In recent years, avocados have exploded in popularity — they’re not just the main ingredient for guacamole anymore! Avocados are in everything from smoothies to salads to sandwiches and wraps. Even avocado oil can be substituted for vegetable oil in cooking. So what has made this fruit the go-to super food? Below are some of the health benefits of avocados:
- Avocados have 20 vitamins minerals in every serving, including potassium (more than bananas), folate and lutein.
- They are an excellent source of B vitamins, which help the body fight disease and infection.
- Avocados are low in sugar.
- Eating avocados can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
- They may help prevent cancer (more human-based research is still needed).
- They may help you lose weight. Avocados contain a healthy dose of fiber, which helps you feel fuller longer.
Wait, aren’t avocados high in fat?
It’s true — avocados are a high-fat food. In fact, 77% of the calories in it are from fat, making it one of the fattiest plant foods in existence. However, it’s monounsaturated fat, which is a “good” fat that helps lower bad cholesterol. Because they are high in fat, they are high in calories. As with everything, moderation is key and the recommended serving size is a third of a medium-sized avocado.
