11 Reasons Why Avocado is Considered a Superfood
Introduction:
Avocado is a green, pear-shaped fruit, also known as “alligator pear”, as they have a green, rough skin like an alligator. It is a unique fruit having a nice creamy texture and particular taste. Nowadays, avocados are one of the most trendy fruits all over the world.
Being versatile, avocado can be added to a lot of recipes. You can throw them up in salads or whip them up in delicious lassi. Aside from this, avocado oil is very useful to health rather than the unhealthy and fattening refined oil. While most fruits consist primarily of carbohydrates, avocado is packed with healthy fats, fiber, and various important nutrients. So, you can add this amazing food to your regular diet.
Numerous studies have found that eating these versatile avocados regularly can help to improve digestion, decrease the risk of depression, obesity, heart diseases, and diabetes, protect against cancer, and lose weight. We sometimes are hesitant to eat foods that are rich in fat and calories. But, fat can be a great nutrient to fuel our body when it comes from sources rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat.
Without any further delay, let’s get straight into the main discussion!
What is Superfood?
Superfood gives us a wide range of nutrients and antioxidants. It benefits our health by preventing illness and diseases and boosting our immune system. In short, superfood helps us be healthier.
Why is Avocado Considered as a Superfood?
Avocado is a superfood because it is loaded with nearly 20 Different vitamins, minerals, fiber, phytonutrients, and antioxidants, such as magnesium, potassium, folic acid, Omega 3, lutein, and fiber. Plus, avocado contains an important amount of iron, copper, and manganese.
Besides, this is the only fruit that provides us with a great amount of healthy monounsaturated fat, which is one of the biggest claims to be a superfood. The fat in avocados is oleic acid, which helps reduce cholesterol.
Here are 10 important reasons why avocados are called a superfood.
1.Incredibly Nutritious:
Avocado is known for its high nutrient value and rich greasy texture. When we think about avocados, the first thing that hits our minds is the Mexican dip guacamole made up of mashed avocado and herbs. Due to its health properties, avocado has become incredibly popular nowadays among health-conscious people.
Avocados are full of 20 different vitamins, including vitamins A, B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5, B6, C, E, and K; minerals, such as magnesium and potassium; folic acid, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, omega 3, folate, phosphorus, fiber, phytonutrients, and antioxidants, including lutein and zeaxanthin.
2. Keep the Heart Healthy:
Avocado is a fatty fruit, but the fat it contains is omega 3 type. This kind of fat helps reduce cholesterol and prevent heart diseases. Avocado’s oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid that has many health benefits as well.
Plus, avocados are packed with a natural plant sterol called beta-sitosterol. Regular consumption of beta-sitosterol can keep the heart and cholesterol level healthy.
3. Avocados Contain More Potassium Than Bananas:
Avocados can be a rich source of potassium for those who don’t get enough potassium, an important mineral. A 100-gram avocado serves 14% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA), compared to 10% in bananas, a typical high-potassium food.
Studies have found that taking a regular high potassium intake can reduce blood pressure which is mainly responsible for heart attacks, kidney failure, and strokes. Potassium also helps maintain healthy muscle.
4. Loaded With Fiber:
Avocados are chock-full of fiber which helps reduce the possibility of constipation and maintain bowel regularity, keep the digestive system healthy, and decrease the possibility of colon cancer. If you are concerned about your children’s healthy food, don’t worry my friend, avocado is a one-stop solution for you. Avocado can fulfill your requirements with its high nutritional value and creamy delicious texture.
5. Can Protect Your Eyes:
Avocados are loaded with powerful antioxidants, including lutein and zeaxanthin which can protect your eye health. Plus, lutein is fruitful for preventing progressive eyesight degeneration associated with aging.
6. May Help You Lose Weight:
Adding avocados to your daily diet could be a great decision for you and your family because some researches have shown that nutrients that avocado contain can help maintain a healthy weight.
Moreover, avocados are packed with healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats which are often called “good fats.” Regular consumption of avocado increases “good” (HDL) cholesterol and lower levels of “bad” (LDL) cholesterol. Additionally, the combination of avocado’s high fiber and fat content can make you feel full longer, less hungry, and satisfied even after eating less than you normally do. And, it gradually helps you lose weight.
“They’re packed with good fats and fiber, which means they help you stay full longer,” says Charlotte Roberts, a registered dietitian, and certified diabetes educator.
7. Good for Pregnant Women:
Pregnant women can add avocados to their diets because folic acid which avocado includes is important for them.
8. Good for Teeth and Bone Health:
This delicious food contains vitamin D which aids to keep strong bones and protect teeth and gums. Avocado’s folic acid helps bones and muscle growth, that’s why it is highly recommended to kids.
9. Help Keep Healthy Skin and Hair:
Avocados are rich in vitamin C and vitamin E, both of which contribute to keeping the skin healthy and glowing. Additionally, Vitamin E and greases which avocado contain are essential in keeping healthy hair.
10. Help Stimulate the Immune System:
Thanks to the vitamins B6, C, D, and E, riboflavin, and manganese which help boost up a strong immune system.
11. May Help Prevent Cancer and Relieve Symptoms of Arthritis:
Avocados are a nutrient-dense fruit and some recent researches have shown that many of the nutrients that avocado contains help prevent certain types of cancer, such as colon cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer.
Arthritis is a common chronic problem in Western countries and so, people carry it for the rest of their lives. Several studies have suggested that avocado and soybean oil extracts can reduce osteoarthritis.
Avocado’s creamy texture comes partially from its high concentration of anti-inflammatory monounsaturated fat. In addition to it, avocados are a rich source of vitamin E, a micronutrient having anti-inflammatory effects. They’re also rich in carotenoid lutein, a type of antioxidant.
To Wrap It All Up:
Avocado is an excellent superfood, rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It helps us keep the heart healthy, lose weight, and, last but not least, they are incredibly tasty. Therefore, you can add this superfood to your daily diet undoubtedly.
And, do let us know how this article has made your day. Have you added avocado to your regular diet already? Comment in the box below.
