Avocados have recently become a health craze. The fruit is found on trees and originated in South Mexico. The plant of the tree is the avocado which is a large berry containing a stone in the middle also known as a pit. Due to the recent rise in popularity in the last few years, they are now easily available for everyday consumption.
They have a dark green skin with a light green middle and are now used around the world as a delicious ingredient to a wide range of food and drink items. Avocados are very popular as a healthy meal when served on toast, in salads and sandwiches. It also used as the main ingredient in guacamole, a popular Mexican dip and is also added to milkshakes and smoothies.
Avocado is a very healthy fruit that is packed full of vitamins and minerals including vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin K, and potassium. This gives the body a wide range of great health benefits. The recent surge in consumption of avocados can be for many reasons including health benefits and availability. They are incredibly nutritious, tasty and loaded with great vitamins and minerals to help the body.
As one of the more unique fruits, avocados contain a high percentage of healthy fats whereas most fruits are high in sugar and carbohydrates. Many studies have been carried out to show the effectiveness of avocados and the positive impact they have on the body.
Potassium
Believe it or not, avocados contain more potassium than bananas. Potassium is an important nutrient for the body to help maintain cells in the body as well as helping to reduce blood pressure and the chance of having a heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.
Bananas have around 10% of the recommended daily amount of potassium whereas avocados provide up to 14%. Many people do not get enough potassium that is recommended however avocados can help improve this. It helps to protect and improve cardiovascular health and regulate fluid balance. So if you need more potassium in your diet, grab an avocado instead of a banana to get more.
Fiber
Avocados are rich in fiber which is an essential nutrient for the body. Fiber helps to promote a healthy digestive system and helps provide regular bowel movements. Fiber can also aid in weight loss and has been linked with lower the risk of disease.
By consuming just one portion (100 grams) of avocado a day, you can get 27% of the recommended daily amount of finer for the body.
Fiber is very important and should be part of everyone’s daily diet. It helps keep the digestive system healthy by providing lots of beneficial impacts. When avocado is consumed, it leaves the stomach undigested and ends up in the colon where it feels friendly gut bacteria.
Protects Eyes
Avocados are rich in antioxidants and are also excellent at helping to absorb antioxidants from other food sources. They contain chemical compounds including carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin which are both beneficial for the eyes. These antioxidants have shown evidence for helping to protect the eyes, reduce the chance of getting cataracts and macular degeneration which is common in older people.
By adding avocados to your everyday diet you will be able to benefit from the powerful antioxidants as well as protect the eyes.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is an essential vitamin for the body. It provides a wide range of benefits and is found in avocados. The vitamin plays a role in helping to prevent blood clots and excessive bleeding. It also helps benefit the health and strength of bones.
Vitamin is important for newborn babies. Most newborn babies will get a shot of vitamin K because it is very hard for them to get these vital vitamins through breast milk. Eating avocados and other food that is rich in vitamin K will help provide a newborn baby with a nutritional diet. Consuming avocados can help prevent VKDB in newborn babies.
Healthy Fats
Avocados are rich in healthy fats, unlike most fruit which contains natural sugars and carbohydrates. They are very high in fat, however, this is healthy fat and essential for a healthy balanced diet. Most of the fat in avocado is from oleic acid. This acid is also found in olive oil and helps to reduce blood pressure, reduce inflammation and combat cancer.
Many people avoid eating avocados because of the high levels of fat. However, it should be remembered that these are healthy fats and should be part of all diets. These fats can bring a number of health benefits to the body and can easily be ingested through avocados.
References:
12 Proven Health Benefits of Avocado
Eating Avocado Is Good for You: 23 Health Benefits and Nutrition Facts