Health benefits of avocado
Besides their amazing creamy textures, avocados are awesome because they are the only fruit with monounsaturated fatty acids which is the healthy fats our bodies need to function.
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This is good news for those following a more plant-based lifestyle because animal products are not the only way to get these healthy fats.
Additionally, avocados are full of fibre, great source of vitamins and have been shown to lower cholesterol in clinical trials and are full of folate.
Here are some of the benefits in adding avocado to your diet.
Weight loss
Including avocados in your diet could help you naturally eat fewer calories and have an easier time sticking to a healthy diet.
Avocados are also high in fibre and very low in carbs, two attributes that also help promote weight loss.
Prevent cancer
Some studies in isolated cells have shown that nutrients in avocados may have benefits in preventing prostate cancer and lowering side effects of chemotherapy in some cells.
Protect the eyes
Not only do avocados increase antioxidant absorption from other foods, they are also high in antioxidants themselves.
This includes nutrients called Lutein and Zeaxanthin, which are incredibly important for eye health.
Studies show that these nutrients are linked to reduced risk of cataracts and macular degeneration, which are common in the elderly.
Therefore, eating avocados should have benefits for eye health over the long term.
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Lower cholesterol
Numerous studies have shown that eating avocado can improve heart disease risk factors as well as blood triglycerides.
These risk factors includes cholesterol, triglycerides, inflammatory markers, blood pressure and various others.
The effects of avocado on some of these risk factors have been studied in eight human controlled trials.
Rich in nutrients
Avocados are very nutritious and contain a wide variety of nutrients, including 20 different vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin C, Folate, Potassium and Vitamin B5.
It also contains small amounts of Magnesium, Manganese, Copper, Iron, Zinc, Phosphorous, Vitamin A, B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin) and B3 (Niacin).
Healthy fatty acids
The majority of the fat in avocado is oleic acid. This is a monounsaturated fatty acid that is also the major component in olive oil and believed to be responsible for some of its beneficial effects.
The fats in avocado are also pretty resistant to heat-induced oxidation, making avocado oil a healthy and safe choice for cooking.
www.Healthline.com