“Doctors Reveal That Eating Avocados Causes…” — What’s the Truth?
This kind of headline is usually designed to create fear, but avocados are generally considered a nutritious food, not something healthy people need to avoid.
Avocados provide fiber, potassium, magnesium, folate, vitamin C, vitamin K, and mostly monounsaturated (unsaturated) fats. Research has also associated regular avocado consumption with better cardiovascular outcomes when it replaces foods higher in saturated fat.
When should you be more careful?
1. Kidney disease
Avocados are relatively high in potassium. People with impaired kidney function may need to limit potassium depending on their blood potassium level and medical advice.
2. Taking warfarin
Avocados contain vitamin K. If you take warfarin, the important issue isn’t necessarily avoiding avocado—it is keeping your vitamin K intake reasonably consistent, because sudden dietary changes can affect anticoagulation.
3. Allergy
A small number of people can have an avocado allergy and develop symptoms such as itching, hives, swelling, vomiting, or breathing difficulty. A breathing problem or swelling of the throat requires emergency care.
4. Calories
Avocados are nutritious but calorie-dense. Large portions can add substantial calories, particularly if you’re also eating them with cheese, mayonnaise, or other high-calorie foods.
So, does avocado “cause” heart attacks or other serious diseases?
No. Current evidence does not support that claim. In fact, the American Heart Association reports that replacing certain foods such as butter, processed meats, and other saturated-fat sources with avocado was associated with a lower cardiovascular disease risk.
