Living Well
18 Healthy Reasons To Eat Avocados
Nov 6, 2017Avocados can be termed as the superfood of the last decade! From creating photogenic toasts to nutritious smoothies, the health benefits of avocados are endless. Let’s find out more about the nutritional benefits of avocados.
Lower Blood Pressure
Potassium is a very important nutrient but most people don’t get enough of it. Getting an adequate amount of potassium helps in lowering blood pressure. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure. Because they are high in potassium, a key benefit of avocados is reducing the risk of all these serious health conditions.
Rich in Heart-Healthy Fatty Acids
Avocados are an excellent source of healthy fats. They contain oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid which is highly beneficial for heart health. Consumption of oleic acid reduces inflammation and has a positive effect on genes that are linked to cancer.
Loaded With Fiber
Among the various health benefits of avocados is their high fiber content. About 25% of the fiber in avocados is soluble, while 75% is insoluble. Soluble fiber helps in regulating blood sugar levels and lowers blood cholesterol. Insoluble fiber is good for digestive health.
Packed With Water-Soluble Vitamins B and C
Most people don’t know that B-complex vitamins and vitamin C cannot be stored in the body. So, you need to eat them regularly to ensure your body has these vitamins in enough quantities. Because they are a rich source of these vitamins, benefits of avocados include promoting healthy skin and improved mineral absorption.
Chock-Full Of Proteins
Avocados are high in protein and low in sugar. As a result, benefits of avocados include helping in building lean muscle mass and burning fat. Our body needs protein to repair cells and make new ones. Avocados are an excellent protein food for vegetarians and vegans, in particular.
Help Pregnant Women
Pregnant women can benefit from avocados, because nausea and queasiness are common during pregnancy. Since avocados contain vitamin B6, they can help immensely in reducing nausea and vomiting.
Good For Healthy Skin, Eyes, and Hair
Avocados are one of the nature’s best moisturizers, because they are antioxidant-rich foods that contain lutein. Lutein is a type of carotenoid that protects the eyes and preserves healthy skin and hair. Among others, the health benefits of avocados include reducing the risk of certain cancers of the skin and eye disorders.
Help In Weight Loss
Fats in avocado are super filling and increase satiety hormones that help to eat less overall. They allow you to go longer between meals without getting hungry and prevent overeating, snacking and sugar addiction.
Great For Digestive Health
As avocados are loaded with fiber, they are great for anyone with digestive tract issues. Because fiber helps in increasing healthy bacteria while decreasing unhealthy bacteria. Fiber also adds bulk to excreta, making it easier for the body to discharge waste & toxins through the intestines and colon.
Ideal for Hormonal Balance and Cognitive Function
Fatty acids in avocados help in regulating central nervous system functions. They also help in improving reproductive health as they help balance hormones naturally. Avocados also improve cognitive processes, making them an important part of any anti-depression diet.
Good For Diabetics
As they are high in healthy fats, health benefits of avocados include controlling diabetes and helping in weight loss. A high-fat diet works for diabetics because it reduces the body’s dependence on carbohydrates for its energy needs. It is a well-known fact that carbohydrates increase blood sugar levels.
Good For Oral Health
Bad breath is usually caused due to indigestion or an upset stomach. Because they are good for digestion, helping with bad breath is one of the lesser known benefits of avocados.
Can Prevent Oral Cancer
Studies show that the health benefits of avocado are far reaching as a cancer-fighting food. The phytochemicals in avocados can make them an excellent food for preventing oral cancer.
Provide Relief From Symptoms of Arthritis
The health benefits of avocado are not limited to the intake of avocados alone. You can also get these benefits through the intake of extracts from avocado and soybean oil. Known as Avocado and Soybean unsaponifiables, these extracts help in reducing the symptoms of arthritis.
Packed With Anti-Ageing Properties
Studies show that consumption of avocados helps in decreasing the signs of aging. Avocados are packed with xanthophylls, which are antioxidants associated with healthy aging.
Helpful For PCOS
The right diet can go a long way in helping women with PCOS. Eating the right fats is extremely important in PCOS. Avocado is one of the best sources of healthy fats!
Help in Menopause
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps fight the free radicals in the body, which may increase due to menopause. This vitamin also reduces inflammation and controls various symptoms of menopause. Avocados, a rich source of vitamin E, are a superfood for menopause.
Tips To Enjoy The Benefits Of Avocados
Tips To Enjoy The Benefits Of Avocados
Here are some creative ways to experience the benefits of avocados.
- You can scoop out the flesh of avocados for toasts & smoothies. You can also eat plain slices of avocados with salt & pepper.
- For a shiny and healthy glow, rub the inside of an avocado peel on your skin.
- Avocados can be used as a dressing for salad or any other foods of your choice.
- Use avocado oil as a moisturizer by mixing it with therapeutic essential oils.
To conclude, avocados are highly nutritious. They contain a wide variety of nutrients, including 20 different vitamins and minerals. A 100-gram serving of avocados includes 160 calories, 2 grams of protein and 15 grams of healthy fats. Avocados do not contain cholesterol or sodium and are low in saturated fat, making them an excellent health food.
Apoorva is a health & well being enthusiast who believes in eating fresh and eating right. She's an obsessive dancer who also enjoys an occasional yoga and boot-camp class. She is willing to spend hours hunting down a healthy but delicious smoothie!
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