When I was a kid, I loathed avocado. I thought it tasted bad and had a weird texture. But then I read someone else’s description of it, saying its “buttery goodness made it amazing”. Well, that change my mind about avocado forever after that.
And to this day, I love the smooth green pit. It goes perfectly in salads, on toast, as a side at breakfast. It also blends in smoothies, goes well on eggs benedict, and is a perfect compliment on sandwiches or mixed in with cilantro, cumin, lime, to make guacamole, a personal favorite.
The smooth, rich flavor of avocado compliments many dishes which makes it a perfect addition. But more importantly avocado is a superpower food. Here are a few reasons you should be working on getting more avocado in the diet.
1) It is loaded with vitamins- Avocado has Vitamin K, folate, vitamin c, Potassium, Vitamin b5, b6, and E as well.
2) The potassium content in an avocado is more potent than the potassium found in a banana. Potassium is an electrolyte that maintains a healthy water balance between cells in the body.
3) Avocado has tons of monounsaturated fats- These fats are quick energy blocks the brain can use for fuel. The oleic fat in avocado also is linked t o reduce inflammation in the body
4) Avocados are loaded with fiber. Fiber is linked with lower levels of insulin and healthy bowel movements.
5) Eating avocados tends to produce healthier eating habits in the long run. One study found this.
One study analyzed data from 17,567 participants in the NHANES survey in the U.S.
Avocado consumers were found to be much healthier than people who didn’t eat avocados.
They had a much higher nutrient intake and were half as likely to have metabolic syndrome, a cluster of symptoms that are a major risk factor for heart disease and diabetes (25).
People who ate avocados regularly also weighed less, had a lower BMI and significantly less belly fat. They also had more HDL (the “good”) cholesterol.
6) Avocados can protect your eyes- The antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin can protect the eyes, reducing the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts.
7)Avocado can improve your breath- Bad breath is often linked to poor stomach health Avocado can help heal a damaged GI tract.
8) The avocado pit is full of everything- While not easy to eat on their own, an avocado pit can be ground up or blended to unlock a plethora of health benefits. The pit has antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer protperties. It can restore GI health, tighten skin by boosting collagen, and even reverse damage to the heart.
There you have it. Avocado should be put on every person’s shopping list, not only because it’s delicious, but because it takes the fight to health problems.
What are some additional ways you incorporate avocado into your diet? Let us know in the comments below.
