Is Avocado Good for You? Here's What You Need to Know

Is avocado good for you or does its utility end with how well you can show off your fashionable avocado smoothies on your social media page? We're here to answer the queries of both avocado lovers as well as skeptics.

Let's explore some of the most often-asked questions regarding avocados, such as what is all the hype about them, and whether they really are the ideal meal for your waistline.

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Is Avocado Good for You?

The popularity of avocados as a breakfast item has skyrocketed in recent years. Demand for these tiny green fruits is still increasing, whether it is due to the creaminess they lend to dishes, how they serve beneficial fats, or a successful marketing effort. In fact, the USDA Economic Research Service found that from 2001 to 2018, avocado consumption had tripled.

Creative chefs are incorporating these adaptable fruits into snacks, lunches, and even sweets like chocolate mousse as people's desire for them has expanded beyond guacamole.

Avocados are a powerhouse of nutrients. (Image via Pexels/ Ready Made)

However, what makes avocado good for you? Avocados are a genuine powerhouse of nutrients for runners, including potassium, magnesium, vitamin C, and more. Although avocados are nutrient-dense, they do contain more calories than the majority of other fruits and vegetables.

Avocados are calorie-dense foods despite being heart-healthy, nutrient-dense, and high in fiber. The suggested serving size is only one-third of a fruit, but how frequently do you spread one-third of a fruit on your toast or add a few slices to your salad? An entire avocado is frequently served, at least in most restaurants.

Consuming avocados frequently throughout the day or adding them to foods that already include lipids might easily result in consuming more calories and fat grams than you realize. Even if the extra calories are healthy ones, your body will retain them as fat if you consume more than the recommended amount each day.

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Why Are Avocados Good for You?

Check out this list to know what makes an avocado good for you:

1) Good For The Heart

There are 76 milligrams of beta-sitosterol, a natural plant sterol, in every 100 grams of avocado. Beta-sitosterol and other plant sterols can help keep cholesterol levels in a healthy range, which is crucial for heart health.

Avocado salad presented nicely on a plate. (Image via Pexels/ Taryn Elliott)

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2) Improves Vision

Lutein and Zeaxanthin, two compounds found in eye tissue, are present in avocados. They offer antioxidant defenses to lessen the damage, particularly UV radiation damage.

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3) Improves Digestion

Avocados are a great source of fiber, which makes an avocado good for you. They have particularly high levels of insoluble fiber, which aids in the removal of waste from the body. Consuming fiber regularly can help you avoid constipation.

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4) Helps With Arthritis Pain

Studies on avocado oil extracts reveal they can lessen the symptoms of osteoarthritis. Avocados include vitamin K, which promotes bone health by reducing bone loss and preventing osteoporosis.

Picture of an avocado toast. (Image via Pexels/ Alleksana)

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Is Avocado a Good Source of Protein?

Although avocados do include protein and carbs, neither of these nutrients is thought to be particularly abundant in them. About one gram of protein and four grams of carbohydrates can be found in one-third of an avocado. Avocados are viewed as a superior source of fat and fiber compared to carbohydrates and proteins.

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Is Avocado Good for Your Weight Loss Journey?

Yes, and that's another reason why avocados are good for you!

Avocados are a fantastic addition to your diet for losing weight. As a result of avocados' high content of good fat, which takes longer for the body to process and keeps you fuller for longer, you will feel less hungry, thereby craving and consuming less food, especially in the form of snacks. This is due to the fact that fats take longer to pass through our digestive system, boosting the feeling of fullness from avocados in a meal.

Plate full of avocado salad. (Image via Pexels/ Dana Tentis)

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While the answer to "Is avocado good for you?" is yes, and eating avocados can be regarded as a healthy weight-loss strategy, it's unlikely that doing so will result in considerable weight loss. The easiest approach to losing weight safely is to combine a regular exercise schedule with a wholesome diet, which avocados can undoubtedly be a part of.