Avocados contain a wide range of nutrients and may have various health benefits. These include improving digestion, lowering the risk of depression, preventing bone loss, supporting heart health, protecting against cancer, and more. Also known as an alligator pear or butter fruit, avocados are actually a type of berry.
The Bottom Line
Avocados are much more than their creamy texture and rich flavor. They contain an array of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, healthy fats and fiber that may improve your gut health, lower your risk of developing heart disease, promote weight management and enhance your brain function.
Eating an avocado a day is good for your health. Avocado consumption has skyrocketed in the last two decades, from an average annual consumption of 1.5 pounds per person in 1998, to 7.5 pounds in 2017.
One avocado contains approximately 9.2 grams of fiber. A diet high in fiber supports healthy digestion by keeping things regular. Avocados also stimulate the healthy functioning of your digestive organs, including your pancreas, gallbladder, liver and intestinal tract according to Dr. Ben Kim.
Deciding how many avocados to throw in the grocery basket? You first have to look at what your goals are for your weight, gut health, overall healthy diet — and your body type, activity level and genes, Cucuzza says. “Usually, I would recommend that ½ to one avocado a day is reasonable,” she says.
When should I eat avocado morning or night? A. Avocado can be consumed any time of the day, as a tasty addition to any meal. Having it during the day has its own set of benefits like improved blood flow and lower blood sugar along with lower calorie consumption while eating it at night may help you sleep better.
However, this mix should be eaten in moderation. "The ideal way not to risk exaggerating with fat and calories is to bring to the table half avocado combined with two eggs, preferably hard-boiled, no more than a couple of times a week," says the expert, who here shares 5 good reasons to choose this meal combination.
We don't suggest going on a guacamole only diet (although that does sound delicious), but if you're looking to burn belly fat, incorporating an avocado into your meals may do your waistline some good. Avocados are also packed with monounsaturated fats which increase fat burning and help scorch calories after eating.
Avocados are filled with natural oils that moisturize your skin. By making sure your skin is moisturized, you can prevent blemishes, acne, and wrinkles. To use an avocado as a moisturizer, take the contents of the fruit, spread it on your skin, and wash it off with lukewarm water after 10 to 15 minutes.
“It's OK to eat avocados at any time of day,” says Young. Eating avocado at night, however, could help improve your sleep thanks to the healthy fats, magnesium, and potassium this fruit contains.
Avocados are a good source of nutrients as well as monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). Research suggests that the fiber from avocados can improve HDL cholesterol levels and the quality of LDL cholesterol. Adding two servings of avocado per week to a heart-healthy diet can lower your risk of heart disease.
How would your body respond if you ate just one avocado a day? In fact, it would transform your life as you'd get amazing results: your breath will be fresh at all times, your kidneys and liver will work more efficiently, your blood pressure will become lower, just to name a few.
What you may not know, however, is that avocados are also great for your skin, whether eaten or applied topically. These bright green fruits are rich in antioxidants and hydrating vitamin E, making them particularly useful for dry and sensitive skin types.
Avoid mixing starchy fruits with high-protein fruits
Some fruits that are starchy in nature include green bananas and plantains. It is important to avoid mixing these fruits with high-protein fruits such as guava, dried apricot, kiwifruit, avocado, and blackberries.
Avocado juice is high in potassium which may interact with drugs like captopril, lisinopril, ramipril and diosgenin, which are used in hypertension. Consult your doctor if you are taking any other medication before consuming avocado juice.
Excess intake of avocados may cause hypersensitivity, allergy, liver damage, nausea, vomiting, asthma, and interaction with blood-thinning medications. In addition, if you are on a diet or are a pregnant or lactating mother, avoid consuming avocados.
In particular, avocados helped lower women's visceral fat levels. This is one of the major contributors to the onset of type-2 diabetes. Moreover, the healthy fats and fiber contained in avocado can help promote satiety, thereby assisting with weight loss and management.
The result is that you lose weight. Meyer's advice is to eat an avocado around lunchtime so you will feel fuller until dinner and not be tempted to snack. If you are a snacker, she suggests snacking on avocados.
This is because avocados are high in healthy fats and fiber, which give you more energy and boost your metabolism. Fiber is also known to aid in digestion and can aid in weight loss. This is why avocado toast can be a great snack for you if you're trying to lose weight.
Banana is beneficial for the health in more ways than one, while avocado is a great choice for people on a diet. Now, researchers have found that eating one banana and an avocado a day may prevent hardening of the arteries that can result in heart disease and death.
Avocado has a buttery, savory taste, and eating the right portions of avocado can help improve bad cholesterol levels. Avocados are full of heart-healthy unsaturated fats and fiber. Avocados are also considered brain food, so having avocado toast occasionally for breakfast can help you improve your brain health.