The Guacamole (more commonly known as the Avocado) is a fruit that originated in the Mexican region that starts to ripe after it is picked from its tree. It has more than 500 variants and has a cultivation span of up-to 10,000 years. The Guacamole was first introduced in the U.S. in 1871 by Judge R.B. Ord who planted three avocado trees in Santa Barbara. Below are five health benefits of the avocado.
1. Contains Mono-Unsaturated Fatty Acids That Are Good For The Heart
Avocado is a high fat fruit. 77% of the calories contained in it come from fat thereby making it one of the fattiest plant food. But the fat contained in it is a special type of fat known as Oleic Acid. Oleic Acid has been proven to reduce inflammation and has shown to have beneficial effects in the genes that are connected with cancer. Oleic Acid is also believed to be responsible for some beneficial effects in Olive Oil. The fats contained in Avocados are also resistant to heat-induced oxidation making the oil from an avocado a very safe option for cooking.
2. Contains Good Source of Fiber
Fiber is a nutrient that is also found in large amounts in an avocado. It is basically indigestible plant matter that contributes greatly to the reduction of blood sugar spikes, weight loss and is strongly connected to lowering the risk of many diseases. 75% of the fiber contained in an avocado is insoluble and 25% is soluble. Soluble fiber is known to have the ability to feed the friendly gut bacteria in the intestine which is vital in making our bodies function normally. A 3.5 ounce (100 gram) serving of avocado contains 7 grams of fiber which is basically 27% of the recommended daily amount.
3. Contains Powerful Anti-Oxidants That Protect The Eyes
Avocados are very high in anti-oxidants and also tend to increase the absorption of anti-oxidants from other foods. These anti-oxidants include nutrients called Zeaxanthin and Lutein which are highly important when it comes to the health of the eye. Studies have shown that these nutrients are connected to a great reduction of macular degeneration and cataracts which are eye diseases that are common especially in the elderly.
4. Contains Potassium
Potassium is a nutrient that helps in the maintenance of electrical gradients in the cells of the body and has various important functions. Avocados are very high in potassium and a 3.5 ounce serving contains 14% of the RDA compared to the 10% in bananas which are popularly known as a high potassium food. Various studies have shown that the taking of potassium leads to reduced blood pressure and high blood pressure is known to lead to serious medical conditions like kidney failure, strokes and heart attacks.
5. Highly Nutritious
Avocados contains various nutrients and healthy fats that make it a must eat for people who look toward living a healthy lifestyle. It contains various vitamins in it leading it to be sometimes referred to as the alphabet fruit. One avocado can provide the body with vitamins A, C, E, K and B6 along with great amounts of healthy fats and potassium. The biggest health benefit of avocados though is that by adding it to certain types of food, it can increase the absorption of nutrients in the body. Burning foods combined with avocados increase the body’s nutrient absorption up-to 400%.