Have you ever felt that huge pang of guilt after not eating every last bit of guacamole in your Chipotle burrito bowl? Same. Avocados are a precious (and pricy) fruit, after all, so wasting a single bite of one feels like an unwritten cardinal sin that should *never* be committed.
Clearly, we’ve joined the #NoWastingAvocado team forever and have accepted our destiny to preserve this vibrant green fruit at all costs. This means we eat the avocado even if it has browned (don’t worry, it’s usually totally a-okay), and we’ve found a million and one ways to use it in just about any recipe, from avocado bread to avocado fries.
That being said, we think it might be time to take things a step further with this no-waste avocado hack that we wish we had known sooner. It turns out that the humble avocado seed serves as a super potent source of antioxidants and can easily be used to make an anti-inflammatory tea in mere minutes. Now that’s what we call spilling the tea.
Health benefits of avocado seeds
Now that we’ve agreed that there’s no excuse for wasting an avocado—seed included—it’s time to get more acquainted with why they’re so good for you. “Although more research needs to be conducted, avocado seeds are rich in fatty acids, fiber, carbs, and a small amount of protein,” says Amy Shapiro MS, RD, CDN, a registered dietitian, founder, and director of Real Nutrition. In terms of gut health, avocado seeds are high in fiber; therefore, they can help with overall digestion and bowel regularity, adds Shapiro.
Research also shows that avocado seeds contain about 70 percent of the fruit’s antioxidant properties.“They are also said to contain phytonutrients and antioxidants, including vitamin C, which helps boost immunity and promote skin health. Some countries use avocado seed to lower blood pressure, [and] when made into flour, it may be helpful in lowering LDL cholesterol due to the high fiber content,” Shapiro says. “Aside from their heart health benefits, avocado seeds are also shown to be antibacterial and antifungal, which can help prevent certain illnesses and infections.”
How to repurpose avocado seeds to get the most benefits
One way to reap the benefits of avocado seeds is to turn them into a flour-like powder to add to beverages like teas and smoothies. “Avocado seeds are very hard and need to be prepared before they can be consumed. Usually, they need to get dried out in an oven and then pulverized or chopped up. They can also be grated, dried, used as a powder, and/or added to smoothies or beverages,” Shapiro says. However, she notes that when drying out the seed to make flour, you might lose some of the antioxidant properties as they oxidize and lose potency. “Anything that contains delicate vitamins, minerals, or antioxidants will lose its potency over time—avocado seeds included.”
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Our favorite way to repurpose avocado seeds is by brewing them to make an easy antioxidant tea. To do so, boil the seed for five minutes or until soft, remove it, and slice it into smaller pieces. Then, return to the pot to boil for another 10 minutes, and strain out the seed particles when finished. At this point, though the drink is ready to consume, note that it might have a bitter aftertaste. To mitigate any harsh flavor, you can add raw honey or cinnamon for sweetness and added spice, not to mention anti-inflammatory benefits to boot.
Fun fact: Shapiro adds that avocado seed tea isn’t the only good-for-you brew made from fruit seeds. “Peach pit tea has been said to assist with tummy troubles, and it is easily made by drying and using peach pits in boiling water,” she says. You can also use plum or cherry pits mixed with vinegar, shrubs, and honey for even more no-waste tea-slash-tonic options.
Avocado seed tea recipe
Yields 2 servings
Ingredients
2 cups water
1 avocado seed
Honey to taste, optional
Cinnamon to taste, optional
1. In a medium pot, bring the water to a boil. Add the avocado seed and continue boiling for five minutes.
2. Remove the seed and carefully slice it into smaller pieces. Continue boiling for another 10 minutes.
3. Strain out the seed particles, and serve. Add honey or cinnamon to taste.
Even more excuses why paying extra for avocado is *totally* worth it:
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