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". Because of its high fat content, avocado
is also used as a meat substitute in sandwiches and salads.
Avocados are also considered as one of the healthiest
foods in the planet because they contain in excess of 25 essential nutrients, including
vitamin A, B, C, E, & K, copper, iron, phosporus, magnesium, and potassium.
Avocados also contain fiber, protein, and several beneficial phytochemicals
such as beta-sitosterol, glutathione and lutein, which may protect against
various disease and illness.
Skin
Benefits
The monounsaturated fats in avocado are also
beneficial for improving your skin tone. They are vital for maintaining good
moisture levels in the epidermal layer of your skin that make it look and feel
soft and healthy. Omega-9 fats can additionally help reduce skin redness and
irritation and are involved in repairing damaged skin cells.
Avocado benefits also include protecting your skin
from wrinkles and other visible signs of aging with its antioxidant
carotenoids, vitamin E which helps guard against photo-aging from sun exposure
and vitamin C which is involved in the creation of elastin and collagen for
maintaining your skin’s elasticity and firmness.
Avocados
may help lower cholesterol
Research suggests that eating avocados could help
lower levels of bad cholesterol. A study published in the Archives of Medical
Research found that an "avocado enriched diet can improve lipid profile in
healthy and especially in mild hypercholesterolemia patients, even if
hypertriglyceridemia (combined hyperlipidemia) is present."
After a week of following the avocado enriched diet
the patients experienced a 22% decrease in bad cholesterol and triglyceride
levels and an 11% increase in good cholesterol.
Maintain
a healthy heart
Avocado contains vitamin B6 and folic acid, which
help regulate homocysteine levels. High level of homocysteine is associated
with an increased risk of heart disease. Avocado also contains vitamin E,
glutathione, and monounsaturated fat, which help in maintaining a healthy
heart.
Avocados and Weight Loss
Many people would be surprised that a food high in
fat and calories would be considered good for weight loss. However research has
shown that monounsaturated fatty acids are more likely to be used as slow
burning energy than stored as body fat.
This slow burning energy and the feeling of satiety
or satisfied fullness that you get from eating an avocado is one of the reasons
they are known for reducing hunger and appetite.
Promote
eye health
Avocado is an excellent source of carotenoid lutein,
which known to help protect against age-related macular degeneration and
cataracts.
Anti-aging
properties
Being rich in antioxidants, avocado is beneficial in
preventing aging symptoms. The glutathione in avocado may boosts immune
systems, slows aging process, and encourages a healthy nervous system.
Increase
nutrient absorption
Avocado intake is linked with an increased nutrient
absorption. A study suggests that, when participants ate salad included
avocados, they absorbed five times the amount of carotenoids (a group of
nutrients that includes beta carotene and lycopene) than those who did not
include avocados.
Cure
bad breath
Avocados are one of the best natural mouth wash and
bad breath remedies. It is cleanses intestine which is the real cause of coated
tongue and bad breath.
Avocados
may help prevent cancer
Avocados are rich in phytochemicals, which have been
reported to help prevent the development of certain cancers. A team of scientists
who examined the chemo preventive characteristics of avocados concluded that
"individual and combinations of phytochemicals from the avocado fruit may
offer an advantageous dietary strategy in cancer prevention."
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