After eating an avocado, most people immediately throw the large seed into the trash. But the seed contains various plant compounds, which is why it has attracted interest in traditional food and beauty preparations.
However, avocado seeds are not a proven miracle ingredient, and they are not established as a treatment for diabetes, high cholesterol, kidney disease, weight loss, or other medical conditions. Human research on consuming avocado seed is limited, so it is better to be cautious.
If you want to use the seed for a simple homemade preparation, here is one option that does not require eating it.
Avocado Seed Infused Oil
Ingredients
- 1 clean avocado seed
- ½ cup olive oil or another cosmetic-grade carrier oil
- A clean, dry glass jar
Step 1: Wash the Seed
After removing the seed from the avocado, rinse it thoroughly to remove any remaining avocado flesh.
Pat it completely dry.
Step 2: Remove the Outer Skin
Once dry, carefully remove the thin outer layer surrounding the seed.
Be careful because the seed can be slippery and difficult to cut.
Step 3: Grate the Seed
Using a clean grater, grate a small amount of the seed into fine pieces.
Avoid using a large quantity.
Step 4: Combine With Oil
Place the grated seed into a clean glass jar and cover it with approximately ½ cup of olive oil.
Make sure the seed pieces are completely submerged.
Step 5: Infuse
Close the jar and leave it in a cool, dark place for several days.
Shake the jar gently once a day.
Step 6: Strain
After the infusion period, strain the oil through a clean, fine filter or cheesecloth.
Discard the solid seed pieces.
Step 7: Store Properly
Transfer the strained oil to a clean, tightly closed container.
Because homemade oil preparations can become contaminated or rancid, prepare small quantities and discard them if the smell, appearance, or texture changes.
How Can You Use It?
If your skin tolerates it, you can apply a small amount to the hands or body as a moisturizing oil.
Before using it on your face, perform a patch test on a small area of skin and wait to see whether irritation develops.
Avoid applying homemade avocado-seed preparations to:
- Open wounds
- Broken skin
- The eyes or eyelids
- Irritated skin
- Areas with an unexplained rash
What About Drinking Avocado Seed Tea?
Some traditional recipes involve drying, grinding, or boiling avocado seeds to make tea. However, there isn’t enough reliable evidence to establish a safe or beneficial amount for regular consumption.
For that reason, I wouldn’t recommend presenting avocado-seed tea as a treatment or claiming that it detoxifies the body, burns fat, lowers blood sugar, or cures disease.
Why Does the Seed Attract So Much Attention?
Avocado seeds contain fiber and various plant compounds, and researchers have investigated extracts from avocado seeds in laboratory and animal studies.
But laboratory findings do not automatically mean that consuming the seed produces the same effects in humans.
That’s an important distinction when evaluating viral “natural remedy” recipes.
The Best Way to Enjoy an Avocado
The flesh of the avocado has much stronger nutritional evidence behind it. It provides monounsaturated fats, fiber, potassium, and other nutrients and can easily be incorporated into a balanced diet.
Try adding fresh avocado to:
- Whole-grain toast
- Salads
- Eggs
- Bean bowls
- Sandwiches
- Homemade guacamole
Final Thought
The avocado seed is certainly interesting, but “natural” doesn’t automatically mean safe or effective. Until more research establishes the safety and benefits of consuming avocado seeds, it’s better not to treat them as a miracle food or medicine.
The avocado itself is the part with well-established nutritional benefits—and there’s no need to throw away the seed without first considering safer non-food uses.
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