throw away before scooping out the good stuff. Her reasons: It contains almost as many antioxidants as the whole avocado, along with plenty of fiber and skin-boosting collagen.
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“Its extremely bitter taste probably has a lot to do with that,” she wrote of why we don’t eat the seeds now, “but there’s so much benefit to be had by eating it, so it’s worth investigating how we might go about it.”
The best way to eat it is in powder form, which she explains how to do in the post.
The video has gone viral with over 26 million views, prompting us to wonder if eating avocado seeds is wise. Spoiler alert: Probably not.
The problem? She offers no research on her claims — and science hasn’t fully studied the consumption of seeds to determine their health and safety.
“I’m a huge avocado fan. I eat them daily, and recommend them to my clients, but I have reservations about eating the seeds,” Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD., told Health.com. “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.”
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The California Avocado Commission even warns against it, writing on its website that “the seed of an avocado contains elements that are not intended for human consumption.”
Sophie seems confident in her original post — and video — that there’s a whole bunch of nutritional value in those seeds. However, she backs away from the claims with an “I’m an amateur!” addendum to her post.
“I’d like to formally clarify that I’m NOT a professional nutritionist, chef or biologist. I am someone who is intensely passionate about natural health, and whenever I read about a food/idea/recipe that makes sense to me and inspires me, I share it,” she wrote.
“There is a range of research around whether or not the avocado seed should be consumed. Please ensure you read a few articles from both sides before making your decision whether or not to try it (and if you do, start slowly).”
In other words, just stick to the part of the avocado that’s proven to be healthy: the delicious green meat. And then use the seeds to grow even more delicious avocados.
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