Our love for avocados really knows no end. Whether we’re using them to create the best guacamole recipe ever, or mashing them up to put on our face as part of a beauty mask, the green fruit (yes, it’s a fruit) has become a major part of our daily routine. But there’s one key element to the avocado that we’ve apparently been overlooking: the pit. Chances are you wack it with a knife, and then throw it in the compost bin. But according to this viral Facebook video, we’ve all been doing it wrong. It turns out you can actually EAT the pit!
In this video posted by food blogger Sophie of Nourish Me Whole, she places the pit on a baking tray and dehydrates it in the oven at 120 degrees Celsius (approx. 250 degrees Fahrenheit) for two hours. Once that’s done, she removes the outer skin and carefully uses a knife to chop up the softened pit. Then it gets thrown in a food processor and turned into a powder that can be used in smoothies or baking for a boost of “antioxidants, fiber and gut-healing nutrients.”
After the Facebook video received over 22 million views in just three days, Sophie was met with some adversaries who didn’t agree with the health benefits she boasted about. Sophie then swiftly followed up with a disclaimer that mentions she is not a professional nutritionist and cited the places where she gathered her research (see the post here if you want to do some digging).
After doing some research of our own, all other health articles on the topic seem to be in line with Sophie’s findings. According to One Green Planet, the seed is actually where most of the fruit’s nutritional potential resides. They write, “The seed holds 70 percent of the avocado’s antioxidants, including the well-respected polyphenols associated with green tea.” Live Strong seconds this information, writing, “According to a 2004 Journal of Food Chemistry, avocado pits are rich in antioxidants and are also rich in soluble fiber, which can help those with cholesterol.”
Have you tried including the powder of an avocado pit in your food? Share your review with us on Twitter @BritandCo.
(Photo via Getty)