5 Reasons to Love Avocados

We all know the joke about Millennials and avocado toast, but why is the avocado such a trendy food? The real and measurable health benefits of this creamy delight may surprise you.

1. Low-Carb

It may sound like an oxymoron, but avocados are considered a low-carb food, even though they are primarily made up of carbohydrates. This is due to that the type of carb they are made of is high in fiber. It's proven that fiber is great for weight loss and maintaining blood sugar; an added bonus. Avocados are an excellent addition to many of the popular diets that feature low-carb meal options in order to add flavor and a creamy texture while giving you the fiber that's often lacking in high-protein diets.

2. High in Good Fats

This is another common litany that you'll hear, but what are "good fats"? Avocados are made up of 77% fat, but it's a special fat known as Oleic Acid. This "good fat" is a type of monounsaturated fatty acid which contributes to good heart health. It helps reduce inflammation and can help reduce the risk of cancer. In addition to being packed full of Oleic Acid, avocados also contain no cholesterol, no sodium, and are low in saturated fat. They can even help lower LDL cholesterol. This means they are packed with all the good stuff, none of the bad.

3. Nutrient Dense

The average person is lacking in key vitamins and minerals in their daily diet. But avocados can help bring balance back to your meals with their dense nutritional value:

Vitamin K - helps blood clotting so your wounds heal faster

Folate (Vitamin B9) - helps with red blood cell formation and healthy cell growth

Vitamin C - helps maintain skin, blood vessels, bones, and cartilage

Potassium - helps regulate fluid balance, muscle contractions, and nerve signals (preventing stroke and fluid retention)

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) - helps the body break down and utilize fats and proteins

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) - helps the body store and utilize carboydrates and proteins, as well as helps to form haemoglobin

Vitamin E - a a fat-soluble nutrient antioxidant that helps protect the body from free radicals

Avocados offer many other vitamins and minerals in lower quantities such as Vitamin A, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorous, and Zinc.

4. High in Potassium

Bananas are what first come to mind when you think of Potassium. But did you know that avocados have bananas beat? Avocados contain 14% of the RDA (recommended daily allowance) for Potassium. Whereas bananas only contain 10% RDA. The average person does not get enough Potassium in their daily diet, and avocados are a great way to meet that need. A diet high in Potassium helps reduce blood pressure, which can reduce risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.

5. Utilize Fat-Soluble Nutrients

Many dieters are disappointed when their high veggie and leafy green diets don't seem to be giving the desired results. A big part of this is because the fat-soluble nutrients like Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Vitamin K don't have a fat-vessel in order to be absorbed and utilized by the body. Nutrients don't do you any good if your body isn't actually using them, so make the most of your leafy greens by adding in some avocado to boost that vitamin absorption.

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