It seems like these days you can’t scroll through your Facebook feed without seeing one of those viral recipe videos. While they’re fascinating to watch, we usually take them for what they are—thirty seconds of entertainment, before scrolling on by. But this morning, we saw one that seemed a bit more unusual than the “BBQ pinwheels” and “Cheese-Stuffed Chicken Nuggets” we frequently encounter. The video in question? “How to Eat an Avocado Seed” posted by food blogger Sophie from Nourish Me Whole, who claims that the seed is actually the most nutritious part of the avocado.
(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3”; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));Please read the DISCLAIMER posted on my Facebook page before attempting this – thank you!! ? xxDid you know that the seed of an avocado is the most nutrient-dense part of the fruit? We should be eating it, not throwing it away! Here’s a little video to show you how it can be done (and this blog post! – http://www.nourishmewhole.com/how-to-eat-an-avocado-seed) x
Posted by Nourish Me Whole on Sunday, March 13, 2016
In the video, Sophie is shown removing the pit from the avocado, dehydrating it for 2 hours, removing the outer skin and then cutting and pulverizing the rest of the seed for mixing into smoothies or baked goods. According to the video, the avocado seeds provide “a boost of antioxidants, fiber and gut-healing nutrients.”
Since being published just a few days ago, the video has already amassed almost 26 million views.
We’re willing to bet that at least some of those 26 million viewers are curious if this is legit. After all, we practically live in the age of avocado on everything—how could we just be finding out that we might’ve been eating it all wrong this whole time? To get the straight answer, we turned to certified nutritionist Kimberly Snyder to get the real deal.
“Some studies claim the pit has antioxidants, including some research from a 2004 study in the Journal of Food Chemistry, claiming the avocado pits are rich in antioxidants, soluble fiber, and helpful in controlling cholesterol,” Snyder says. There is also an NIH study that cites similar health benefits.
However, the amount of research on this is limited—and mixed, which makes whether or not humans should eat the seed still a controversial issue. The California Avocado Commission, for example, does not recommend eating of the pit, saying that “the seed of an avocado contains elements that are not intended for human consumption.”
“If you do want to partake, be sure to use a high powered blender, such as the Vitamix, to really break down the fibrous pit efficiently,” Snyder recommends.
But if you’d rather not be getting your health info from Internet videos, Snyder says—“Remember that adding dark leafy greens to your smoothies will supply you with large amounts of fiber and antioxidants—without the controversy.”
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