As we are approaching summer, we have the opportunity to add more seasonal produce and healthy alternatives to our diets. One such fruit that is popular in early summer is the avocado. Avocados have a wide range of health benefits and have been dubbed a superfruit. Here are 5 reasons why you should add this superfruit to your diet!
1. Healthy Fats
Avocado is the fattiest plant food on the planet, with 77% of its calories coming from fat. Don’t worry, it isn’t the same fat you would find in an ice cream cone! The primary fat in avocados is monounsaturated fat with a bit of saturated and polyunsaturated fats as well. Monounsaturated fat is a healthy fat (the same kind that you can find in olive oil) and has been known to help reduce inflammation, lower risk of heart disease, and anti-cancer effects.
2. Packed with Vitamins
Avocado has been deemed a superfruit for a reason; it is packed full of 20 different vitamins and minerals. To give you a quick glimpse, here is what Healthline reports is in a single 3.5-ounce serving of avocado.
- Vitamin K: 26% of the daily value (DV)
- Folate: 20% of the DV
- Vitamin C: 17% of the DV
- Potassium: 14% of the DV
- Vitamin B5: 14% of the DV
- Vitamin B6: 13% of the DV
- Vitamin E: 10% of the DV
- It also contains small amounts of magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, zinc, phosphorous, and vitamins A, B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin) and B3 (niacin).
Ensuring that your body receives adequate amounts of its needed vitamins has numerous benefits that will lead to a healthier mind and body.
Fun fact: Avocados are also known as “alligator pears” or “butter fruits.”
3. Better than Bananas
People often rave about the good qualities of bananas, fiber and potassium, but avocados are even better. A serving of avocado has 27% recommended daily allowance of fiber and 14% of potassium, both of which are more than bananas have to offer.
4. May Aid in Weight Loss
A single serving of avocado has around 6 grams of fat. You may be thinking that won’t aid in weight loss, but it can! When you eat fat, your body tells your brain that it can stop eating, essentially the off-switch to your appetite. If you can remember to stop chowing down when you are no longer hungry, it can aid in weight loss. Plus, you can use avocado as a substitute for unhealthy foods such as mayo and butter.
5. Avocados are Delicious!
The best reason of all to add avocado to your diet is that it is delicious! Avocado can be added to a salad, on toast, in a sandwich, blended up in a smoothie, and so much more. You can even eat it plain! Add a smidge of lemon juice or a dash of salt and pepper, and you can eat it right out of the shell!
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