Modern Food, Ancient Bodies – Part 4
For years, avocados have worn the golden crown of “good fats.” They’re in smoothies, salads, toast, brownies, and even beauty products. Wellness influencers can’t get enough — and neither can supermarkets.
But before you reach for another $3 avocado, it’s worth asking:
Are they truly essential for our health, or have we fallen for clever marketing and lifestyle branding?
Let’s dig in.
🥑 A Nutrient-Dense Fruit, Yes — But Not Magic
There’s no doubt that avocados are nutritious. They’re high in:
- Monounsaturated fats (great for heart health)
- Fibre
- Potassium
- Folate and B-vitamins
- Vitamin E and antioxidants
In the right context, they’re a beautiful addition to a balanced plate.
But here’s the key: your body doesn’t need avocados — it needs fat.
And there are many ways to get that from local, sustainable, more affordable sources.
🌍 The Global Cost of Our Avocado Addiction
The rise of avocado as a wellness food has had major consequences:
- Water consumption: Avocados are extremely water-intensive. It can take 70 litres of water to grow just one avocado.
- Monoculture farming: This has led to reduced biodiversity in places like Mexico, Chile, and California.
- Deforestation: Forests are being cleared to meet growing global demand.
- Social and ethical issues: In some regions, avocado farming has been linked to exploitation and even criminal activity due to the crop’s value.
So while they’re healthy on your plate, their impact off the plate tells another story.
🧠 Are We Healthier Because of Them?
The explosion of avocado toast hasn’t led to an explosion in vitality.
In fact, we’re:
- More bloated
- More nutrient-deficient
- Still hungry, despite eating “healthier”
Why? Because health isn’t about one trendy fruit. It’s about how all your food works together.
Avocados eaten with ultra-processed bread, no protein, and a sprinkle of “wellness dust” won’t magically nourish you.
🧈 What Did We Eat Before Avocados?
Let’s be clear: Western cultures have thrived for generations without avocados.
Sources of good fat included:
- Butter and ghee
- Cold-pressed olive oil
- Fatty fish like sardines and mackerel
- Egg yolks
- Raw nuts and seeds
- Full-fat yoghurt or kefir
- Animal fats from well-raised meats
These fats were local, recognisable, and part of traditional cooking methods.
💡 It’s Not About Demonising Avocados
This isn’t about cancelling avocados. It’s about context.
If you love them, eat them — but don’t feel like they’re a requirement for wellness.
In fact, you can:
- Support your gut
- Balance your hormones
- Fuel your body
— without ever buying an avocado.
🧭 Final Thought
The avocado isn’t the problem.
It’s the idea that one exotic food will undo the effects of stress, processed eating, and a disconnected food culture.
Eat what suits you, grow what you can, and reach for fats that make sense in your body and your environment.