There’s no denying that avocados have become quite the hit over the past couple of decades. Everywhere you look, there’s either a person ordering avocado toast or Instagramming about their delicious, mushy avocado spread they had for dinner. Bottom line, avocados are a major thing right now.
But why do you think is that?
Well, in all honesty, I believe that it has nothing to do with the flavor, but actually with the nutrients that avocados provide us with. In my opinion, avocados are genuinely bland and boring unless they are combined with vegetables, spices, and savory foods.
However, it is all just a matter of taste. Regardless of how you prefer consuming this fruit, avocados are rich with nutrients and super-healthy fats that have numerous health benefits for us all. In fact, research has shown that people who eat avocados have a much higher nutrient intake and lower body mass index than the ones who don’t.
So, here are 10 reasons why you should all start including avocados in your meals:
1. AVOCADOS MAY HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT
Avocados may add that extra texture to a meal, but they also make the process of losing weight more effectively. Avocados are loaded with healthy fats and they are rich in fiber (6.7%). For those of you who do not know, fibers do not only provide volume, but they also require a lot of time to be digested, which eventually makes us feel full for a longer period of time.
2. AVOCADOS ARE A SOURCE OF NUTRIENTS
As I already mentioned, avocados are incredibly rich in nutrients and contain nearly 20 minerals and vitamins. This is what your body absorbs after eating one avocado: 53% Vitamin K, 41% Folate, 33% Vitamin C, 28% Pantothenic Acid, 28% Potassium, 26% Vitamin B6, 21% Vitamin E, 19% Copper.
3. AVOCADOS REGULATE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE
This versatile and healthy fruit is also rich in potassium which has been proved to be very helpful in regulating blood pressure. Its role is getting rid of the excessive amount of sodium in our bodies and easing the tension in our blood vessel walls, which eventually results in lower blood pressure.
4. AVOCADOS HELP YOU MAINTAIN GOOD CHOLESTEROL LEVELS
Avocados contain healthy omega 3 fatty acids, otherwise known as polyunsaturated fatty acids. They have many beneficial effects on heart diseases factors. Omega 3 fatty acids reduce triglycerides, reduce blood pressure, raise the good HDL levels and lower the bad cholesterol (LDL).
5. AVOCADOS PREVENT DIABETES
Aside from all the benefits that I’ve listed, avocados can also prevent diabetes or help people who struggle with diabetes. Many pieces of research have found that patients who consumed avocados eventually had their insulin and blood glucose levels evened out. This is due to the fact that avocados are low in carbs, which results in having very little effect on blood sugar levels.
6. AVOCADOS ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED DURING PREGNANCY
They are highly beneficial for all expecting mothers as well as babies. According to many types of research, avocados are actually one of the most important foods that pregnant women must incorporate in their diets. Why? They are rich in potassium, folate, Vitamin C and B6. While folate helps the development of the fetus, Vitamin B6 is essential for the baby’s brain growth.
7. AVOCADOS CONTRIBUTE TO BONE HEALTH
If you want to build and retain strong bones, avocado will surely help you. In case you didn’t know, one of the many healthy nutrients avocados contain is Vitamin K, copper and folate. This mixed with a few fresh fruits or vegetables will help you strengthen your bones. Several pieces of research also proved that consuming these foods benefits bone health.
8. AVOCADOS CONTAIN NUTRIENTS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR EYE HEALTH
If you’ve been dealing with macular degeneration, you probably know what foods are incredibly beneficial for eye health. Researches have shown that lutein and zeaxanthin are the most important nutrients in the fight against this problem. So, the only way we can get these phytonutrients into our bodies is through consuming foods that are rich in them lutein and zeaxanthin. One-third of a medium avocado contains 136 micrograms of these carotenoids.
9. AVOCADOS IMPROVE DIGESTION
As I previously said, avocados are rich in fiber, the ingredient that makes us feel full for a longer period of time. This is one of the most important parts of any well-balanced diet because consuming fiber-rich food helps the digestive system work efficiently and smoothly.
10. AVOCADOS ARE NATURAL ENERGY BOOSTERS
Believe me, you won’t need a coffee or an energy drink to start your day after you start incorporating avocado to your everyday meals. Of all the macronutrients, fat is the greatest source of energy for our bodies. So, you can imagine how beneficial healthy fats actually are. They provide us with a great flow of energy that lasts throughout the whole day. In addition, if you choose to combine them with carbs, they also help our body slow down the digestion which means that you will feel full for a longer period.
This article is written by Stephanie Reeds. If you have any questions regarding this topic or one of your own interest, feel free to email me at [email protected].
