Science Says Avocado Seed Husks Could Save Your Life

Ever feel like health news is too overwhelming, fast-paced, or hard to decipher? Us too. Here, we filter through the latest in integrative health, wellness trends, and nutrition advice, reporting on the most exciting and meaningful breakthroughs. We’ll tell you exactly what you need to know—and how it might help you become a healthier and happier human.

A complete protein with over 14 minerals and a wealth of soluble fiber, the avocado is, no question, a superfood. And if you've never heaped a perfectly ripe avocado on top of sourdough bread and sprinkled some everything bagel seasoning on top, you're not really living.

But here's a reason to love avocados even more: According to new research presented at the 254th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the husks surrounding the avocado pit (which is technically a seed) contain some impressive healing properties—they could help treat heart disease and cancer, may even enhance cosmetics, and could be used in plastics and other industrial products.

For the study, lead researcher Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D., and his students ground up almost 300 avocado seeds into powder and found 116 compounds in the oil and 16 compounds in the wax. The oil compounds included dodecanoic acid, which raises high-density lipoprotein (HDL), behenyl alcohol (docosanol), an important ingredient in antiviral medications, and heptacosane, which could stop tumor cells from growing.

In other words, the next time you cut up an avocado, take a closer look at the husk. It could save your life.