The Health Benefits of Avocados
By Sara Butler
Avocados are pretty neat. They’re naturally high in healthy fats while also managing to be a carbohydrate. They’re great fuel for your body and are delicious to boot! Here are some of the most impressive health benefits of avocados!
They’re Super Nutritious
Avocados have 20 different minerals and vitamins. In fact, just a 3.5-ounce serving has:
- 26 percent of your recommended daily allowance (RDA) of Vitamin K
- 20 percent of your RDA for folate
- 17 percent of your RDA for Vitamin C
- 14 percent of your RDA for potassium and Vitamin B5
- 13 percent of your RDA for Vitamin B6
- 10 percent of RDA for Vitamin E
That’s all for just 160 calories, too! And for the record, that’s more potassium than a banana!
They’re Heart-Healthy
Avocados are a high-fat food, with 77 percent of its calories coming from fat. But it’s the good type of fat you’re getting from the avocado. Oleic acid is the monounsaturated fatty acid found in abundance in avocados. It’s the major component of olive oil and has been shown to help reduce inflammation in the body.
They're High in Fiber
Fiber may not be the first thing you think of when thinking of avocados, but it should be! One serving of avocado provides you with 27 percent of your RDA of fiber. That makes them a very good source of fiber, especially when compared with other foods. That means you’ll stay fuller for longer with a little avocado!
Avocados May Help You Maintain a Healthy Weight
The high fat and fiber content of avocados means that you’ll feel full and satisfied for longer after eating them than with other foods. This means avocados may be able to naturally help you eat less over the course of a day and make it easier for you to stick to a healthy diet.
They're Easy to Add-In!
Avocados go with all kinds of things simply because they don’t have a strong or overwhelming flavor. Add them to salads, stews, or casseroles – or scoop it out and eat it plain. An avocado is ready to eat when it’s slightly soft when pushed on.
Try adding avocados to your meals and reap their health benefits! They can go in your breakfast smoothie, in your lunchtime salad, or on your tacos during your next taco Tuesday! Discover all the ways to add this healthy green gem to your life!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in South Jordan, Utah.