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Avocados are a super-food. Instead of eating an apple a day to keep the doctor away, eat an avocado instead.
Chock full of nutrients – vitamins B5, B6, C, E, and K, folate, Potassium, and healthy fats – avocados are actually a large berry with a single pit in the middle that grows in warm climates around the world.
Avocados are seasonal but today, there are early and late varieties so you can enjoy them most of the year. Loaded with taste, they not just good for guacamole. Here are eight reasons why eating avocados is so good for your health too.
More Potassium than Bananas
Many people do not get enough potassium from what they eat. Doctors have usually recommended eating banana to load up on this very important mineral, but avocados contain 20 percent – bananas only have 9 percent – of the daily allowance. According to Healthline, potassium is an electrolyte that allows the body to conduct electricity and that is important for many body functions.
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Loaded with Heart-Healthy Fats
You might think that a fruit that is packed full of fat – 77 percent of the calories in avocado are from fat – but the majority of fat is oleic acid, the good fat that can promote heart health and reduce inflammation. Besides eating them, avocado oil is resistant to heat-induced oxidation, so it is a great choice to cook with.
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Full of Fiber
This delicious fruit also contains 7 percent fiber, which is important for keeping the body regular and for promoting good gut bacteria. Fiber is also good for maintaining your ideal weight and lowering your risk of diabetes plus it tastes so much better than fiber supplements.
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Can Help Lower Cholesterol
Move over oatmeal, adding avocado to your diet can help lower cholesterol. According to the American Heart Association News, eating one avocado a day as part of a low cholesterol diet, can improve bad cholesterol levels by up to 22 percent. The oleic acid in them also raise the good cholesterol numbers that we need for heart health.
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Contain Lots of Antioxidants
There's a double bonus here. Avocados increase antioxidant absorption from other and they are also high in antioxidants like carotenoids, lutein, and zeaxanthin that are important for eye health. Eating avocados (and pumpkin) can reduce your risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration.
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Part of a Well-Balanced Diet
Even though avocados are high in fat, eating them can actually help you lose weight. They are also a high fiber and low carb food so if they are part of a well-balanced healthy diet, they will help you lose weight. That's because they fill you up and make you feel satisfied so you will tend to eat less.
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Reduces Inflammation
Avocados are also rich in vitamin E and combined with their monounsaturated fat content, this makes them a great anti-inflammatory agent for people who suffer from osteoarthritis.
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May Reduce Cancer Risk
There have been studies that show avocados can help prevent prostate cancer, oral cancer and also lessen the side effects of chemotherapy. “We think these phytochemicals either stop the growth of precancerous cells in the body or they kill the precancerous cells without affecting normal cells," said lead author Steven M. D'Ambrosio. New research may find even more ways that avocados are good for you.
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