Avocados are known to be one of the healthiest foods on the planet. They’re packed with nutrients and are a great source of healthy fats, like monounsaturated oleic acid, which helps lower bad cholesterol levels and reduce blood pressure.
Avocados are a staple in many kitchens. They can be used to make everything from salad dressings to guacamole, but they’re also packed with nutrients that can improve your health.
The fruit is rich in monounsaturated fat, which has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels and inflammation. Avocados also contain fiber and potassium, which help lower blood pressure and control blood sugar levels. And avocados are a good source of vitamins C and E as well as folate — all of which support immune function.
Here’s what avocados can do for your body:
- They’re good for your heart. Avocados contain oleic acid, a type of monounsaturated fat that lowers LDL cholesterol (the “bad” kind). They also contain sterols that reduce triglycerides in the blood and raise levels of HDL (the “good” kind). A study published in Circulation found that eating one avocado per week may help lower your risk for cardiovascular disease by up to 20%.
- They’re packed with fiber. One medium avocado contains about 12 grams of fiber — about double what you’d get from an apple or banana — which helps keep your digestive system moving along smoothly and prevents constipation. Fiber also reduces levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood; CRP is a marker for inflammation in the body that’s been linked to heart disease and diabetes risk.
- Support digestion: The fiber in avocados can help keep you regular by absorbing water and adding bulk to your stool, making it easier to pass through your digestive tract. Fiber also helps regulate the release of hormones that affect appetite and fullness signals to the brain, so if you’re looking for an easy way to improve weight loss efforts, adding more fiber-rich foods such as avocados can help you feel satisfied longer after eating.
