Should You Be Eating Avocado Seeds?

Social media is buzzing with tips and videos about how to break down and munch on the part of the avocado that typically gets tossed in the trash. Are avocado seeds the next superfood? Not so fast!

Powerful Pits

The lovely green flesh of an avocado has well-established nutritional benefits. This fruit (yes, fruit) is loaded with healthy fats, antioxidants, fiber and potassium.

The hype surrounding the power of the pit has been trending over the last month but has been researched for a number of years. Nutritional folklore links avocado seeds to remedies for everything from arthritis to toothaches to dysentery, and nowadays there are rumors swirling about benefits that include fighting cancer and lowering cholesterol. It’s even been suggested that you can use the seeds to produce natural food coloring. While you can make your own seed powder or purchase it online, it has not yet been determined whether avocado seeds are truly safe for human consumption. Even the experts at the Hass Avocado Board, don’t recommend eating the seeds — you should listen to them!

Bottom Line: Stick to the guac and pass on the pits for now!

Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer and owner of Dana White Nutrition, Inc., which specializes in culinary and sports nutrition.

from Healthy Eats – Food Network Healthy Living Blog http://ift.tt/1UdqITV