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.
Avocado Food Family
Avocados are part of the Lauraceae Food Family. The Lauraceae food family is also known as the Laurel Food Family (source).
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)
Medical extracts are also produced by plants in the Laurel Family. These include camphor and eugenol (source).
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 (source). 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 (source):
- 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 (source):
- Avocado
- Banana
- Bell Pepper
- Chestnut
- Kiwi
- Peach
- Potato
- Tomato
Histamine Intolerance
Avocado intolerance is also associated with histamine intolerance (source).
Foods high in histamine include (source):
- 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
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.
Avocado oil may also be used in cosmetics and personal care products.
Be on the lookout for avocados in the following foods:
- As a garnish on soups
- As Avocado Oil
- Guacamole
- On salads
- On sandwiches
- In many cuisines
- In vegan and paleo products including butter alternatives, dressings and baked goods.
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 (source) (source).
- 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
- 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.
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.
Like what you read? Sign up for our email Newsletter.
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.