It's the 'it' food of the last few years which you'll struggle to avoid if you go out for brunch.

But health experts have warned that we may be eating too much avocado - in fact, far more than is healthy.

Nutritionists say we should limit our intake of the Instagram darling to just half an avocado a day - and eating more than that could lead to weight gain.

Avocados are notoriously fatty, though the fat they contain are, of course, much healthier than the kind of fats found in a Big Mac, or a Mars Bar.

Though the fruit is packed full of essential goodness, such as fibre and cancer-fighting vitamins, eating too much of a good thing can still lead to weight gain.

Nutritionists therefore recommended that about half an avocado is the healthiest amount to eat in one day, according to Sheer Luxe.

It's all too easy to eat a whole avocado by yourself. 

Guacamole is one of the most popular dips of the day and a tub often contains more than one fruit, meaning you could be eating an entire avocado without even realising it.

And for those who regularly eat and cook alone, it's much less wasteful to eat both halves of the fruit as avocados quickly turn brown once exposed to the air - so they can't really be saved for another day.

Nevertheless, an ideal portion size is half an avocado per person per day, according to the health experts.

However, there is a silver lining for avocado obsessives.

The amount of fat you consume in a day depends on a number of factors, including how much exercise you've done and your body type.

So if you've worked out at the gym or are someone who needs more fuel on average to keep up your energy levels, than a whole avocado may not lead to any weight gain.

But for most people who follow guidelines which state that fat should make up 30 per cent of your daily diet, experts say half an avocado will be enough on top of the other fats you consume on average in a day.