With a taste like butter, Avocado is a fruit that reigns a healthy kitchen thanks to its high nutritional value and health benefits.
Likewise, Avocado also benefits pregnant females in keeping up with nutrition demands. You might want to steer clear if you are on prescribed drugs.
Thus, stick with the article till the end so you know all the health benefits of Avocado and when not to eat it.
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10 Health Benefits of Avocado
Although not too picky about care needs, Avocado, a tasty ball of health and nutrients, flourishes in warm weather.
This exotic tasted fruit has a plethora of health benefits to offer, but we will talk about the top 10 benefits of Avocado.
1. Nutrient-Enriched Source
Avocado fruit contains Vitamins like C, E, K, B6, Magnesium, Potassium, and Folate, which help you maintain a healthy body.
Furthermore, it is a strange fruit that makes you feel fuller after eating as it contains a substantial amount of fat.
According to the National Institutes of Health, one-half of Avocados has the following nutrient composition.
Nutrients | Amount |
---|---|
Dietary Fiber | 4.6g |
Sugar | 0.2g |
Potassium | 345mg |
Sodium | 5.5mg |
Magnesium | 19.5mg |
Vitamin C | 6.0mg |
Vitamin E | 1.3mg |
Vitamin B6 | 0.2mg |
Folate | 60mg |
Niacin | 1.3mg |
Pantothenic Acid | 1.0mg |
Choline | 10mg |
Phytosterols | 57mg |
Calories | 114kcal |
2. Good for the Stomach
The presence of Vitamin C, B Complex vitamins, and fiber in Avocados proves that this fruit with a buttery taste helps the stomach.
Each nutrient in Avocado helps with digestion, making a happy stomach.
- Vitamin C: Helps produce collagen, forming fibrils to strengthen tissue. Also, according to Oregon State University, it dramatically lowers the chances of gastric cancer.
- Vitamin B Complex: Separates food from the nutrients and allows the cells to metabolize carbohydrates, fat, and fiber.
- Fiber: Accelerates digestion and helps avoid constipation by loosening our sto0l.
Research published by the University of Illinois states eating Avocados daily significantly enhances a person’s overall gut health.
Moreover, the fruit contains Potassium which is good for the stomach and digestive system.
Also, heads up, Avocado doesn’t cause gas as it has less fructose quantity.
3. Improves Heart Health
An apple a day keeps the doctor away? But now try something fancier like Avocado.
Generally, bad cholesterol is a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) of fats and proteins that transport cholesterol through the bloodstream.
Avocado contains healthy monounsaturated fat that takes charge and keeps the LDL cholesterol at bay.
Besides that, Avocados’ other fibers, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants are good for the heart.
4. Good for Eye
Avocados have plenty of colorful pigments that play a significant role in maintaining the health of your eyes.
Moreover, antioxidant vitamins like A and E and carotenoids like lutein, beta carotene, cryptoxanthin, and zeaxanthin boost eyesight.
Similarly, Avocados are high in antioxidants that prevent diseases like cataracts, night blindness, and dry eyes.
They are high in fiber, which means they have fewer carbs, and diets with low carbs protect retina cells.
5. Natural Detoxification
Avocados contain glutathione (made from cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine), which blocks 30 cancer-causing agents and helps the liver stop cancer-causing agents.
Saponins found in Avocado skin and seed, boost antibody production, limit tumor growth and prevent hyperlipidemia and liver damage.
Similarly, terpenoids found in Avocado flesh have been shown to inhibit various tumors. Avocados contain other fats and micronutrients that help in the detox process.
In addition, Avocado’s other functions include dilating blood vessels and destroying artery-blocking toxicity.
6. May Prevent Cancer
Avocado contains phytochemicals like flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, saponins, and alkaloids.
Furthermore, a study by the University of California stated that Avocados extracts, oils, and seed tea could significantly drop the number of oral and prostate Cancer cells.
Likewise, other researchers also suggested anti-arrhythmic, antihypertensive, anticancer, and antimalarial properties from Avocado seed and skin extracts.
7. Support Fetal Health
Avocados also help the humans currently inhabiting the world and children about to be born.
Thus, add them to your diet list during pregnancy and ensure your child gets some extra required nutrients unless the doctor suggests otherwise.
Avocados are helpful during pregnancy and are a boost to fetal health.
- The fat present in Avocados can fulfill the requirement of extra calories for the fetus.
- Avocados’ high fiber intake can help prevent gestational diabetes and excessive weight gain in women during pregnancy.
- The choline present in Avocados can help in the fetus’s brain development.
- Iron and potassium present in Avocados can treat anemia and leg cramps.
- Avocados contain magnesium that aids in digestion. Also, the vitamins in Avocados can help with morning sickness.
A research article in National Library of Medicine states that Avocado plays a crucial role in influencing fertility and birth development.
8. Avocado as an Antidepressant
Avocado is tasty, yes, but apart from that, it has a positive impact on human mental health.
This fruit contains tryptophan which is a substance formed by serotonin.
Apart from tryptophan, Avocado also contains omega-3 and folate that helps to improve the symptom of depression.
9. Prevent Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis
Osteoporosis occurs when the bones become so weak and brittle that even minor stress in bone, like bending over or coughing, can cause the bones to break.
One of the benefits of Avocado is that it prevents bone degradation.
Osteoarthritis is another problem associated with joints that affect millions of people worldwide.
According to research, Avocado soy unsaponifiable (ASU) in Avocados and Soyabean inhibits several molecules and pathways implicated in osteoarthritis.
10. Less Risk of Chronic Diseases
Avocados have beneficial monounsaturated fatty acids that prevent chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases.
Similarly, the fiber in Avocados can minimize the risk of cardiac stroke, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and certain other diseases.
It also reduces the risk of high blood pressure and cholesterol, improves insulin sensitivity, and helps obese people lose weight.
Can Avocados Be Harmful?
Avocados are not the holy grail of fruits and share side effects when consumed excessively.
However, the negative effects of Avocado consumption can differ from person to person. So, some may not even develop the problems at all.
1. Gastrointestinal Effects
If you have a sensitive stomach, it would be better to avoid Avocados for good.
Avocado contains a lot of fiber, which is healthy for you, but do not try eating one when you have an upset stomach.
They contain some insoluble fiber that can increase your problems when fighting diarrhea.
Individuals with a low tolerance for fiber consumption may have symptoms such as gastrointestinal (GI) blockage, diarrhea, and gas or bloat.
2. Anti-Warfarin
If you are a patient currently prescribed Warfarin medicine, a medication used to treat or prevent blood clots from forming in your body, refrain from eating Avocado.
The study further elaborates, Avocadoes hamper the anticoagulant property that Warfarins have.
3. Latex Allergy
Latex is a milky, white fluid usually found in plants, and they are generally used to make rubbers due to its strange properties.
Although not latex, Avocadoes have specific proteins that show similar properties to latex and can induce allergic reactions in people with latex allergies.
Common latex allergy symptoms caused by Avocado include itchy eyes, wheezing, tingling in the mouth, and a stuffy nose.
FAQs About Health Benefits of Avocado
Are any health benefits of Avocado seeds?
Avocado seeds control hypercholesterolemia, prevent hypertension, and balance blood sugar levels.
These seeds also carry anti-fungal and antimicrobial properties.
Is it healthy to eat Avocado every day?
Avocado has a supple amount of fiber and improves gut health. A single Avocado provides 13.5 grams of fiber.
This is almost half of the recommended dose of a daily dietary supplement of fiber (28-34 grams).
How much Avocado a day is healthy?
For average males and females, 1/2-1 Avocado per day will provide plentiful nutrients.
From Editorial Team
Highly nutritional Avocados have become a favorite food of the modern healthy lifestyle as they can be eaten raw in salads, seasoned, stuffed, or scrambled eggs.
Additionally, the Avocados flavor is slightly nutty, earthy, and grassy.
If you have half-eaten Avocados, sprinkle some lemon juice and keep them in an airtight container in the fridge to prevent browning.
However, Avocados are a little difficult to care for. So, try to provide them with proper soil, water, and temperature.