A few weeks ago, a video demonstrating how to chop and blend the seed of an avocado to mix into smoothies grabbed the attention of health conscious people as it claimed that the seed of an avocado is the most nutrient-dense part of the fruit; more than 20 million people viewed the video!
So, should you be saving and preparing those big avocado seeds/pits? Princeton Longevity Center’s Dietitians say “No! We continue to encourage people to eat avocados, but do not recommend eating the seed/pit of an avocado. There is some limited research indicating that there may be some beneficial compounds in the seed, but the safety of actually eating the seed has not been established. We feel that more research is needed to determine what, if any, benefits of eating the seed may be and if it’s safe to do so”. For now, follow the advice of The California Avocado Commission as they state on their website “The California Avocado Commission does not recommend consumption of the pit or seed of an avocado. The seed of an avocado contains elements that are not intended for human consumption”. Stick to eating just the flesh of the avocado! Here is a helpful link demonstrating how to peel an avocado.
