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This Surprising Ingredient Will Make Your Smoothies Thick & Creamy

Clean Plates Team
|
April 29, 2021
Photo Credit: Vertikala

When you slice into an avocado, you inevitably bump up against the avocado pit. Prying it out and tossing it in the trash is probably the most thought you’ve given to it, as your focus quickly shifts to enjoying the cool creaminess of the avocado flesh you’ve liberated. But what if we told you that the pit is not only edible, but also the most nutritious part of the fruit?

Yep, that’s right: it’s time to stop throwing away the avocado pit. Far from being trash, that seed is a treasure.

For centuries in South America, the avocado pit has been used as a folk remedy for illness, and modern science has begun to find evidence of its health benefits. One study discovered that greater than 70% of the avocado’s antioxidant content can be found in the seed. Other research suggests that consuming avocado seeds may lower cholesterol and mitigate hypertension, inflammation and diabetes. The seeds also possess antimicrobial properties.

Photo Credit: Healthy Food Tribe

How to Use the Avocado Pit

So, how do you get at them? The seed is no harder to slice through than, say, the rind of an acorn squash. Give the seed a good whack with a sharp knife (tap the knife with a mallet if you need extra power), and it should split in half. Then, it’s easy to cut the seed into smaller pieces.

On its own, the seed has a bitter taste, which is why we like to blend the pit into smoothies. Not only does it add nutrients, but you’ll also be pleasantly surprised by how it thickens the drink.

Get a recipe: Avocado Seed Green Smoothie from Healthy Food Tribe

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