The avocado. It’s green. It’s pear shaped. And, drum roll please….It’s highly nutritious! You might have already known that or you might have thought of the infamous avocado toast that millennials spend all their money on. You’d definitely know about avocados if you’re a guacamole lover because they’re the main ingredient! Guacamole and toast aside, the avocado is a “superfood” that is highly nutritious and provides many, many health benefits to those who incorporate it into their regular diet.
All About Avocados
Its telling green skin and pear shape earned the fruit’s nickname, “alligator pear,” but usually refers to the Hass pear. Although it is green and a produce item, it’s actually a berry! What makes avocados stand out from the others is its many benefits all in one fruit.
Here are some of the many reasons why everyone loves avocados:
- It has no cholesterol or sodium and low in saturated fats.
- It’s better than bananas when it comes to potassium.
- Its antioxidants benefit your eye health.
- It’s a good source of fiber.
- It’s super fatty in a good way.
- It helps with chronic illnesses – including cancer!
A Fruit Full of Fat, Fiber, and Folate
The benefits listed above are the overall general benefits of eating avocados. What’s impressive is just how nutritious an avocado really is. Check out the nutrition facts for about half an avocado:
- Calories 114
- Dietary fiber 6 g
- Total sugar 0.2 g
- Potassium 345 milligrams (mg)
- Sodium 5.5 mg
- Magnesium 19.5 mg
- Vitamin A 43 micrograms (μg)
- Vitamin E 1.3 mg
- Vitamin K 14 μg
- Vitamin B-6 0.2 mg
- Monounsaturated fatty acids 6.7 g
The 6.7 grams of monosaturated fatty acids is what makes avocados so healthy. The main monosaturated fatty acid is oleic acid, which is associated with reducing inflammation, lowering the risk of heart disease, and linked to improving cancer. The fat also helps the body absorb nutrition from other plant foods that have phytochemicals that have shown correlation to improved health.
For a fruit that you can hold in one hand, it is jam packed with all good things for body health.
A Powerful Fruit
Avocados are linked to many more benefits for pregnant women and their babies with its folate and potassium, two nutrients usually under consumed by pregnant women, that improves maternal health, birth outcomes, and breast milk. It’s associated with weight loss, dental health, preventing food poisoning, and reducing liver failure. And it has shown evidence of helping the effects of depression and health experts argue that people who regularly eat avocados are usually healthier than non-avocado counterparts. With so many benefits, it’s a wonder that not everyone is eating avocados at every meal.
The good thing about avocados is that it’s delicious and easy to incorporate into your meals. One of the best ways to do that is to make guacamole. Try out this healthy and delicious guacamole recipe to enjoy alone or with your friends. Then grab some healthy, whole wheat chips (or regular) and be the star of the party who brought the best dip ever!