The impressive benefits of avocados
Love them or hate them, you’ve probably heard many claims made about them. So here are some FAQs and facts about the humble avocado.
Are avocados fattening?
Avocados are high in healthy fats – the unsaturated essential fatty acids and oils that allow us to absorb and use essential vitamins and minerals in our bodies. However, there’s no reason avocados should be avoided when losing weight, in fact the fats in avocados may help by keeping you fuller and decreasing appetite.
Even when a food is rich in only the healthy kinds of fats; if your kilojoule intake is higher than your output, you will put on weight.
Are they high in cholesterol?
Avocados don’t contain any cholesterol – only animals make cholesterol, so any purely plant-based food will be free of cholesterol. Humans make their own, so even if your diet is very low in cholesterol, you could still find your levels higher than they should be.
Are avocados good for you?
Let’s take a look at some of the nutrients in 100g of avocado – that’s about half a medium-sized fruit.
• 100g contains around 13g of fat, almost all of which is the healthier kind – these fats help improve cholesterol levels which can lower your risk of heart disease.
• The same serving contains nearly 7.5g of fibre − important for digestive health.
• This amount provides a good quantity of vitamin B6 and folate, and is a source of niacin and vitamin C, all of which help to fight fatigue and boost immunity.
• Potassium is also found in good amounts, it helps our nerves, muscles and heart to function properly.
What does ‘nutrient dense’ mean?
'Nutrient dense’ simply means they have a lot of goodness packed into a small area! Sometimes particularly nutritious foods are referred to as ‘superfoods’, which just means that they’re really good for us.
Avocados are a great addition to a healthy diet, and they’re so versatile – squished onto toast, blended into a smoothie, or mashed and stirred into a pasta dish, these tasty, creamy fruits pack a nutrient-rich punch.