The benefits of avocado are many in number and they cannot be overemphasised. Avocado is more or less a superfood. Gotten from the avocado tree, the avocado pear is a berry with a large seed known as a pit or a stone. People wonder how to eat avocados, they can be eaten in many ways. The most popular way is guacamole which is a very nice dip. Avocados can also be prepared with meals, salads and can be eaten on its own. Word of advice, split it in half, remove the seed and sprinkle a little salt on it. With a teaspoon, scoop the avocado and eat it. Avocado nutrition facts will blow you away, it is so packed with nutrients and benefits. It also benefits the skin. This wonderous fruit can be purchased in the supermarkets or local markets at affordable prices.
Here are 10 benefits of avocado.
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Very nutritious
One of the benefits of avocado is that it is very nutritious. The avocado is often called a superfood because of its health benefits and is now a popular pick for individuals trying to stay healthy. The pear is a nutrition dream as it contains a bountiful amount of nutrition. These avocado calories shouldn’t be a worry for you. The fruit contains 160 calories with nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin E, folate, magnesium, vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin) and B3 (niacin), manganese, phosphorous copper, zinc, iron and vitamins A. All these in one fruit, this will guarantee consumers a certain percentage of vital vitamins and minerals needed for the optimum function of the body. Nothing like avocado nutrition.
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Rich in fibre
Avocado is rich in fibre with one whole fruit packing up to 13.5 grams of fibre. Avocado contains both soluble and insoluble fibre, hence it benefits the body both ways. Soluble fibre helps to reduce cholesterol levels by removing them from the body. This will protect the heart form potential heart diseases. Soluble fibre also helps to keep diabetes or diabetic episodes at bay because it does not contribute to blood sugar spikes. Both soluble and insoluble fibres aid weight loss making it a good addition to a weight loss diet. This fibre keeps you feeling full without increasing your calorie intake. They also aid bowel movement and promote digestive health.
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Lowers cholesterol levels
The fibre content in avocados helps tremendously in lowering cholesterol levels. Bad cholesterol does a lot of harm to the body and vital organs. It hinders the adequate flow of blood and organ operations. Avocados significantly lowers the LDL cholesterol levels and increases the HDL cholesterol levels. This protects the heart from the risks of heart diseases as the disease is a top cause of deaths in the world.
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Antioxidant properties
Avocado is a good source of both vitamin A and vitamin E. Vitamins are the most notorious antioxidants. They fight free radicals that can cause harm to the body. These antioxidants also include carotenoids, zeaxanthin and lutein which are essential for eye health. Avocados do not just contain antioxidants, they also aid the absorption of antioxidants from other foods. Free radicals must be fought because they damage DNA, cells and collagens. These antioxidants overall, boost the immune system.
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Aid nutrient absorption
Avocado is filled with many healthy monosaturated fatty acids and these acids aid the absorption of nutrients into the body. After consuming food, it is essential for those nutrients to be moved from the digestive tract to the body where it would be useful. Some nutrients like essential vitamins and antioxidants are fat-soluble, which means they need to be attached to fat to be absorbed. The healthy fats in avocado serve this purpose. Avocados also increase the nutrient value of other plant matter making it an ideal addition to your diet.
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Ideal for weight loss
Avocados contain fibre which helps you feel full and will make you eat less than you normally would. Asides that, contained in avocado are many essential nutrients which help you feel full for a longer period of time. the superfood also promotes a healthy metabolism rate by preventing metabolism complications. The body’s metabolism is responsible for processing consumed food and a slowed down process gives your food enough time to convert to fats. Therefore, eating foods that promote the desired metabolism so as to effectively manage weight.
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Rich in healthy monosaturated fatty acids
Avocado is rich in healthy monosaturated fatty acids and that’s what gives it an amazing taste. These fatty acids are not just for your taste buds to enjoy, they aid hormone production, nutrient absorption and cell development. The nutrient absorption factor is essential for the absorption of nutrients like antioxidants and essential vitamins. These fatty acids make up seventy-five percent of all the fatty acid content in avocados, making avocados one of the healthiest sources of these healthy fats in your diet
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High potassium content
Avocado is high in potassium content, even higher than bananas. Potassium is an essential mineral because it carries out some of the most important functions in the body. Potassium stimulates neural activity, strengthens the bones and muscles, prevents cramps, regulates blood pressure, reduces anxiety and stress, enhances metabolism, enhances the nervous system, boosts the heart, maintains water balance and regulates body fluids. These are very important things the body needs which potassium can provide, and it is largely contained in avocado.
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Reduces arthritic symptoms
Avocado has anti-inflammatory properties which offer numerous benefits. The healthy oils in avocado can reduce symptoms of arthritis. Arthritis occurs partly due to the inflammation the body may experience. Therefore, using the oils in avocado it is possible to experience a decreased pain in your joints. The compounds that form avocados have been shown to have a regenerative effect on cell tissue, making the use of avocado a long-lasting, sustainable support system for arthritic pains.
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Excellent during pregnancy
Due to the numerous benefits of avocado and the bountiful nutrients, the avocado fruit is essential for a pregnant woman. This is because it will provide enough nutrients for her and the baby. It will also help in the absorption of nutrients in other foods consumed. Avocado alone can provide the majority of the needed nutrients and a certain percentage of the daily recommended intake.
