Avocados have grown in popularity in recent years, with people mixing the creamy fruit into smoothies or slicing it to stack on toast.
Avocados Have Health Benefits
For a good cause, the green fruit has become a cooking staple all around the world. Avocados have several health advantages and are a versatile cooking ingredient, according to CNN nutrition writer Lisa Drayer.
She incorporates it into soups, dips, and even chocolate truffles. Avocados, she said, may be a really good fat substitution that won’t make the sweets taste like avocado, depending on how it is baked with them.
They are high in nutrients and maybe a healthy complement to a well-balanced diet.
They are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which aid in the reduction of LDL cholesterol. According to Drayer, low-density lipoprotein, or LDL cholesterol, is the “bad cholesterol,” while high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is the “good cholesterol.”
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, LDL cholesterol accounts for the vast majority of cholesterol in the human body. According to the CDC website, those with high levels of this cholesterol are more likely to have a stroke or be diagnosed with heart disease.
According to the US Department of Agriculture, a 100-gram (3.5-ounce) serving of avocado contains 485 milligrams (0.02 ounces) of potassium. On the other hand, a banana has 358 milligrams (0.01 ounce) of potassium per 100 grams.
According to the US National Library of Medicine, the mineral helps regulate nerve activity and transport nutrients into cells while removing waste.
According to the American Heart Association, potassium also helps to lower blood pressure. According to the CDC, high sodium levels can raise blood pressure, while potassium allows more salt to exit the body through urine. According to the American Heart Association, this decreases blood pressure.
According to Drayer, monounsaturated fats are fat molecules with one unsaturated carbon link. In layman’s words, it’s unsaturated fat that acts to decrease LDL cholesterol while leaving the beneficial HDL cholesterol alone, she explained.
According to the Mayo Clinic, having too much LDL cholesterol causes hardening and narrowing of the arteries. This lowers blood flow through the arteries, which can lead to blood clots and other health problems.
According to the USDA, avocados provide roughly 7 grams (0.25 ounces) of fiber per 100 grams (3.5 ounces).
According to the Mayo Clinic, fiber-rich meals keep people fuller for longer than low-fiber meals. According to the Mayo Clinic, this makes avocados an excellent choice for anyone who is controlling their weight.
According to the USDA, avocado has 81 micrograms (0.0000028 ounces) of folate per 100 grams (3.5 ounces).
Folate is a B vitamin that is essential for good brain function and healthy pregnancies, according to Drayer.
The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements recommends 400 micrograms (0.000014 ounces) of folate per day for women of reproductive age. According to the EPA, pregnant women should raise their consumption to 600 micrograms (0.000021 ounces) every day.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, folate can help prevent birth abnormalities, particularly those affecting a baby’s brain and spine, during the first few weeks of pregnancy.
According to the report, over half of births in the United States are unplanned, which is why it’s critical for all women of reproductive age to consume adequate folate as part of their normal diet.
Avocados are high in nutrients and can help decrease LDL cholesterol. Furthermore, they can keep people satiated for a longer period of time.
Avocados, like other high-fat foods, are calorically dense, which means they have a lot of calories per gram. According to the USDA, 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of avocado has 160 calories.
Avocados are a terrific addition to the diet as long as people are mindful of their calorie consumption, according to Drayer.
Guacamole is a popular avocado-based food that is simple to prepare and a crowd favorite.
With over 15 years as a practicing journalist, Nikki Attkisson found herself at Powdersville Post now after working at several other publications. She is an award-winning journalist with an entrepreneurial spirit and worked as a journalist covering technology, innovation, environmental issues, politics, health etc. Nikki Attkisson has also worked on product development, content strategy, and editorial management for numerous media companies. She began her career at local news stations and worked as a reporter in national newspapers.