Avocados are all recognized as a superfood and come with a lot of benefits from being in them. They are full of healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and are considered an essential addition to any diet. Learn more about the nutritional value of avocado. However, there are some side effects associated with the consumption of avocados.
This article goes into the potential side effects of eating too much avocados or about some specific health conditions.
Potential Side Effects of Avocado
While avocado is packed with nutrients, it’s essential to be mindful of its potential drawbacks. Some common side effects of avocado include digestion issues like diarrhea or loose stool, especially if consumed in excess. Individuals with sensitive stomachs may experience upset stomach or IBS symptoms after drinking it. Additionally, the negative effects of unripe avocado can cause discomfort, including stomach pain symptoms. To enjoy the health benefits without complications, it’s important to consume avocado in moderation and ensure the fruit is ripe and fresh.
Allergic Reactions
Latex allergy may be the most common side effect of avocados is allergic reactions due to the proteins that are available in avocados. Avocados have proteins similar to latex and people allergic to latex are also allergic to avocados. This is mainly referred to as latex-fruit syndrome. Symptoms of an allergy to avocados may include:
- Itching of the lips, mouth, or throat
- Swelling of the face or tongue
- Hives or skin rashes
- Difficulty breathing
- Rarely anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction
If you are allergic to latex, you will want to avoid avocados or consult your doctor before eating them and ascertaining whether you may have a similar reaction
Digestive problems
Avocados, although high in fiber, which is great for digestive health, overconsumption can cause digestive problems such as
An upset stomach
Too much avocado at one time can lead to bloating, gas, or an upset stomach because of the high-fat content of the fruit. Moreover, eating unripe avocados has several negative effects on digestion and causes an upset stomach.
Diarrhea
Too many avocados may lead to diarrhea due to high fiber content. Although beneficial in moderation, excess fiber in one go leads to loose stools and discomfort.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Avocados tend to make IBS worse for most IBS sufferers, especially when eaten in large amounts because avocados contain fat. Avocados may trigger or worsen IBS spasms in sensitive individuals.
If you develop symptoms of digestive upset after eating avocados, consider reducing the amount you eat or avoid them altogether to see if your symptoms improve.
High-Calorie Content
Avocados, rich in healthy fats, are also calorie-dense foods. That one avocado you cut up contains 234 calories, which is a very good reason to exercise much more when you consume those avocados in large amounts. While the fats in avocados are mostly of the heart-healthy monounsaturated variety, consuming large amounts of avocado can contribute to weight gain if not a balanced part of an overall diet.
Monitoring the portion size for those people who are on a calorie-controlled diet or losing weight becomes essential in the consumption of avocados. Getting sufficient intake of avocados in one’s diet may result in excessive calorie uptake, which may help avoid losing a few pounds and gain some over time.
Hepatic Health Concerns
Research studies indicate that there are certain compounds in an avocado that could pose a problem to individuals suffering from liver disease, especially those people who consume them excessively. Among other compounds, estragole and anethole are two from avocados, substances that have been applied in studies with animals and are known to contribute to harmful effects on livers, even though studies are yet to be conducted in human beings.
As part of your pre-existing liver conditions, you must consult your health provider first before you increase your intake of avocados. There is moderate consumption of avocados for most people with no severe health risks; however, people with liver conditions are a different story as there ought to be some caution about the amount that one intakes.
Medication Interactions
Avocados interact with other medications, such as prescription blood-thinning medications, for example, Warfarin (Coumadin). This is because avocados are rich in vitamin K, which aids in blood clotting. Large amounts of avocado ingestion may conflict with blood thinners since it tends to mask the blood thinning effects of prescription drugs.
If you take medications that thin blood, consult your healthcare provider on how much avocado you can consume without affecting your medication. It is usually the constant intake of vitamin K that balances the interaction.
Potential Issues with Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Most women are concerned about the harmful effects of avocados on babies or pregnant women. Safe to say, they are safe for pregnant and lactating women since they are very well fortified with nutrients: folate, which is important in baby development. Other experts advise though that pregnant and lactating women not take too much of the product because of its high fat content. Too much fat can lead to weight gain. Thus, pregnant or lactating mothers may be apprehensive about consuming too many avocados.
There are also some anecdotal reports of babies experiencing stomach issues as side effects when breastfeeding mothers intake high amounts of avocados. Though there is no concrete research on this, taking avocados in limited quantities is always advisable as monitoring for any reactions in the baby.
High Potassium Level
Avocados have large amounts of potassium, so they help maintain proper blood pressure and proper functioning of the heart. However, at times, excessive intake of potassium can be threatening and harmful, especially when you have kidney issues involved. Patients with chronic kidney disease and patients undergoing dialysis also must exercise caution with their potassium levels since the kidneys filter out the excess potassium levels from the blood. Excessive concentrations of potassium in the blood trigger various symptoms such kind:
- Arrhythmias
- Nausea or vomiting
- A feeling of weakness
- Tiredness
If a person suffers from a disease of the kidneys, he needs to be aware of the level of potassium and seek a doctor’s advice on whether it is worth using this fruit in their diet.
Fat Content in Avocado
Although avocados contain healthy fats, too much of them is bad. Avocados have high monounsaturated fats, which are healthy fats when you take them in moderation so to avoid excessive calorie intake. A diet with too much of good kinds of fats, even healthy fats, would lead to weight gain and many other health problems.
Moreover, for those individuals who are victims of diseases that compel them to reduce the overall level of fat ingestion, such as gallbladder disease and pancreatitis, an increase in avocado consumption might worsen their condition.
The Bottom Line
Avocados are a nutrient-dense superfood and are thus related to improving heart health, as well as improving skin and fertility status. Learn more about the health benefits of avocados and their benefits for protecting against diseases.
Moreover, you can add this delicious creamy fruit to your diet in a variety of ways. You can make avocado juice or add it to various other recipes.
However, just like any food, avocados have potential dangers depending on the amount consumed.
It is important to be aware of the side effects of avocados. Especially when allergic, experiencing some digestion problems, or taking certain medication.
Eating avocados in reasonable portions appears to be good for most people: they offer important nutrients. If you are concerned about whether you should add avocado to your diet, consult a healthcare provider.
