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The avocado is the fatty fruit of the avocado tree, scientifically known as Persea americana. It is native to Mexico and Central America.
Rich in monounsaturated fats, the avocado has a smooth and creamy texture. It is much higher in fat than most other fruits.
Avocados have a unique nutrition profile. They contain lots of fiber and are rich in vitamins and minerals, such as B-vitamins, vitamin K, potassium, copper, vitamin E and vitamin C.
The consumption of avocados has been associated with various health benefits, such as decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. They are also very satiating and may be useful for weight loss.
Avocados can be eaten raw, but are also commonly used in foods like guacamole.
There are many different types of avocados, varying in color, size and shape.
Avocados are usually pear-shaped to round and they come in many different shades of green, ranging from pale green to almost black when fully ripe.
The most popular type is called Hass avocado, which is round with black skin.
Nutrition
The avocado consists of 73% water, 15% fat, 8.5% carbohydrates (mostly fibers) and 2% protein.
Half an avocado (68 grams) contains 109 calories, corresponding to 160 calories per 100 grams.
The table below contains information on the vitamins in avocados per 100 grams (1Trusted Source).
| Amount | %DV | |
| Vitamin A | 7 µg | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 10 mg | 11% |
| Vitamin D | 0 µg | – |
| Vitamin E | 2.07 mg | 14% |
| Vitamin K | 21 µg | 18% |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) | 0.07 mg | 6% |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 0.13 mg | 10% |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 1.74 mg | 11% |
| Vitamin B5 (Panthothenic acid) | 1.39 mg | 28% |
| Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) | 0.26 mg | 20% |
| Vitamin B12 | 0 µg | – |
| Folate | 81 µg | 20% |
| Choline | 14.2mg | 3% |
Carbs
Compared to other fruits, avocados contain very little sugar.
Half an avocado (68 grams) contains only 0.5 grams of sugar, in the form of glucose, fructose and galactose (2Trusted Source).
The net digestible carbs are only 1.8 grams for each 100 grams of avocado.
Because of the low sugar content, they are expected to have a very low glycemic index score, which means that they should not raise blood sugar levels much (3Trusted Source).
Fiber
Fiber occupies most of the carbohydrate content (79%) of avocados.
Half an avocado provides 4.5 grams of fiber, which is very high.
Dietary fiber is an important dietary component with many health benefits.
It can regulate appetite, feed the friendly bacteria in the gut and reduce the risk of many diseases (4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source).
Avocados also contain FODMAPs(fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols), which are short-chain carbohydrates that some people cannot digest (8Trusted Source).
Not everyone is sensitive to FODMAPs, but they may cause unpleasant digestive symptoms in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Bottom line: Avocados contain a lot of fiber, and very little sugar. They also contain FODMAPs, short chain carbs that may cause unpleasant digestive symptoms in some people.
Fat
As a rich source of monounsaturated fatty acids, the avocado is a very unusual fruit.
The most abundant fatty acid is oleic acid, which is also the main component of olive oil.
Oleic acid has been linked to reduced inflammation and may have beneficial effects on cancer (9Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source, 11Trusted Source).
Avocado oil is a great source of healthy fats, and animal studies suggest a protective effect against inflammation, heart disease and diabetes (12Trusted Source, 13Trusted Source).
Bottom line: Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, mainly oleic acid. They may help protect against heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Vitamins and minerals
Avocados are rich in many essential vitamins and minerals. The most abundant ones are listed below.
- Folate (B9): Avocados contain a lot of folate, which is important for normal cell function and tissue growth, and is particularly important for pregnant women (14, 15Trusted Source).
- Vitamin K1: Vitamin K1 is important for blood clotting, and may have benefits for bone health (16Trusted Source, 17).
- Potassium: An essential mineral, beneficial for blood pressure control and heart health (18Trusted Source, 19Trusted Source). Avocados actually contain more potassium than bananas(1Trusted Source).
- Copper: A trace element that is relatively low in the Western diet. Low copper intake may have adverse effects on heart health (20Trusted Source).
- Vitamin E: A powerful antioxidant, often found in high amounts in fatty plant foods.
- Vitamin B6: A group of related vitamins that help convert food into energy.
- Vitamin C: An antioxidant that is important for immune function and skin health (21Trusted Source).
Bottom line: Avocados are rich in many vitamins and minerals, such as B-vitamins, vitamin K, vitamin E, vitamin C, potassium and copper.
Other plant compounds
These are the main plant compounds in avocados:
- Carotenoids: Avocados contain many carotenoids, such as lutein and zeaxanthin, which are important for eye health and may reduce the risk of age-related eye diseases (22Trusted Source, 23Trusted Source).
- Persenones A and B: Unique antioxidants that may have protective effects against inflammation and cancer (24Trusted Source, 25Trusted Source).
- D-Mannoheptulose A type of sugar found in avocados, claimed to assist with blood sugar control (26, 27Trusted Source, 28Trusted Source).
Avocados are very high in carotenoid antioxidants, and eating fat along with these antioxidants tends to increase their absorption into the body.
Because avocados are high in fat, the carotenoid antioxidants in them are particularly well absorbed (29Trusted Source).
Bottom line: Avocados are rich in plant compounds, such as carotenoids, antioxidants and a sugar called D-Mannoheptulose. The carotenoids are well absorbed because of the high fat content of avocados.
Benefits
Avocados are high in antioxidants and many important nutrients, some of which are rare in the modern diet.
For this reason, it is not surprising to see that avocados have numerous health benefits.
Heart health
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the world (30Trusted Source).
Blood cholesterol, triglycerides, inflammatory markers and blood pressure have all been associated with increased risk of heart disease (31Trusted Source, 32Trusted Source, 33Trusted Source, 34Trusted Source).
Research has shown that avocado consumption may reduce blood cholesterol and triglycerides significantly, as well as lower the potentially harmful LDL cholesterol and increase the good HDL cholesterol (35Trusted Source, 36Trusted Source, 37Trusted Source, 38Trusted Source, 39Trusted Source, 40Trusted Source).
Satiety and weight loss
Some people think that avocados are fattening because of their high fat content, and should therefore be avoided in calorie restricted diets (38Trusted Source).
However, eating avocados does not seem to prevent weight loss in overweight people.
In fact, adding avocados to meals makes people more satiated (full) and reduces the desire to eat for many hours, compared to a similar meal without avocados (38Trusted Source, 41Trusted Source).
For this reason, avocados may be an excellent addition to an effective weight loss diet.
Avocados are also very high in fiber, low in carbs and do not raise blood sugar levels, which are all properties that make it a weight loss friendly food (42Trusted Source, 43Trusted Source).
Reducing symptoms of arthritis
Arthritis is a common problem in Western countries, characterized by progressive deterioration of the joint cartilage.
Avocado and soybean unsaponifiables are supplements made from avocado oil (33%) and soybean oil (66%), primarily used to suppress symptoms in people with arthritis.
Multiple studies have shown that these supplements can reduce symptoms of arthritis, especially of the knee and hip (44Trusted Source, 45Trusted Source, 46Trusted Source, 47Trusted Source, 48Trusted Source).
Bottom line: Avocados may reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, both of which are major risk factors for heart disease. They are also very filling, and may reduce symptoms of arthritis.
Risks
Avocados are safe to eat for the majority of people, but may cause problems in individuals with allergy or irritable bowel syndrome.
Avocado allergy
Actual avocado allergy is rare, but individuals with latex allergy can experience allergic reactions to fruits, such as avocados, bananas or kiwis, known as the latex-fruit syndrome (49Trusted Source).
In latex-fruit syndrome, the immune system attacks fruit proteins that are similar to the allergy-causing proteins in latex.
This may lead to allergic reactions like upset stomach, stomach cramps, headaches or more serious symptoms like severe allergic shock (50Trusted Source, 51Trusted Source, 52Trusted Source).
FODMAPs and irritable bowel syndrome
Avocados contain FODMAPs, short-chain carbohydrates that may cause problems in people with irritable bowel syndrome.
Eating foods containing FODMAPs may have adverse effects on digestion in these individuals, leading to gas, cramping, bloating, stomach pain, diarrhea or constipation (53Trusted Source).
If you have digestive issues, then monitor your symptoms carefully after eating avocados.
Bottom line: Avocado allergy is rare, but they may cause allergic reactions in individuals who suffer from latex allergy. They also contain FODMAPs, which may cause digestive symptoms in sensitive individuals.
Takeaway
Avocados are very filling, incredibly nutritious and taste really good.
They are a good source of several vitamins, minerals and plant compounds, and may have benefits for heart health and arthritis.
All things considered, avocados are an excellent addition to a healthy diet.
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