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I've read other thread regarding avocado consumption but seems like there's no clear answer so I'm gonna ask again:

Is it ok to eat 2 avocados per day 5 times a week?

I eat pretty clean paleo (almost none industrial seed oils, eat healthy saturated fat from coconut oil, beef tallow, and sometimes bacon), grass-fed beef, conventional skinless chicken, frozen wild caught salmon and lots of veggies, some fruits and a little starch from sweet potatoes.

I workout 4-5 times a day, no longer than 20 minutes (HIIT style or AMRAP style).

Thanks!

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Hope that is 4-5 times a WEEK... – JayJay Mar 12 2012 at 16:05
I don't know the answer, but am interested to see your responses. Honestly, I can't imagine there would be a problem. – PaleoDel Mar 12 2012 at 16:29
If you want to lose weight, limit these. If not, eat them. When I eat too much bacon/avocado for breakfast I stop losing weight personally. – Eugenia Mar 12 2012 at 17:00
Haha JayJay..yeah it is 4-5 times A WEEK for working out :P – Jos Mar 12 2012 at 17:29

13 Answers

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I wouldn't avoid a highly nutritious food you enjoy as a result of dietary reductionism that has demonized one particular minor component.

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Me neither, but I was kinda wondering why he was even concerned! – Beth-WeightMaven Mar 12 2012 at 18:12
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I'm guessing from your question that weight loss isn't a goal. If it was, I'm not sure pounding down ~40g of avocado fat (albeit a mostly healthy fat) a day would be on my agenda.

But otherwise, it looks ok to me. Avocados have a little omega 6 PUFA in them, but since you're otherwise low on seed oils, that shouldn't be an issue. And they are a good source of vitamins and minerals, so that's a strong plus.

I'd go for it and then see how it works for you.

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Agree. My limit is 1/2 day, but I'm losing weight. If weight is acceptable, 2 a day isn't so bad I would think. – DFH Mar 12 2012 at 16:56
Thanks! I'm not into weight loss for sure but more like for maintenance and build some lean muscle mass. – Jos Mar 12 2012 at 17:30
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See discussions:

My take is that avocado PUFAs: avocado PUFAs are not oxidized as the PUFAs in corn (and other refined seed) oil is. Don't sweat the PUFAs unless you happen to have a doctorate from PubMed.

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I wish I could get a doctorate from PubMed. Then i'd be smart – citrusfire Mar 14 2012 at 15:01
I'll send you a PDF diploma from PubMed you can fill in! :P – Matt Mar 14 2012 at 15:05
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Ray Peat says: "Not all fruits, of course, are perfectly safe—avocados, for example, contain so much unsaturated fat that they can be carcinogenic and hepatotoxic."

Not that I'm a Peat-devotee, but since most of the fat is monounsaturated, much like the fat in olive oil (which he accepts with moderate usage), why such an anti-avocado stance, do you think?

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I don't understand why Peat is even quoted, and if you speak up, people get upset. He sounds like a complete nutjob to me. What's the deal? – DFH Mar 12 2012 at 18:20
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"since most of the fat is monounsaturated, much like the fat in olive oil (which he accepts with moderate usage), why such an anti-avocado stance, do you think?" - Because he has little idea what he's talking about – citrusfire Mar 12 2012 at 19:38
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@DFH I wish I could upvote you twice. – Joshua Mar 12 2012 at 20:39
Agreed with DFH. – raney Mar 12 2012 at 20:51
Minus two clicks on the Answer already. This has happened before, no explanation. Maybe he has secret elves as "mind police." Is Peat like the crazy uncle living in the basement no one says anything bad about? – DFH Mar 12 2012 at 21:06
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To be honest, I don't know. Having said that, I think it's interesting that Vitamin E, an antioxidant, is usually present in natural foods that are high in PUFA.

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It's ok, but why not try to get some other fat sources in your diet. Maybe some coconut products(coconut meat, coconut milk, coconut oil). A variety of foods and fats is always the way to go!

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By the way, how's your bowel movement? 2 avocadoes a day will give you 30g of fiber. That much fiber will bloats your stool, and depending on whether you're doing VLC or not, could facilitate or complicate your BM.

I would not be concerned about the PUFA in avocadoes, if my daily PUFA intake is limited. However, if I'm eating lots of pork, fish, eggs, EVOO, and nuts, and especially fish oil, then, I would do only 1 avocado, not 2.

Avocadoes are a PUFA bomb. Whether it's bad or not depends on whether it can be easily oxidized. I tend to think olive oil will be more easily oxidized and even bacon and bacon grease, than avocadoes. If you believe endogenous PUFA is harmless, just like endogenous fructose (e.g., bananas, oranges, apples), then it can't be that bad. But if you believe that once digested, what we eat dissolves into common denominators like PUFA and that going over 4% PUFA is bad, then, well, avoid avocadoes.

Either case, I can't believe anyone will have an appetite for more than 1 avocado. I can barely finish eating 1. I would have to do forcefeeding to finish 2.

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I can't stop at two, four or five maybe, but I control myself. – ROB Mar 13 2012 at 19:18
What exactly are you putting on the avocado. If you eat it plain, I guarantee, you will not OD on avocadoes. It's like trying to eat a dozen cranberries. You'll stop at 5, I guarantee. Let your natural appetite control work, rather than putting all kinds of condiments and spices. – Namby Pamby Mar 13 2012 at 22:56
Plain avocado...eat like a horse but don't gain...sadly. – ROB Mar 14 2012 at 1:42
I really don't believe you. Do you realize how much fiber there is in a single avocado? Fiber literally makes you feel sick to eat more. Why are you really tring to stuff yourself with avocadoes? I tried doing that about 2Y ago to relieve constipation. I literally became sick when I had more than 2. In fact, sitting here, I just had one in coconut milk with some berries and I am literally stuffed. If you don't wanna eat anything for a few hours, just ean an avocado. You'll never feel more sated. – Namby Pamby Mar 14 2012 at 3:12
I am just very hungry after soccer games. I consistently get about 80 grams of fiber per day, but lately I have been trying to reduce consumption, because I have been reading about its negative effects on mineral absorption. – ROB Mar 16 2012 at 0:05
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I do not know about anyone else, but I have been eating them on regular basis with lime juice and Equal. I can actually feel myself loosing weight. It is hard to explain but I have been eating then everyday for a week and have lost 5 lbs. I really noticed that I was full afterward and have not had craving like I normally do. I am really enjoying this!!

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Equal is probably not the best thing to consuming if you are trying to follow paleo/primal principals. Processed = yuck! Skip it and you will have the same results without injesting such processed chemcials. – DanielleO812 May 15 2012 at 19:12
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Equal??? on avos? why? – pjnoir May 15 2012 at 20:16
Yuck, stevia is much tastier and less processed anyway – Matthius May 15 2012 at 20:50
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I eat a LOT of avos and have no problems. I test my sugars often and get blood work done every four months and all is well. Not all avos are the same- I try to eat only mexican Haas avos and not from Calf or Fla ( I eat NOTHING from Fla) or even chile, so some weeks I have to wait but it is worth it.

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Care to elaborate on your avoidance of of California, Florida, and Chilean fruits? – Kim Feb 8 at 17:28
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Eugenia, you say when you eat too much bacon/avocado for breakfast you stop losing weight...

Well bacon might contain some of the worst type of fats while avocado has some of the best type of fats.

The bacon may be doing it for you

There really is no limit hoenstly, just think of the daily fat consumption you want to eat according to your goals and body type, and accumulate that with various healthy fats....avocados, eggs, flaxseed oil and fish oils, etc

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I eat an avocado almost every day as part of breakfast. I see no issue with them. Chris Kresser doesn't feel the PUFAs in avocados are anything to worry about either.

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i think avocados are totally fine. they are a fruit of the earth. personally, i can't get good tasting avocados where i am most of the year so i don't eat them. if i lived in california, now i'd be enjoying them more frequently.

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I eat like 2-3 avocados a day and I'm fine.

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