By now, everyone has seen those greenish-black jagged globes called avocados in your grocery store. Avocado is considered by many to be a “superfood” and many people love its taste. They can be creamy and have a subtle flavor. Beyond the flavor, avocados also have numerous health benefits.
Advantages of eating avocados
Protects against eye diseases
Avocados have the antioxidant lutein, which is needed to help prevent eye disease. Not only that, but avocados also enhance the eye disease-fighting nutrients in other foods when combined with them. Other good sources of lutein are: spinach, tomatoes, kale, carrots, corn, and other dark green, orange, or yellow fruits or vegetables. To get the most benefit for your eyes, mix sliced or diced avocado into a salad with spinach, carrots, red bell peppers, and corn.
Helps lose weight
Avocados have a good amount of fiber: 3.4 grams of fiber in half an avocado. Fiber is an essential element to help you lose weight and feel full. Also, the oleic acid in an avocado creates a reaction in the brain so that you feel full after eating avocado. For a delicious, filling, and less greasy treat, use mashed avocado instead of mayonnaise or butter in a sandwich.
Protects pregnant women and their unborn babies
Avocados are high in folate, an essential nutrient that helps reduce the rate of birth defects in pregnant women. An added bonus of folate is that it also helps prevent heart disease and heart attacks.
Keeps blood sugar stable
After eating avocado, your blood sugar level will be more stable and will not rise because avocado slows down your digestion. This is important for people who cannot easily control their blood sugar levels.
Reduce the cholesterol
It can increase healthy cholesterol and lower unhealthy cholesterol in your body. You can again thank the oleic acid in the avocado for that. A plant chemical in avocados called beta-sitosterol also helps lower cholesterol.
Promotes healthy blood flow
Monounsaturated fats are good for promoting healthy blood flow. Healthy blood flow is important for many bodily functions, such as helping with mental activity and lowering blood pressure.
Provides the necessary nutrients
Avocados are an excellent source of potassium, vitamin C, iron, and B6 as well. As with lutein, the combination of avocado with different fruits and vegetables will help in the absorption of nutrients and vitamins that boost immunity. So don’t eat it alone!
Disadvantages of eating avocado
Although they obviously have tremendous health benefits, avocados also have downsides. First of all, they are high in fat and calories. With one avocado, you would get 30 grams of fat and over 300 calories. However, it helps that the fat is monounsaturated fat, which is good for cholesterol and heart disease. Of course, like any other food, you should eat avocados in moderation.
Second, not many people know that a person can be allergic to avocados. If you are allergic to latex, you may also be allergic to avocados. An enzyme in avocado (called chitinase) causes allergic reactions in some people, so be careful before trying the fruit if you’ve never tried it before.
You have to weigh the pros and cons of eating avocados in relation to your own life and the health of your family. But many people find avocados to be a very nutritious and delicious food to add to their diets.