Avocados get a lot of good press, but it’s not just the press – many people genuinely love avocados. They don’t call this green berry a superfood for nothing.
If you have been wondering what the fuss is about avocados, you can stop wondering now. We’ve put together 13 reasons why people love avocado.
They Are Super Nutritious
Avocados are chock-full of nutrients. Some of them are magnesium, potassium, folate, beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, and various B-vitamins.
So, people who consume avocados regularly tend to be relatively healthier.
They Are Delicious
Besides being nutritious, avocados have a great taste. Their taste is typically moderate or subtle but is described as buttery, nutty, and fresh.
They Contain “Good” Fat
Avocados contain a lot of fat. However, most of the fat in avocados is monounsaturated. Monounsaturated fats are healthy fats because they reduce the risk of heart diseases and stroke.
So, when people want an alternative to unhealthy fat, they sometimes consider avocados.
They Offer Multiple Culinary Uses
Besides consuming avocados as just a snack, you can use them for various culinary purposes.
You may add avocado to your scrambled eggs or spread it on your toast in place of margarine and butter, and guacamole is made from a combination of avocados with other ingredients.
In the same way avocado can replace butter and margarine, it can replace mayo. Yes, people use avocados as a binder for their salads.
Avocados can also be used to make avocado soup, fries, and pickles. They may also be used in smoothies, toppings, salad dressing, and ice cream.
They Are Great As Face Masks
Avocado has been used by many people in making face masks. In fact, there are many avocado face mask recipes all over the internet.
So, why do people use avocados as face masks? Well, avocado has been seen to help reduce breakouts when applied as a face mask.
Avocados can also moisturize dry skin and exfoliate oily skin when used as face masks. They may also help mitigate inflammatory conditions on the face, such as scars and folds.
They Are Great for the Muscles
You may have been told that bananas are a great pre-workout snack because of their high potassium content.
This is true; potassium improves muscle function while preventing cramps. But while bananas contain a lot of potassium, avocados contain even more.
Avocados offer around 14% of the potassium RDA, but bananas give about 10%. Going by this, avocados will do a whole lot of good for your muscles.
Now, while avocados contain a lot of potassium, you may want to avoid consuming so much pre-workout. A little avocado – perhaps avocado spread on toast – should suffice before a workout.
Consuming moderate to high amounts of avocados before exercising may cause stomach cramps.
You Can Use Them as a Hair Conditioning Mask
Besides being used as a face mask, avocados can be used in hair conditioning masks. One such hair mask recipe combines avocado and olive oil.
When used as a hair conditioning mask, avocados improve general hair health. Since they contain biotin, they can promote healthy hair growth. Avocados also moisturize hair while increasing luster. They can also reduce hair breakage.
They Are a Great Fruit for Expecting Mothers
Unless your doctor advises against them, avocados are one of the best fruits for pregnant women. They are specifically helpful in the first trimester because of their folate content.
Pregnant women are advised to consume around 600 mcg of folate per day – avocado offers up to 25% of this requirement.
One of the many reasons folate is vital is that it helps reduce the risk of miscarriages. More importantly, folate prevents neural tube defects.
Neural tube formation takes place in the first trimester. Hence, the importance of folate in the first trimester.
They Offer Various Benefits in Different Chronic Diseases
In many chronic diseases, health professionals recommend dietary modifications for better outcomes. Avocados are fit the modified diet of people with various chronic diseases.
For one, the monounsaturated fat they contain can help reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. This makes them a worthy option for people with heart diseases and obesity.
Avocados can also improve insulin sensitivity. So, they are helpful in the diet of a diabetic. Besides, avocados are mostly fat and fiber, so they digest slowly and prevent blood sugar spikes.
Some other chronic diseases avocados can help with include hypertension and some gastrointestinal diseases.
They Can Improve Digestive Health
As we mentioned earlier, avocados contain a lot of fiber. On average, 100 grams of avocado contain around 6-7 grams of fiber.
The fibers in avocado help with constipation; indigestible fibers bulk stool up and make it easier to pass.
Soluble fibers, on the other hand, are acted on by gut bacteria. These bacteria convert the fibers into various compounds beneficial to the gut.
They May Help With Weight Loss
Avocados may be helpful to weight loss routines in various ways. For one, because they contain a lot of fat, they satisfy hunger quickly. Consequently, one will consume a lower amount of calories.
Besides the fat content, avocados contain a lot of fiber. Generally, food items high in fiber promote metabolism and reduce appetite.
They Can Help With Eye Bag Removal
Avocados can be used to get rid of eye bags, especially those caused by dehydration. All you have to do is place a thin slice under your eyes for about 20-30 minutes, and the bags will be gone.
The usefulness of avocados in removing eyes bags stems from their ability to stimulate blood circulation. Besides that, avocados are known to moisturize the skin.
They Can Make Your Skin Healthier with Regular Consumption
As you may have guessed already, avocados improve overall skin health.
The antioxidants they contain alongside the monounsaturated fats are said to improve skin elasticity. And this can help slow the signs of aging.
Avocados also keep the skin moisturized, and they prevent damage that may be caused by UV rays from the sun.
Vitamin E and vitamin C in avocados are indicated in the prevention of oxidative damage from the sun. They also help prevent oxidative damage from other sources.
Resources
- https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000785.htm
- https://www.businessinsider.com/10-reasons-to-eat-more-avocado-2014-9?r=US&IR=T
- https://www.dailyhealthybody.com/nutrition/avocado-benefits-daily-health/
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270406#benefits
- https://cafemom.com/lifestyle/163009-5_amazing_things_to_do
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/23-ways-to-eat-avocados
- https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/fats/monounsaturated-fats
- https://www.healthline.com/health/avocado-benefits-for-skin
- https://www.organicfacts.net/avocado-face-mask.html
- https://www.bicycling.com/health-nutrition/g21268392/best-foods-before-workout/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/avocado-hair-mask
- https://thebeet.com/eating-an-avocado-early-in-the-day-can-help-you-lose-weight-its-natures-keto
- https://www.prevention.com/food-nutrition/a20503717/4-foods-that-can-help-you-get-rid-of-the-dark-circles-under-your-eyes/