Avocados had previously been shunned as a health food due to their high saturated fat content. However recent research studies now agree that saturated fats, like avocado and coconut oil as well as grass-fed dairy foods like butter, cheese and yoghurt, are helpful in maintaining a healthy body. Avocados are a powerhouse of vitamins, minerals, fibre and essential fats, so go ahead and treat yourself to this luscious green superfood!

Avocados are:

• Anti-inflammatory
• Heart healthy
• Brain food
• Anti-aging
• Eye healthy
• Cancer preventative

What makes avocados so great?

Good fats

• Avocados have over 60% monounsaturated fats. These fats help your heart stay healthy. They do this by lowering your ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol and helping raise your ‘good’ HDL cholesterol. This action helps prevent strokes and heart attacks that occur due to plaque blocked arteries. Monounsaturated fats increase your BMR (basal metabolic rate). A higher BMR means that you will burn more calories while at rest making it easier to maintain weight loss goals.
• Avocados also contain a high amount of Omega 3 fats. These fats are essential support for the entire cardiovascular system from reducing inflammation to regulating blood pressure and heart rate. Brains also get a boost from Omega-3 fats and when combined with avocados natural vitamin E they can even help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

Vitamins

• Avocados are packed with vitamins A, B, C, E and K all essential for the body.
• Vitamin E not only helps keep your heart functioning but also keeps your skin and brain healthy too.

Minerals

• Avocados contain the minerals: potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, zinc and manganese.
• Potassium is necessary for heart health and an avocado has more potassium than a banana.

Super Antioxidants - Cartenoids, Glutathione, and Lutein

• Lutein helps protect eyes from free radical damage that contributes to vision loss and cataracts.
• Cartenoids are responsible for reducing inflammation that causes discomfort and disease, as well as fighting damage from free radials that come from environmental toxins and stress.
• Glutathione is an antioxidant that helps the other antioxidants do their job as well as helps fight cellular degeneration that causes aging. It is also responsible for keeping both the nervous system and the immune system strong.

Fibre

• Surprise, avocados have fibre that help your digestive tract work well and keep you regular.

How to add avocados to your diet

These amazing fruits can be added to sandwiches, salads, pureed or even added to a smoothie. The most famous avocado treat is guacamole. This dip is made from blending avocado, tomato, onion or garlic, lime juice and pepper. Avocados are best eaten raw and are ripe when the skin yields to slight pressure. Adding avocado to your diet is a great plus for those following a high fat ketogenic style diet as it makes a great alternative spread to butter and helps reduce inflammation in your body. 'Ask a naturopath' for more information about adding avocados to your diet.