Avocados may be fatty, but that doesn't mean that they are bad for your health. In fact, this fruit is a nutritional powerhouse providing numerous potential health benefits. Its creamy texture and rich taste make it a common ingredient in many dishes. It is probably most well known for being a key ingredient in the Mexican dip "guacamole".
But what makes this fruit so good for you? We investigate.
- Healthy fats – most of the fats in avocado are monounsaturated which is considered to be a “good fat”. It helps reduce bad cholesterol levels and may even lower your risk of stroke and heart disease.
- Protein – avocados have a higher amount of protein than most other fruits
- Sugar – they have a low sugar content compared to other fruits. .Avocados contain approximately 0.2 g of sugar
- Vitamins and minerals - avocados are an excellent source of potassium (containing more per weight than bananas). In addition, avocados are rich in vitamin K, Vitamin B9, vitamin B6, vitamin B5 vitamin C, and vitamin E.
- Dietary fibre - a medium avocado contains 11 grams of fibre, which is close to half of the daily recommended minimum intake
Along with the ability to reduce the risk of diabetes, stroke, and coronary artery disease, avocados may help promote a healthy body weight and BMI.
One study, published in the Nutrition Journal assessed the link between avocado consumption and metabolic syndrome. The scientists concluded that "avocado consumption is associated with improved overall diet quality, nutrient intake, and reduced risk of metabolic syndrome."1
Avocados are also rich in phytochemicals, which have been reported to help prevent the development of certain cancers. A team of scientists who examined the the chemopreventive characteristics of avocados concluded that "individual and combinations of phytochemicals from the avocado fruit may offer an advantageous dietary strategy in cancer prevention."2
Check out this site for more great info on avo’s plus recipes and more
1. "Avocado consumption is associated with better diet quality and nutrient intake, and lower metabolic syndrome risk in US adults: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001–2008" Victor L Fulgoni, Mark Dreher and Adrienne J Davenport. Nutrition Journal doi:10.1186/1475-2891-12-1. 2 January 2013. Accessed 18 December 2013.
2. "Chemopreventive characteristics of avocado fruit." Ding H, Chin YW, Kinghorn AD, D'Ambrosio SM. Semin Cancer Biol.2007 Oct;17(5):386-94. Abstract. Accessed 18 December 2013.