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.
In fact, researchers have found that avocados may protect the heart in a similar way as olive oil and nuts do in the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet. A 2018 analysis of 10 studies found an increase in HDL (protective cholesterol) in people who consumed an average of 1 to 3.7 avocados daily.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Excess intake of avocados may also cause constipation due to its high fiber content. On the other hand, the fruit is high in water too. Consuming the fruit in excess may make it difficult for your body to absorb all the water properly, potentially leading to diarrhea.
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.
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.
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.
If you are interested in preventing cognitive decline and improving your brain health, daily avocado consumption may help. According to a 2020 study in the International Journal of Psychology, avocados contain the compound lutein, which crosses the blood-brain barrier and may improve cognitive function.
“Aubergines, avocado, nuts and soy sauce all contain an amino acid called tyramine. This amino acid may inhibit sleep as it causes the release of a hormone called norepinephrine that stimulates the brain,” nutritionist Rob Hobson told the U.K. Express in a story that has been picked up by several other outlets.
She adds that avocados also contain magnesium and potassium—two minerals associated with better sleep. Studies have shown magnesium might make it easier to fall asleep and improve your sleep quality. Meanwhile, potassium helps by relaxing your muscles and may even help improve symptoms of sleep apnea.
Before you get all worked up, just know that this is just a myth. In fact, as Extra Crispy reports, avocados also contain tryptophan. You probably associate tryptophan with big turkey dinners, but the amino acid that makes you sleepy is also found in other foods (soybeans, cheese, beans, and eggs for example).
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.
Interactions with Other Drugs:
Avocadoes are rich in potassium and may interact with drugs like lisinopril, ramipril, captopril are used in hypertension.
One avocado a day can help improve bad cholesterol levels in overweight and obese people, a study published in 2015 in the Journal of the American Heart Association found. Make avocados part of your daily healthy eating plan, but consider downsizing your servings to: half of a whole fruit, 120 calories.
Avocados
Avocados are one of the best sources of monounsaturated fats. This type of fat can lower high blood pressure and prevent high blood pressure. A single avocado also has more than 10 grams of blood pressure-reducing fiber.
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.