Did you know that avocados are actually a fruit? In fact, an avocado can be considered a single-seeded berry and like other berries, it's packed with plenty of nutrients with a range of benefits that may surprise you.
Keep reading to find out about the unexpected benefits of avocados. For a printer-friendly version of this article, click here.
Avocados are Fatty—In a Good Way!
It's been long understood that a healthy diet is one that includes healthful amounts of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. These are critical in supporting our body's metabolism of carbohydrates, keeping our blood sugar stable, and benefiting our cellular health.
Avocados, which are rich in fatty goodness, can make an excellent substitute for butter or mayonnaise when used on a sandwich. By opting in for this alternative, you can benefit your body's overall health while lowering your risk of developing high cholesterol.
The fat helps absorb nutrients from plant food and studies have shown that eating avocado or avocado oil with veggies can dramatically increase the amount of antioxidants you take in.
Avocados Have Tons of Good Nutrients
Avocados contain a number of nutrients, including Vitamin K, folate, vitamin C, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, and vitamin E. They even contain more potassium than bananas, which is a nutrient most people don't get enough of despite its role in supporting heart health.
Avocados are also loaded with fiber. A 100 gram (3.5 ounce) serving of avocado contains 7 grams of fiber, which is 27% of the recommended daily amount. When foods are high in fiber and low in carbohydrates, like avocados happen to be, they can actually help promote weight loss.
Avocados Help Your Body Work Better
Studies have found that in isolated cells, the nutrients in avocados have preventative benefits against prostate cancer. They can also help lower side effects caused by chemotherapy.
Because they're high in antioxidants like Lutein and Zeaxanthin, avocados can help protect the eyes.
Extract from avocado and soybean oils have been found to significantly reduce symptoms of arthritis.
