John Myers
Avocado seed powder is not harmless. What is to be considered with the so-called “healthy waste product”?
The essentials in brief:
- Avocado seed powder is currently experiencing a total hype as a self-made superfood.
- Muscles, cholesterol level, fat burning, immune system should be positively influenced by the ingredients.
- However, avocado seed powder is a new type of food and the sale of products containing avocado seeds is not permitted in Germany.
- Due to the lack of studies, health risks cannot currently be ruled out.
What is behind the advertising for avocado seeds?
Too good for the bin – loosely based on this slogan, the ultimate recommendation to use the avocado seed has been circulating in the lifestyle media for some time. As a finely ground powder, the avocado kernel should be stirred into muesli, smoothie or salad dressing. And of course the first powders are already available as dietary supplements.
The list of supposedly health-promoting properties is long. The powder is said to have an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect. The amino acids, carotenoids or bitter substances contained should be able to prevent cardiovascular diseases, strengthen the immune system, boost fat burning, help with muscle and joint pain, prevent thyroid disorders and epilepsy and of course inhibit cancer.
However, research on this is still in its infancy. The few available studies that have been carried out with extracts (not with seed powder) in the test tube or on animals and found antioxidant effects do not provide any evidence of the advertised health-promoting properties in humans. And possible health risks from consuming the powdered avocado seed can be based on cannot be ruled out due to a lack of data.
According to the current status, products containing avocado seeds fall under the Novel Food Regulation as novel foods. According to this, products that were not consumed to any significant extent before May 15, 1997 may not be sold in the EU before they have been tested and approved. Any disease-related advertising statement (see above) is also prohibited.
Avocado seeds and powder made from them should not be used!
In the opinion of the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, the information available on avocado seeds and powder made from them, in particular on the ingredients of the core, is not sufficient to assess any health risks that could emanate from this product.
We therefore advise against consuming home-made avocado seed products – whether as a powder or tea infusion. The sale of food supplements containing avocado seeds is not permitted in Europe.
- In our opinion, the avocado seed is the most suitable for growing a new plant, even if you can’t harvest your own avocados with it.
- Overall, the ecological balance of avocados is relatively poor, so you should eat them rather seldom.
Which ingredients are contained in the avocado core?
Some smaller studies on the ingredients of the avocado core report a relatively high proportion of dietary fiber and little fat, which is certainly interesting from a nutritional point of view. Furthermore, phytosterols, the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin and secondary plant substances are mentioned. However, the information in the various studies differs and a conclusive assessment cannot be made.
The bitter substance “persin” found in the avocado plant (also in the core) is considered harmless to humans in small quantities, while it is poisonous to almost all pets. To what extent the amount of persin contained in the core is also harmless has not yet been investigated. In Mexico, the finely chopped kernel – mixed with cheese and lard – is used as a mouse poison.
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