College Health TV
In recent years, avocados have been all over the press. Not only are they an excellent addition to brunch alongside toast and poached eggs, but they’re also a great source of nutrients, particularly healthy fats. Here are five health benefits of the most talked-about food of the year.
Avocados Contain Healthy Fats
When you hear that a food is high in fat, you may instinctively avoid it, and 77% of the calories in avocado come from fats. But when it comes to this particular fruit, you don’t need to worry. The fat content is mostly made up of oleic acid, otherwise known as the monounsaturated fatty acid Omega-9, which is also found in olive oil, peanut oil and soybean oil. Oleic acid is great for people with diabetes as it can improve insulin sensitivity and blood circulation, leading to more easily controlled diabetes. It also has a good effect on genes linked to cancer and can help to reduce inflammation.
Avocados Contain A Lot Of Fiber
In order to have a happy and healthy digestive system, it’s important to eat plenty of fiber, which bulks out your waste and enables you to go to the bathroom regularly by feeding the ‘good’ gut bacteria that helps the body to function. It helps out with weight loss and can also help to lower the risk of diseases, including coronary heart disease. It can also help fight obesity. If you eat a 100 gram serving of avocado, it will contain 7 grams of fiber, which is 27% of the recommended daily amount. Whether you eat it mashed on toast or as part of a tricolor salad alongside mozzarella and tomato, it’s a great addition to your daily food intake.
Avocados Are Good For Your Vision
If you use screens a lot as part of your everyday life, you probably spend a lot of time wanting to ensure that your eyes are protected. Obviously getting up and looking away from the screen will help, but so will adding avocado to your diet. It’s rich in the phytochemicals lutein and zeaxanthin, which provide antioxidant protection to the eyes that will help to minimize light damage, particularly from ultraviolet rays. Eating avocado can also help to prevent you from developing macular degeneration thanks to the fact that it contains monounsaturated fatty acids that will help you to absorb antioxidants like beta-carotene.
Avocados Contain A Lot Of Nutrients
If you want to add more vitamins to your diet, eating avocado more frequently is a great choice. It contains vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, vitamin E, which has anti-aging properties, and vitamin B-6, which helps the body store energy from proteins and carbohydrates and is essential for hemoglobin in the blood. Avocado also contains folate, which combats anemia and can protect against colon and stomach cancer alongside helping pregnant women; niacin, which can improve cholesterol levels; and magnesium, which helps to look after the muscle and nerve function in the body along with regulating blood sugar and blood pressure and promoting a healthy immune system. Avocado also contains more potassium than bananas, which helps to reduce blood pressure, thereby reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Avocados Are A Heart Healthy Food
Heart disease is the most common cause of death worldwide, and the risk of it can be increased thanks to several risk factors, including high blood pressure and high levels of cholesterol. Studies have shown that eating avocado can significantly reduce cholesterol levels, reduce blood triglycerides, and raise the good cholesterol in the body. Studies have also shown that people who regularly eat avocado weigh less, have lower BMIs, less belly fat, and are half as likely to have metabolic syndrome, which is a major risk factor for heart disease. Although avocados may not be the cause for these people being in better health, the studies demonstrated that adding foods like avocado to your diet can make you more aware of what you’re eating, thereby leading to a healthier lifestyle and body. Avocado isn’t just a trendy food – it’s also a nutritional choice that can significantly improve your health. Eat slices of it in a salad, mix it with feta and chopped tomatoes, or add it to your burger. No matter how you eat your avocado, you’ll be improving your diet.
