Avocado is a delicious fruit belonging to the tree of the same name. Botanically it is a large berry with a single seed. This fruit is rich in nutrients, minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, flavonoids, dietary fibers and many more. All these qualities make it extremely beneficial for our health. However all good things do come with their own side effects. Here we will discuss the side effects of avocado.(1)
11 Side Effects Of Avocado
1. Not Suitable for Pregnant and Lactating Mothers
Avocado, though stuffed with various nutrients should not be consumed by pregnant or lactating mothers. It is known to reduce milk production and even damage the mammary gland. It will also upset the stomach of the baby. In case of pregnant mothers it affects the health of the baby.
2. Weight Gain
Though these fruits come packed with nutrients, do not eat too many of them if you are planning to lose weight. They also come packed with high calories. 100 grams of avocado provides 160 calories of energy, in comparison to 70-80 calories provided by other fruits. So consume limited amounts of this fruit.(2)
3. Liver Problems
Nowadays avocado oil is used in various recipes. It is necessary that you check the avocado oil that you are consuming. Avocado oil is enriched with estragole and anethole can cause liver damage. Mexican avocado is known to contain these components. Oil containing these components has been tested to cause carcinogenic reactions.(3)
4. Reduces Impact of Medicines
Avocado is known to decrease the impact of anti inflammatory medication when consumed in large quantities. You need to be cautious while consuming avocado. Do not eat too many at once.
5. Gastrointestinal Irritation
Many individuals complain about gastrointestinal problems after consuming avocado mostly bloating and flatulence. This symptom is seen among some people. It is sometimes coupled with drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, flu etc. It is advisable that you do not consume avocado if you face such symptoms. Consult he doctor if you face such problems.(4)
6. Allergies
This symptom is noticed among some people who consume avocado. For some, even being exposed to the fruit triggers allergic reactions. Swelling of skin, hives, itching, and eczema are common allergies noticed. It is advisable that such individuals should stay away from avocado. Consult the doctor if you develop allergies.(5)
7. Unsuitable for People with Latex Intolerance
Avocados increase the level of the serum IgE antibodies which might cause allergic reaction in people with latex sensitivity. It is best that people with latex sensitivity do not consume avocado.(6)
[ Read: Are There Side Effects of Eating Bananas ]
8. Reduces HDL cholesterol
HDL cholesterol is the good cholesterol present in our body. Avocado is rich in Beta-sitosterol which absorbs bad cholesterol. On consuming large quantities of avocado the component starts to absorb the good cholesterol as well. It is best that you consume it in small quantities.(7)
9. Blood Thinning
If you are on medication it is safe to avoid avocados. It contains Vitamin K which helps in thinning the blood. It will interact with your medication. Another word of caution; do not consume large quantities of avocado as it will thin your blood thus will lead to bleeding and bruising.
10. Increases Hypersensitivity
Avocado makes hypersensitivity conditions worse and severe than it already was. Over consumption of this fruit also have similar effects. It is advisable that persons with hypersensitivity should not consume avocado at all.(8)
[ Read: Harmful Side Effects Of Goji Berries ]
11. Risk of High Potassium Level
Potassium present in our body keeps the kidneys healthy and maintains fluid balance. The potassium levels in our body must be maintained at optimum. Increase in its levels leads to dehydration, type 1 diabetes, Addison’s disease and internal bleeding. Avocados are a rich source of potassium. Consuming too many avocados leads to an increase in potassium levels in the body. The symptoms of such conditions are chest pain, skipped heat beat, nausea, vomiting etc…
These are some of the common side effects of this rather beneficial fruit. We should always be careful of the amount of the fruit we are eating as too much of anything good also turns out to be bad. Avocado can be very healthy but occurrence of side effects shouldn’t be neglected. If the side effects persist, medical attention should be immediately taken.
Scientific Evidence:
- Avocados, raw, all commercial varieties- https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171705/nutrients
- Avocado Intake, and Longitudinal Weight and Body Mass Index Changes in an Adult Cohort- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6471050/
- Evidence On The Carcinogenicity Of Estragole- https://oehha.ca.gov/media/downloads/crnr/estragf.pdf
- Avocado Consumption Alters Gastrointestinal Bacteria Abundance and Microbial Metabolite Concentrations among Adults with Overweight or Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32805028/
- Prevalence of avocado allergy among atopic patients- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8566736/
- The latex-fruit syndrome- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12440950/
- Lowering of Serum Cholesterol by the Administration of a Plant Sterol- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/01.CIR.10.2.201
- Avocado hypersensitivity- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8074265/
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