Pity the avocado eater

If you’re like most people, you slice your avocados in half lengthwise, dislodge the pit and discard it along with the skin. You’ve probably never even given the pit a second thought – besides determining the least cumbersome way to remove it.

But as The Takeout reports, there are a growing number of people who deem the seed an antioxidant bomb much too valuable to be discarded. Instead of tossing it, they dehydrate the pit in a low-temperature oven, pulverize it using a blender or mallet, and then add the resulting powder to smoothies, tea, baked goods and more.

While avocado flesh is widely valued for its hearthealthy fats and high nutrient value – it contains roughly 20 vitamins and minerals and more potassium than a banana – eating the pit is controversial. Proponents such as One Green Planet claim that the seed “holds 70 per cent of the avocado’s antioxidants” and “more soluble fibre than even top tier fibre providers.” Its oil content prevents wrinkles and makes hair more luminous, advocates say.

Back in 2016, the California Avocado Commission refused to recommend it. While there have been studies examining the effects of avocado seed extracts, the Commission wrote, “the fact is there is not enough research to support consuming an avocado seed. The purported health benefits and risks of avocado seed intake are poorly characterized.”