Avocado, besides its rich, nutty taste, has many surprising health benefits as well. It is rich in nutrients including many vitamins, minerals, proteins, healthy fats, and many other nutrients. Learn more about the nutritional value of avocado.
Let’s take a closer look at the health benefits associated with this superfruit and understand why you should consider including avocados in your diet.
Health Benefits of Avocado
Bacteria-Fighting Properties
Avocado seeds are not only nutritious but also have powerful bacteria-fighting properties. They contain natural compounds that act as bactericidal and fungicidal agents, which help stop harmful germs and fungi from growing. These properties can be beneficial in preventing infections and supporting overall immune health. By inhibiting the growth of pathogenic microorganisms, avocado seeds can contribute to a healthier body, making them a great addition to your diet.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Avocados have anti-inflammatory properties that can help ease pain from conditions like osteoarthritis. They’re packed with healthy fats, such as omega-3 fatty acids, and other special compounds like phytosterol and campesterol, which help control inflammation.
Energy-Booster
If you’re feeling tired or sluggish, avocados are an energy booster! The vitamin C in avocados helps your body absorb iron, which can give you more energy throughout the day.
Avocado Benefits for Skin
Possibly one of the best-known benefits of avocados is how they improve skin. Avocado benefits for the skin are derived from a high content of healthy fats, vitamin E, and antioxidants. All these nutrients cohesively moisturize and protect the skin from damage generated by environmental factors such as UV exposure and pollution. Vitamin E is particularly known to rejuvenate the skin and remove wrinkles and lines. Avocados hydrate your skin by containing healthy fats, thereby making it full and plump.
Avocados can improve your skin elasticity, help reduce inflammation, and even support wound healing through either consumption or topical application to the skin. You might be one of those people with dry flaky skin. Add avocados to your diet for wonderful changes.
Avocado for Weight Loss
You would think that the high-calorie avocado should be something you stay far from when trying to shed off those extra pounds, but that is not the case. Avocados prove to be just perfect in a weight-loss diet plan. The fiber content and healthy fats keep you feeling fuller for a much longer time. The slow digestion rate by the fiber and the monounsaturated fat keeps your hunger levels suppressed.
These nutrients prevent overeating and hence it is possible to adhere to the needs of a calorie diet. For instance, research into avocados has discovered that any person on a weight loss diet that contains these fruits is very likely to regain lost weight.
That is to say, if you have been yearning for an alternative healthy lifestyle that will help you handle your weight then you can well include avocados in your plan. Consider preparing avocado juice or adding it to various other healthy recipes.
Avocado Benefits for Diabetes
An addition of avocados to the diet of diabetes patients would have a beneficial impact on blood sugar levels. Avocados are low in glycemic index and would not cause the blood sugar levels of a person to shoot up just after eating them. For diabetes patients, maintaining a steady level of blood sugar all through the day is crucial.
In addition, the fiber and healthy fats in avocados help increase insulin sensitivity thereby enhancing easy regulation of glucose levels in the body. The potassium content in avocados also serves to lower blood pressure, another key aspect of diabetes management.b This is a pretty good reason to add avocado to your diet, especially if it helps control diabetes.
Avocado Benefits for Fertility
Another great difference avocados can make is in fertility. The high folate content found in avocados can also be huge for reproductive health, especially for women who desire conception. Folate, also called vitamin B9, is a little bit crucial for the production of eggs to be healthy and prevents neural tube anomalies in developing babies.
No wonder why avocado benefits for fertility are usually recommended for women in the pregnancy stage or when conception is desired. Avocados also have monounsaturated fats that improve the quality of sperm and their motility in males. Avocado is also a good source of zinc, a mineral needed for male fertility. Thus, it gives combined benefits that make avocados a fertility-enhancing food for both sexes.
Avocado as a Mental Health Food
Not only is avocado an excellent body food but also it’s fantastic for the brain. The mental health benefits of the avocado come in more significant contents compared with its rich levels of omega-3 fatty acids and folate. Omega-3 helps improve cognitive function, memory, and concentration, while folate regulates mood and prevents depression.
Avocado is also a source of B vitamins; these can help counteract stress and boost energy levels. Maintaining sharpness of the brain and mood stability, avocados ensure proper mental health and well-being.
Health Benefits of Avocado Oil
Avocado oil is versatile, and its nutritional profile also ensures it offers several health benefits. Here’s a breakdown of how it supports your well-being:
Heart Health
Avocado oil is rich in oleic acid, which is a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat also found in olive oil. It helps decrease bad cholesterol (LDL) while maintaining good cholesterol (HDL), which may potentially lower the risk of heart disease. Animal studies even showed its ability to decrease blood pressure levels significantly.
Eye Benefits
This oil is a natural source of lutein, a carotenoid antioxidant found naturally in your eyes. Lutein protects your vision health and is likely to reduce your risk for most age-related common eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts. As your body cannot manufacture lutein, supplementing your diet with avocado oil makes it easy to incorporate eye health benefits.
Promotes Nutrient Absorption
Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K need fats for better absorption. According to studies, the usage of avocado oil in salads or meals increases the nutrient bioavailability, such as that of carotenoids, so it is a great combination with fresh vegetables.
Arthritis Relief
Avocado oil may help reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis, a common joint condition. Extracts from avocado and soybean oils (known as ASU supplements) have been found to ease pain and stiffness in the joints. If arthritis is a concern, consult a healthcare provider about adding ASU supplements to your regimen.
Rich in Antioxidants
Avocado oil is packed with carotenoids and vitamin E tocopherols and plant sterols, thus helping fight free radicals, reduce oxidative stress, and generally protect your cells from harm.
Side Effects of Avocado
Although avocados are rich in several benefits, it does not imply that all do not have side effects on consuming them. Overconsumption of avocados leads to excessive intake of calories; thus, those who consume excessive amounts may gain weight.
Additionally, people allergic to latex are allergic to avocados as well, and they result in outcomes such as itching, swelling, and difficulty breathing. This means that since avocados are so rich in potassium, patients with kidney issues will have to consult their doctors before including them in their diets. If you want to know about its side effects in detail, you can find it Side Effects of Avocado.
The Bottom Line
Avocados, commonly known as butter fruit, are much more than a trendy food. From skin health and weight management to fertility and mental health, avocados are a superfood. Learn more about how avocado protects you against various diseases. Although they pack many calories, their nutritional value makes them worth including in almost any diet. Nourishing the body and the mind when eaten over salad, toast, or blended with a smoothie.
Remember the next time you go in for an avocado you are tasting not only the delightful fruit but also an investment in your health.
