Is Avocado a Protein? Don’t Ever Be Misled by Nutrition Experts Again!

Since when is an avocado a source of protein?

That’s the question that I asked myself upon reading the Health & Fitness section of the newspaper this Sunday.  In this particular article (here), the author (who is the co-founder of a nutrition education company and co-author of a book with recipes and advice) claimed that:

“Adequate protein throughout the day-from beans, nuts, seeds, wild fish, chicken and avocado-is the key as the body ages.”

---

Here’s the article screenshot for reference.

• 

Article for reference: https://www.greensboro.com/life/lifestyle-choices-can-slow-aging-process/article_f44285ac-15a5-5098-8870-7b79e53cc0f6.html

---

Looking at her advice, I even questioned what I learned in college about avocados.  But upon looking it up, I found this nutrition label only supporting that avocado is a source of FAT not a PROTEIN.

See Below…

• 

---

While the rest of the article had a few good tips, I am really disappointed as this isn’t the first time I’ve seen this happen.

This isn’t the first or last time that a health newspaper, magazine, or article didn’t to put it kindly, “mess up.”

I’ve read numerous articles that contain inaccurate information.  I’ve even read many nutrition labels and recipes that aren’t true (check here).  And while I’ve spoken about this here, what bothers me most about it is the fact that I know it’s easy to take everything verbatim…especially when it’s a “health expert” or a “doctor.”

And while we all mistakes, these influence OUR decisions.  They impact what we eat and therefore, impact how healthy we are as well.

And in my personal opinion, there should be checks-and-balances.

These mistakes shouldn’t have to be re-printed hundreds of time, influencing thousands of people UNTIL they are caught.

But like I said, that’s just my opinion.

---

For Example… Look at this published recipe from a well-known grocery store.  If you simply look at the ingredients, you can probably guess that this recipe is more than 3 g of carb per serving.

• 

When I contacted them about the mistake, they stopped answering me and took it down from the database online.  And while you may think that remediates the mistake, it doesn’t.

As what happens to those with diabetes who are making this granola thinking it’s low carb?  Do they run high numbers and end up in the hospital?

---

And now let me bring it back to the avocado example.  What happens to those eating avocado thinking they are following their HIGH protein diets? 

These simple and seemingly little mistakes can detriment one’s health.

Now, don’t you agree?

---

• 

So let’s switch gears.  Let’s figure out how to handle the information we are given.  Maybe we can still find a way to take it in and stay healthy!

How to Get/Stay Healthy Despite Misleading Information

#1: Research

One of the best ways at knowing what is right is simply going to www.google.com and searching for it.

If you read that avocados were a protein, double check it by searching avocado nutrition.  You will see a few different links.

Usually the ones with .US or .GOV are most correct.  I also like looking at CalorieKing.Com for nutritional info.  Although they are not a government-owned site, they seem to be more accurate than most.

• 

And if you are unsure about a particular study, just simply research “xx study” and see what pops up.  If it’s just one study, then I’d leary of believing everything they found.

For Example:

They recently did a study saying that coffee was bad for you due to the acrylamide within it.  So upon hearing this, I looked it up “coffee acrylamide” in google.  If you look down, you can see an article from Time.com.  I would read this article, see what they said and then research “benefits of coffee” in google.  Upon doing this, I’d search for a good site (like Harvard), and then read all about coffee here.

Upon my research here is something I found…

• 

#2: Sign Up For Newsletters of Those You Trust

I subscribe to several different sources (including this one) where I see nutritional articles all the time.  I read them, do research, and then blog about them to give you all the news.

You can do the same thing… or you could simply subscribe below and get FREE truncated nutritional news like this from me!

**P.S. I have a BA in biology & nutrition and food sciences, and I also was pre-med while in college.**

• 

More about Me Here: https://www.uvm.edu/cas/news/hannah_howard_prize_recipients_announced

The End

So just to end this up, it’s important to do the very best you can with nutrition.  To read the news, but then to research it before taking it verbatim.

I don’t care if it’s from a “nutrition expert” or even a doctor… sometimes mistakes are made and some things are said that shouldn’t.

Do the best you can to be a conscious consumer.  Stay healthy.

With Love Always,

Michele

Related Posts:

Nutrition Labels are Wrong

Is that cereal you are eating, cancer-causing?