The Amazing Benefits of the Avocado

While guacamole is the most common thought when an avocado is mentioned, there is so much more to this healthy food choice. Avocados are full of nutrients, healthy fat and have an amazing effect on your heart and your entire cardiovascular system. There are many reasons other than the delicious taste of guacamole to eat this fleshy fruit.

One great benefit of eating an avocado is their fat. Our bodies need fat, but need healthy fat. Monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats are the healthy kind of fats that your body needs to stay healthy. Saturated fat is the kind of fat that you should try to avoid as it leads to a congested heart system.

Avocados contain a healthy amount of monounsaturated fats. This healthy fat is also the same kind of fat that is found in olive oil. Two thirds of the fat in avocados is monounsaturated fat while the other third is saturated fat. Just remember to use less butter, cheese and animal fat in your diet when eating avocados since they do have the saturated fat as well.

The minerals that are naturally found in an avocado make it an ideal food choice. You can get a great source of iron, magnesium, potassium and copper from an avocado. While a banana has the reputation of having the highest level of potassium, an avocado actually has twice the potassium of a banana. Potassium is very important to maintain a healthy heart.

The fiver content of an avocado also makes it a healthy snack choice. A standard size avocado has about 5 grams of fiber. There are few fruits or vegetables that can beat the fiber content of an avocado. Getting enough fiber in your diet will help your body rid itself of bad cholesterol.

Avocados also have folic acid in them. Folic acid is a B vitamin that neutralizes homocysteine. Homocysteine causes damage to your blood vessels. Since avocados are generally eaten raw, none of the naturally occurring folic acid is cooked away during preparation. The soft, smooth flesh of an avocado makes for delicious treats when cut into sticks or cubes. Mashed it often resembles the texture of mashed potatoes and has a rich nutty taste.

Avocados also have high levels of antioxidants, primarily vitamins C and E. When you have enough vitamins and antioxidants in your blood stream, the cholesterol does not have a chance to leave its negative effects on your body. The free radicals are washed away by the antioxidants.

One last great benefit of an avocado is that they have been proven to lower your cholesterol. Many Americans struggle with high cholesterol, and adding avocados to your regular diet may help you relieve your body of the increasing amounts of cholesterol. Avocados contain very high levels of linoleic acids that play a very important role in your heart health. Linoleic acids also help regulate and control your blood pressure.

After all these benefits are laid out, it is easy to see why the avocado's reputation is growing among Americans. As more and more facts are discovered about heart health, more and more foods are being studies to see the effect they can have on your health.