When it comes to avocados, there seems to be two camps. The people that love them, and those that hate them. (My hubby for one). I am in the love them camp. Avocados are a unique fruit that have a rich, creamy flavor and due to their high healthy, fat content, they offer some very unique health benefits. Following are five of the main health benefits of avocados.
Benefit 1 – Heart Health
Avocados contain high concentrations of various nutrients that support your heart and keep it strong and healthy. First, the healthy fats in avocados act as fuel for your heart when it’s placed under stress, combat heart disease and also lower blood levels of triglycerides (a type of fat that increases your heart disease risk when high levels are found in the blood). Second, the B vitamins in avocados help to reduce blood levels of homocysteine – a substance associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
Benefit 2 – Skin Health
The polyunsaturated fats in avocados nourish your skin and keep it bright, clear and soft. They also protect against a range of skin disorders including dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema. In addition to this, the vitamin C and vitamin E in avocados provide your skin with antioxidant protection and reduce visible signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles and dark circles under the eyes.
Benefit 3 – Healthy Eyes
Avocados boost your eyes in two main ways. First, the polyunsaturated fats in avocados are used to produce retinal tissue which directly supports strong, healthy vision. Second, avocados are rich in the phytonutrient lutein which has been shown to protect against a range of age related eye disorders including cataracts.
Benefit 4 – Reduced Inflammation
Inflammation is an unpleasant disorder where the affected area becomes red, swollen and painful. However, the monounsaturated fats in avocados have been shown to neutralize leukotrienes (naturally occurring substances in the body that lead to inflammation). Therefore, by eating avocados on a regular basis, you can avoid inflammation and all the associated negative symptoms.
Benefit 5 – Improved Blood Sugar Regulation
Another fantastic benefit of avocados is that they help to regulate your blood sugar levels and prevent the crashes and spikes that lead to unbalanced energy levels. The reason they’re able to do this is that the monounsaturated fats in avocados enhance the rate at which your body’s cells absorb glucose and also increase their sensitivity to insulin (a hormone which allows them to take glucose from the blood).
Summary
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to fill up on this fatty fruit. So if you want to activate all the health benefits listed in this article, make sure you indulge in avocados regularly.
