Avocados, well-known as the main ingredient of the beloved Mexican side-dish guacamole, are an incredibly healthy food item that can be enjoyed many different ways.
The oldest evidence of avocados, dating back to roughly 10,000 BC, was found in caves near Puebla, Mexico. Interestingly enough, the plant is in the same family as camphor and cinnamon, Lauraceae, and technically the part we eat is a large berry.
Enough about those cool little facts, the real point here is how avocados have been referred to as the healthiest food there is, thanks to its impressive nutritional value.
Here are some amazing reasons, given by LivingTraditionally, that we should have avocados almost every day:
- Potassium – an avocado contains more potassium than a banana; 14% of the daily recommended amount versus 10% in the banana.
- Folate for your heart’s health. One avocado provides 23% of the daily recommended intake of folate, which helps lower incidences of heart disease and strokes.
- Eating avocados helps our bodies absorb 5 times the amount of carotenoids (lycopene and beta carotene).
- Good for your eyes. Avocados contain more carotenoid lutein than any other fruit, protecting against macular degeneration and cataracts.
- They help lower bad cholesterol, raise good cholesterol, and lower blood triglycerides.
- Avocados are high in fiber, which is good for multiple things, including: satiating you and keeping you full longer, feeding the good bacteria in your gut microbiome, and reducing blood sugar levels.
- They’re loaded with anti-inflammatory polyphenols and flavonoids.
- The oil of avocados helps nourish the skin, beneficial for issues like psoriasis and other skin irritations.
- Avocados contain an antioxidant called glutathione, which helps in preventing heart disease, cancer, and slows the signs of aging.
