Scientifically Proven Health Benefits of Avocado and Avocado Seeds

I just love it when I can eat food that not only tastes delicious, but is also nutritious and healthy. That’s how I would describe avocado. It is a superfood, but unlike some other superfoods that are hard to consume unless disguised as something else, avocado is yummy and can be prepared in so many different ways.

For a long time many people counted calories indiscriminately and feared fats, so they avoided this wonderful fatty fruit. But now the verdict is out – the fats avocado contains are healthy for you, and calorie counting is overrated. So it’s official: I can eat avocados to my heart’s content. Here are some good reasons why:

Avocados Are Rich in Carotenoids

Carotenoids are natural plant pigments. They are very powerful antioxidants and some types can be turned into vitamin A, which is essential for the health of your eyes. Carotenoids are soluble in fat, so they need a fatty environment to be absorbed.

If you eat a fat-rich avocado together with other fruits and vegetables that contain carotenoids, the body will be able to use these antioxidants better. Adding a few slices of avocado to your salad should do the trick. You can learn more about antioxidants in my previous article about amazing antioxidants for great health.

Avocados Make you Feel Full and Help You Lose Weight

This fact might come as a bit of a surprise, considering the fruit’s caloric value (half a medium-sized avocado contains 138 calories). However, because avocado makes you feel full, you actually tend to eat less.

Also, avocado contains oleic acid, which activates part of the brain responsible for feeling full. What’s more, recent research shows that eating healthy unsaturated fats can help with your dieting efforts. You can also find here the best foods that help fight belly fat.

Good for the Heart and Reduce the Risk of Heart Attack

Since avocados are an excellent source of healthy fats, they boost your good cholesterol levels – the high density lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol. For HDL, higher numbers are always welcomed. HDL prevents heart disease and stroke. So if you have a family history of heart attack, make sure that you stock some avocados in your kitchen.

Avocados Lower Your Bad Cholesterol Levels

Just as avocados increase HDL or ‘good cholesterol’, they reduce LDL or ‘bad cholesterol’. The oleic acid helps reduce your overall cholesterol levels, and particularly the damaging LDL cholesterol, which is blamed for cardiovascular disease. If you are battling with high cholesterol levels, avocado might be your perfect savior. Find more simple and effective ways to reduce cholesterol.