Originally published on June 28, 2020. Updated and republished on March 5, 2025 and November 30, 2025.
Avocados are delicious, nutritious, and very popular. But if you have an avocado allergy, avocado intolerance, or are sensitive to avocados, you might need to make some dietary changes besides just avoiding eating avocados.
Table of Contents
Avocado Allergy
Allergic reactions to avocados are IgE antibody mediated immune system reactions that cause mild to severe symptoms.
Avocado may trigger other types of adverse food reactions.
Avocado Food Family
Avocados are part of the Lauraceae Food Family. The Lauraceae food family is also known as the Laurel Food Family.
If you are allergic or sensitive to avocado, you may also be allergic or sensitive to other foods in the Laurel Food Family.
Lauraceae Food Family List (Laurel Food Family List)
- Avocado
- Bay Leaf
- Cinnamon
- Sassafras
- File Powder (also known as Gumbo File)
Medical extracts are also produced by plants in the Laurel Family. These include camphor and eugenol.
Avocado Allergy Symptoms
Allergic reactions to avocados are likely to be similar to reactions to other food allergens.
Common food allergy signs and symptoms include the following. Reactions may include one or many reactions and severity may vary based on factors such as amount eaten and other factors.
- Abdominal pain
- Atopic Dermatitis
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty swallowing
- Dizziness
- Eczema
- Fainting
- Hives
- Itching
- Itching in the mouth
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea
- Nasal congestion
- Swelling of any body part
- Swelling of the face
- Swelling of the lips
- Swelling of the tongue and throat
- Tingling in the mouth
- Trouble breathing
- Vomiting
- Wheezing
Call your doctor immediately if you or your child have symptoms of an allergic reaction. Call 911 in case of difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, or other life-threatening symptoms.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction. Anaphylaxis can be caused by food allergy or other allergens. Reactions may be more severe if more than one part of the body is affected.
Signs and Symptoms of Anaphylaxis include:
- Angioedema
- Cardiovascular symptoms
- Constriction of the airway
- Difficulty breathing
- Dizziness
- Fast pulse
- Lightheadedness
- Loss of consciousness
- Sensation of a lump in the throat
- Drop in blood pressure
- Shock, including a drastic drop in blood pressure
- Swollen throat
- Tightening of the airway
These reactions require immediate medical attention.
Avocado Cross-Reactivity & Oral Allergy Syndrome
The immune system and allergic reactions are quite complex. Avocado allergy may be more than a straightforward food allergy.
Adverse food reactions to avocado may be related to Birch Pollen, Oral Allergy Syndrome, Seasonal Allergies, Latex Allergies, and Histamine Intolerance.
Birch Pollen
Some environmental allergies are associated with allergic reactions to food.
People with Birch Pollen Allergy may also experience allergic reactions to avocado. If you are allergic to birch pollen, you may also react to avocado.
Oral Allergy Syndrome
In cases of Oral Allergy Syndrome, Birch Pollen Allergy is associated with allergic reactions to the following foods:
- Apple
- Apricot
- Avocado
- Cherry
- Peach
- Pear
- Plum
- Kiwi
- Carrot
- Celery
- Parsley
- Peanut
- Soybean
- Almond
- Hazelnut
Latex Allergy Syndrome
People with latex allergy may also have allergic reactions to other foods. This is known as latex-fruit syndrome. People who are allergic to latex may also have allergic reactions with avocado as well as other foods.
Foods associated with latex allergy syndrome are:
- Avocado
- Banana
- Bell Pepper
- Chestnut
- Kiwi
- Peach
- Potato
- Tomato
Histamine Intolerance
Avocado intolerance is also associated with histamine intolerance. Avocados are considered high histamine foods.
Foods high in histamine include:
- Aged cheese
- Alcohol
- Avocado
- Banana
- Canned Foods
- Cashew
- Chic Peas
- Cinnamon
- Citrus fruits
- Eggplant
- Kefir
- Lentils
- Sauerkraut
- Pickled Foods
- Processed Foods
- Processed Meats
- Smoked Meats
- Spinach
- Strawberries
- Tomato
- Vinegar
- Walnuts
- Yogurt
Avocado Sensitivity
Other non-IgE hypersensitivity reactions may also be triggered by avocado. Food sensitivities may play role in many conditions such as:
- ADD/ADHD
- Atopic Dermatitis
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Crohn’s Disease
- Colitis
- Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Epilepsy
- Fibromyalgia
- GERD
- Inflammatory Arthritis
- Insomnia
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Migraine
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
- Psoriasis
- Restless Leg Syndrome
- Urticaria (Hives)
If you suspect that you have a sensitivity to avocado (or other foods), we recommend working with a Certified Leap Therapist who may recommend Mediator Release Testing.
Food sensitivities can change based on changes in health status, changes in diet, and other factors.
Avocado Intolerance
Food intolerances are generally defined as adverse food reactions that are not due to allergic or immune-mediated changes in the body.
Symptoms of avocado intolerance may include:
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Cramping
- Gas
- Diarrhea
- Flatulence
- Loose Stools
These symptoms may be due to the presence of fiber, histamine, and dietary fat.
Is Avocado a Nut Allergy
No. Avocados are a type of fruit. They are not classified as a nut or a legume.
However, people with food allergies may experience cross reactivity or have allergies to more than one food. When in doubt, please consult with an allergist.
Diagnosis
We recommend working with an allergist to obtain an accurate diagnosis.
Treatment
Strict avoidance of triggers in food and in the environment are the primary treatment for avocado allergy. Talk to your doctor about emergency medications in case of accidental exposure.
Help For Avocado Allergy, Avocado Sensitivity & Avocado Intolerance
Like most things in life, when you have more information you can make better choices.
Here is some information on how to avoid avocado and how to replace avocado in your diet.
Hidden Sources Of Avocado
Avocado is a versatile food and may be used as a topping, main ingredient or as a dietary fat. Avocado oil is on the rise in restaurants because it has a high smoke point and a stable shelf life.
Be sure to always read labels, and ask for menu ingredients at restaurants.
Be on the lookout for avocados in the following foods:
- As a garnish on soups
- As Avocado Oil
- Guacamole
- On salads
- On sandwiches and toasted bread
- In many cuisines
- In vegan and paleo products including butter alternatives, dressings and baked goods.
Sometimes avocado is featured as a main ingredient and is quite visible. Other times, meals may contain only small amounts of avocado.
Avocado oil may also be an ingredient in health and beauty products such as shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and soap.
Avocado Alternatives
There’s no one “go to” avocado alternative, so before making a substitution, consider what function of avocado you are replacing.
Avocado may be used for its green color, as a dietary fat, as a topping and for a thick, creamy and smooth texture.
Here are some foods that may be used as an avocado alternative.
- Banana – mashed banana will provide a similar texture but different flavor
- Chayote Squash
- Edamame – can be blended in to a guacamole style dip
- Green Peas – can be blended in to a guacamole style dip
- Artichoke Hearts – as a salad topping
- Heart Of Palm – as a salad topping
- Hummus
- Nut Butters (Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, Cashew Butter)
- Sunflower Seed Butter
Alternatives to Avocado Oil
In Salads and Low Heat Cooking:
These oils add flavor and texture to recipes.
- Coconut Oil
- Butter
- Ghee
- Olive Oil
- Sesame Oil (definitely a strong flavor! Use just a little for flavor.)
For High Temperature Cooking:
These oils generally work well when cooking at high temperatures.
- Safflower Oil
- Rice Bran Oil
- Soy Bean Oil
- Peanut Oil
- Corn Oil
- Canola Oil
Be sure to check labels for hidden ingredients.
Private Practice Registered Dietitian Perspective
In my practice, true Avocodo Allergy has been rare. However, I have seen more patients who have oral allergy sydnrome symptoms with Avocado. They also tend to have oral allergy syndrome symptoms with related foods.
Bottom Line
If you know or suspect that you can’t eat avocado due to an allergy, sensitivity, or other intolerance, help is available.
In case of severe symptoms or difficulty breathing, seek urgent medical attention.
We recommend working with an Allergist, Registered Dietitian, or Certified Leap Therapist to identify which foods are safest for you and which foods you should avoid. A skin prick test (a type of allergy test) and/or blood testing may be helpful.
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I relate to Sean’s comments a lot! My stomach pain, even if the food touched for a second and it looks like I didn’t eat any was severe. I also found the oil in my shampoo was causing my head to itch and my face to get a light rash.
I’m also allergic to latex and bananas. Eating a banana or avocado will induce immediate and uncontrolled vomiting. It’s awful. The smell makes my stomach churn.
Just a warning that I am highly allergic to both avocado and banana, which my allergist said were related allergens. If you are sensitive to avocados, please be very careful before substituting banana as recommended. Also take care with papaya, latex, kiwifruit, and water chestnut, which all share related allergens (and yes, I react badly to them all). Eating any of the above (obviously I don’t eat latex!) gives me the mother of all stomachaches, and I writhe around on the floor and sweat and vomit for about 6 hours, for those of you who don’t believe food allergies are real. It’s real agony. 🙁
Thank you Kai! Yes, when looking for substitutes you definitely need to think about other food allergies or related allergens as well.
Hello. I’ve noticed that a lot folks don’t believe it’s an allergy. “Oh yeah that’s right, you don’t like avocado.” Infuriating.
Figuring out I have both allergies started with guacamole making my mouth feel weird; followed by multiple bouts of what I thought was food poisoning. Until I noticed that common denominator. Every encounter my symptoms seem to worsen. Even if I scraped it off, the residue was enough.
Except for a couple times I was served something cooked in avocado oil.
No mouth weirdness, no stomach agony. I don’t understand how.
Anybody else?
Hi Sean,
Thank you so much for your comment. I agree that comments like this can be infuriating and also really dangerous. Worsening symptoms with repeated exposure is definitely something that can happen with food allergies.
As for the avocado oil — sometimes (not always) people can tolerate oils made from foods they are allergic to because the allergens and/or proteins in the whole food are not present in the oil. If you haven’t already, it may be a good idea to see an allergist and ask about a safety plan, especially if you unintentionally eat avocado.