Avocados grow from a tall evergreen tree that can reach a height of 65-80 feet and produce about 120 avocados in one year's time. Avocados can be enjoyed year round, as they are grown in many places such as Mexico, Florida, and California, and then exported to other areas. These little green 'alligator skin' fruits are extremely nutritious and provide many health benefits.
Avocados Protect Against Heart Disease and Stroke
Avocados have been shown to not only reduce bad cholesterol, but to increase good cholesterol as well. This is believed to be due to its content of oleic acid, a monosaturated fat found also in olive oil and known to lower cholesterol. Also, regular consumption of avocados leads to lower blood pressure, probably due to its high potassium content. Avocados also contain a nutrient vital to heart health, folate. Folate's importance is clearly shown in the results of one study which concluded that women who had high intakes of folate acid had a 55% lower risk of heart attack and fatal heart disease.
Avocados Can Contribute to Weight Loss
Even though avocados are high in fat, containing as much as 30 grams per avocado, they can help with weight loss. One reason is that these fruits are packed with vitamins and nutrients, thus giving the body a lot of nutrition from consuming a small quantity of food. Also, the fat from avocados help the body to feel full longer, and keep blood sugar levels from spiking. Unstable blood sugar levels can lead to feeling hungry faster and eating more at the next meal, so blood sugar control is very important to weight loss.
Avocados Increase Nutrient Absorption
The body is able to absorb the nutrients from many foods, such as salad vegetables, better when those foods are eaten along with avocados. This is because many foods contain vitamins which are fat soluble, meaning the body absorbs them much better when consumed with a food containing fat. And, studies have shown the even a small amount of avocado will do the trick.
Avocados Fight Cancer
Avocados have been shown to prevent oral, breast, and prostate cancer. The unique compositional make-up of the avocado actually causes free radicals to attack cancer cells, while leaving nearby healthy cells untouched.
Additional Health Benefits
Avocados are loaded with many other nutrients, such as lutien for eye health, vitamin E for free radical control and circulatory health, and many more. To see the full nutritional profile of the avocado, visit the in depth nutritional analysis at whfoods.com .
Sources:
"10 Health Benefits of Avocados." HealthDiaries.com | Health Blogs, Reviews, Articles and News. Web. 16 Mar. 2010. .
"The Avocado Advantage." WebMD - Better Information. Better Health. Web. 16 Mar. 2010. .
"The Avocado Advantage." WebMD - Better Information. Better Health. Web. 16 Mar. 2010. .
"WHFoods: Avocados." The World's Healthiest Foods. Web. 16 Mar. 2010. .
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Angel Chavis - Angel Chavis lives in NC with her husband, daughter, and various pets. She is a Christian, wife, homeschool mom, writer, student, and ...
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