Does Avocados Seed Have Any Health Benefits?
Last updated on June 29th, 2023 at 03:53 pm
10 minutes read.
Avocados fruits are one of the popular healthy fruit around the world due to their numerous health benefits.
Each time you eat one avocado you toss away one avocado seed. Do you know that avocado seeds could benefit you in so many ways?
Don’t toss that seed again, am going to show you in this article how avocado seed could benefit your health.
Although most of the research that has been carried out on avocado seed are based only on animals, not human the studies reported that they provide amazing antioxidants and potential health benefits.
In this article:
More on Avocado Seed
An avocado seed is within the large, hard shell beneath the flesh of the fruit. Normally the outer flesh is edible and the seed is seen as waste.
As regards the human benefits of eating avocado seed, there’s a mixed recommendation on this. The California Avocado Commission specifically states that there is not enough evidence to know just how good the avocado seed is for you.
Basically, they recommended avoiding avocado seed for now and suggest that it’s better to stick with the amazing nutrition found in the avocado flesh.
On the other hand, research is being conducted, and some indicate that it may be a healthy alternative to consume and use with cosmetics.
The avocado industry has been going strong for decades, but the avocado seed seems to be a newer discovery. That is why there isn’t much research on them especially on the side of humans.
However, the animal studies so far have shown potential health benefits for you. Interestingly, they have been used by some people to treat some kind of health issues.
For instant, when the seed is cut in pieces, roasted, and ground, it can be consumed to potentially help overcome issues like diarrhea and dysentery.
The powdered form of the seed may help relieve dandruff, and a piece of the seed placed into a tooth cavity may help to eliminate a toothache.
Because the milk of the avocado seed turns a bit red when exposed to air, it can be used as a topical ointment to flush the cheeks by causing expansion of the capillaries and an increase in blood circulation.
The seed contains a milky fluid similar to the odor and taste of the almond. It turns red once exposed to air due to its tannin content, but some say the liquid is not edible.
This red-brown or blackish “ink” was used to write many documents during the Spanish Conquest.(documents that are now preserved in the archives of Popayan)
The ink of the avocado seed has also been used to mark cotton and linen textiles.
Related: What’s Gingivitis (gum disease) and how can you prevent it?
Potential Health Benefits of Avocado Seed
1. May Help Balance Cholesterol Levels
The avocado seed is one of the top high-fiber foods on the planet, and we know fiber can help balance cholesterol levels. That may be why research shows avocado seeds can lower cholesterol.
One research from Penn State University’s Department of Food Science details the benefits the avocado seed has on cardiovascular health.
The researchers noted that “avocado seeds may improve hypercholesterolemia, and be useful in the treatment of hypertension, inflammatory conditions, and diabetes.
Seeds have also been found to possess insecticidal, fungicidal, and anti-microbial activities.”
Another new research (2023) at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Nigeria, published in the Journal of Current Biomedical Research reported that treatment with an aqueous extract of avocado seed (APE) caused a significant decrease in TG, LDL, of rat and total cholesterol, with a concomitant increase in HDL concentration and atherogenic index in a dose-dependent manner.
2. Works as a Natural Food Dye
Since conventional food coloring and food dyes contain chemical-based ingredients, it is best to go with natural options. You may have heard of beets being used to create a reddish color in food, for example.
Research has discovered that when crushed and blended with water, the avocado seed develops an orange color.
This is great news since so many foods, especially food for children, are loaded with toxic dyes.
Specifically, the numbered colors blues #1 and #2, green #3, red #3, and yellows #5 and #6 are synthetic or artificial colors.
These colors are made from coal tar or petroleum and can cause all sorts of problems for your health, such as allergies, asthma, hyperactivity and testosterone damage, and gut disease.
In fact, artificial food dyes have been banned in the U.K.
Related: Artificial Food Dyes: Are They Harmful to Health?
3. May Help Eliminate Microbial Growth
The residue of the seed of avocado is rich in polyphenols, making the seeds powerful antioxidants and antimicrobials.
The polyphenols are:
catechin
epicatechin
chlorogenic and protocatechuic acid
This residue has been applied to pork burgers in research. It showed the residue of the avocado seed to be effective in preventing oxidation and microbial growth.
The study published in Antioxidants mentioned above showed the effects that ground avocado has on meat.
For a period of eight days, ground beef was observed containing 0.5 percent seed powder and 0.1 percent of lyophilized extract.
Little oxidation (spoilage) occurred, meaning the protection was higher than 90 percent. Note, the study indicates that avocado oil, added directly to the pork burgers, had a similar effect.
4. Shows Promising Anti-tumor Activity
Avocado seed contains bis catechin, a condensed flavonol. One study isolated bis catechin from avocado seeds and tested it in mice and rats.
The bis-catechin was shown in vitro to have antimicrobial activity and antitumor effects on the animals.
Another study published in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine noted catechin as a flavanol that offers various health benefits, such as neuroprotection, antioxidation, antitumor and anti-hepatitis characteristics.
The flavanol shows that it is capable of suppressing inflammation in possible cancerous cells.
5. Great Antioxidant Source
The avocado seed is a great antioxidant food?
A 2018 study published in Molecules found that extracts obtained from avocado seeds are high in antioxidant power. The extracts are used to delay oil oxidation, and they have high free radical scavenging effects.
Another study published in the journal Antioxidant found that avocado seed extraction displayed excellent antioxidant results when their protective effects were tested on beef burgers.
The antioxidants present in the seed reduced meat oxidation (spoilage), as well as oil oxidation.
5. May Help Patients with Alzheimer
Alzheimer’s disease affects the brain and is considered one of the most neurodegenerative diseases on the planet.
Many studies have been conducted to review the phytochemical content of the avocado seed to see if it could be effective against such conditions.
A review published in the Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology showed evidence of saponins, alkaloids, and terpenoids in the extracts of the avocado seed.
Researchers indicated that these phytochemicals may offer a natural approach to helping manage the effects of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
They conclude “the anti-cholinesterase and antioxidant activities of avocado leaf and seed could be linked to their phytoconstituents and might be the possible mechanisms underlying their use as a cheap and natural treatment/management of AD.
However, these extracts should be further investigated in humans.
Another animal research on avocados seed at the University of Nigeria Nsukka reported similar results.
Related: How to rid of Dandruff with 10 Natural Tips?
Related: Avocados: Nutrition, Health Benefits, How to Preserve?
Pros and Cons of Avocado Seeds
| Pros | Cons |
| They are loaded with antioxidants | They are not enough scientific research on its consumption |
| High doses of them were found to be toxic in rat | Contain low levels of amygdalin which contains cyanide |
| They show promising effects on antitumor activity | High dose of them were found to be toxic in rat |
| They may help with the treatment of Alzheimer’s | The fiber content helps balance cholesterol |
| They can be used as natural food dye and preservative. |
Risks and Side Effects
Is It Safe To Eat The Avocado Seed?
The California Avocado Commission says eating the flesh is great, but the seed — not so much.
It reports that there simply is not enough research as noted in the 2013 research study by Pennsylvania State University referenced above.
The university also indicated that “the safety of the various extracts of the avocado seeds must be assessed in order to more fully estimate their usefulness
There are some animal studies suggesting that consuming avocado seed extracts or powder is safe for short-term consumption, a dose of 500 mg/kg may be toxic in rodents.
However, we need human-based evidence before knowing for sure if it’s a safe option.
The best thing to do is to avoid anything new or lacking human research, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have any health conditions. Consult with your doctor for further information.
The good news is the research is coming, and early studies indicated it has benefits and could be promising if human studies confirm this.
Related: Is it Healthy to Eat Avocados during Pregnancy?
How to Eat Avocado Seed
No research has indicated if the ripening effect of avocado fruits in any way affects the nutrients in the seed.
So whether ripe avocado seed or unripe avocado seed is better is unknown for now.
To benefit from the creamy, delicious avocado too, purchase a ripe one or one that is close to the ripening stage, and allow it to sit on the counter or in the fridge until ready.
Once you have a good avocado, wash it, and then using a knife slice around the avocado flesh and gently remove the seed. If the seed is hard to remove, kindly use the big knife to catch it and twist then remove the seed.
In order to eat the avocado seed, it needs to be ground into a powder or cut into pieces then pound or ground with a blender until powder.
You may take half a teaspoon of it and boil it in hot water for 10 minutes. Then cool and drink like tea.
Another option is to dry it out. To dry it, put it in the oven for a couple of hours at around 250 degrees.
Next, take it out of the oven, and remove the outer skin. Use an oven mitt to protect you from the heat of the avocado seed.
Now that you have dried it out, press on it with the back of a thick knife blade to split the seed in two.
Cut the seed into halves, and toss into a high-powered blender. Pulse or grind until it has reached the consistency of a powder.
You can also use a cheese grater, spice grinder, or heavy mortar and pestle. Store in a sealed container in your refrigerator.
Now that you have this nutritious powder, what do you do with it?
Since it is bitter due to the tannins it contains, using it with other ingredients, such as a banana, pineapple, and spinach, to make a smoothie may be the best way.
However, you can sprinkle it on your morning eggs or put it in soup or on a salad.
Another option is to put the powder into capsules, which can be found at health food stores, and consume as a supplement.
Recipe
Avocado Seed Power Smoothie Recipe
INGREDIENTS:
One cup of unsweetened almond milk
Half ripe avocado
One handful spinach
one tablespoon of almond butter
one tablespoon of chia seeds, soaked in 3 tablespoons of water for about 10 minutes
half a teaspoon of ground avocado seed
one scoop of vanilla or chocolate protein powder (preferably from bone broth)
one small frozen banana
ice (optional)
quarter cup water, if needed for a thinner consistency
DIRECTIONS:
Add contents into a high-powered blender, and blend until well combined.
Avocado Seeds vs. Other Seeds
While the debate is still out about whether eating ground avocado seed is a good choice, it has been compared to the extraction process of the phenolic compounds from strawberries, apple pulp, and the residues of chestnuts.
Apricot seeds and peach seeds contain a cyanide called amygdalin.
While it would probably take a lot to get sick, it is best to stay on the safe side when it comes to seeds or any food if especially when there is not enough data.
Conclusion
Scientific research has shown that avocado seed may be economically important as it shows great promising benefits for both internal and external use.
However, the research data available are not enough yet to conclude its benefit. More human research is needed.
Interestingly, the avocado seed has some researched benefits, including promising antitumor activity, a great antioxidant source, may help patients with Alzheimer’s, balancing cholesterol levels, natural food dye, and antimicrobial effects.
Currently, research on avocado seeds is still on.
If you decide to eat avocado make sure is on purpose after the desired goal has been achieved it should be discontinued as a high dose was found to be toxic in the rat.
Consult with your doctor if you are on any medication, breastfeeding, or pregnant before taking avocado seed in any form as it may interact with your medication.
As the human research on the benefit of avocado seed is still evolving take caution on eating avocado seed until scientists find enough evidence and the different purpose it should be consumed.
I hope you get the value worth your time, I appreciate the time you spend with me. Leave a comment below if you find this article helpful and don’t forget to drop your question, opinion, or criticism if any. Cheers!
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