The Incredible Health Benefits of Avocados

Avocados offer a wide variety of health benefits, thanks to the vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and fiber contained in them. What’s more, you can be creative with avocadoes and add them to various and recipes, so you’ll never grow bored of them.

Avocados are a rich source of Vitamin C, E, K, and B6. They also contain a healthy dose of riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium, potassium, beta carotene, and omega-3 fatty acids, which are indispensable for your physical and mental health. Besides, since they contain high levels of good fat – which is slow to break down compared to carbohydrates – they keep you full until your next meal.

Here are some of the essential benefits to keep in mind when you are next in the market to pick up a few avocados.

1. Heart

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is an old saying, and it is time to usher in the new. Avocados contain lots of dietary fibre and antioxidants. The researchers at Pennsylvania State University have found that eating an avocado a day helps lower LDL or bad cholesterol significantly.

Avocados also contain small but sufficient beta-sterol that helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels, which is key to a healthy heart. Rich in fibre, adding avocados to your diet also keeps your blood pressure, insulin, and weight in check. Fibre also promotes bowel movement and a good gut microbiome, which reduces the chances of inflammation and irritation in the dietary tract.

However, not all is rosy in avocados, and even natural ingredients can throw your body out of balance. Anything in moderation is no threat at all but gorging on avocados is not advisable. If you are watching your weight, beware that avocados can cause weight gain owing to their high-fat content.

2. Eyes

Also known as butter fruit, avocados also contain lutein and zeaxanthin, two phytochemicals present in eye tissue known for their antioxidant properties that aid in minimizing damage from UV rays and blue light. So the next time you find yourself in front of a screen far too long, take a break and snack on an avocado!

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3. Bones

We often pay little or no attention to our bones, and we usually only associate bone health with calcium. However, Vitamin K plays a vital role as it aids in absorbing calcium and reduces its outflux by excretion. You don’t even have to eat a pile of them, and just a single avocado can contribute to about 36% of the RDA of Vitamin K.

If for some reason you are on blood thinners, you need to maintain your Vitamin K levels, as any accidental surge could lead to blood clots. Feel free to consult with our team at the Budwig Center in case you have any questions.

4. Cancer Support

Monosaturated fatty acids (MUFA) have been shown to support cancer. While no research has confirmed that avocados directly prevent cancer, diets rich in MUFA have been demonstrated to be beneficial for prostate, colon, stomach, pancreatic, and cervical cancers.

Phytochemicals present in avocados may also play a role in cancer support by inhibiting the growth of cancer cells and inducing apoptosis (progressive cell decrease). Even while undergoing chemotherapy, patients are advised to take avocados because they are beneficial for genotoxicity possibly induced by chemotherapeutic agents.

Avocados are also rich in folates and carotenoids, which can curtail the progression of cancer.

5. Mental health

Speaking of folates, an avocado contains about 30% of the RDA value. According to a recent study, folate has a direct relationship with your mood. Folate also seems to prevent the build-up of homocysteine, infamous for impairing circulation, leading to cognitive dysfunction and depression. Less than ideal, folate levels also disrupt the production of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which are responsible for regulating mood, sleep, and appetite.

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