The Calories in Avocado Are Beneficial

The calories in avocado are not worth shying away from because they offer some amazing health benefits.

Avocados are dark green globes, which sometimes even appear black. Their pebbled skin conceals a yellow-green, soft, buttery flesh.  The flavor of avocados is mild, making this fruit (yes, avocados are a fruit, not a vegetable) very versatile. Unfortunately, many times the question of calories in an avocado makes some people hesitate enjoying this wonderful fruit. The health promoting monounsaturated fats along with all of the other avocado health benefits makes this an ideal, almost perfect food, to satisfy and even help prevent overeating.

Avocados are a favorite fruit of raw foodies. Their taste is mild to even bland and not at all sweet, unlike most fruits. Avocados are easily digestible, their high, good fat content makes them a slow burning fuel to feed your healthy lifestyle. Avocados have good, healthy fats!

Avocado Nutritional Value

Avocados are a nutritional powerhouse. They're packed with vitamins A, several of the B vitamins, especially folate (the natural form of folic acid), vitamins C and E; avocados are loaded with fiber.

The minerals in avocados include calcium, iron, copper, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium. Avocados may be the richest fruit source of magnesium. Magnesium is essential for healthy bones, regulation of blood pressure, cardiac rhythms and may help to prevent migraines and type II diabetes.

The mineral benefits do not stop there. Avocados are rich in potassium and contains more potassium than bananas. Potassium is an important mineral to help regulate blood pressure and support a healthy circulatory system and general heart health such as regulation of blood pressure, preventing strokes and heart disease.

Avocados are a rich source of folate. Expectant mothers, growing children and those recovering from surgery or physical trauma have especially heightened folate needs. Folate may also help to reduce the incidence of heart disease and stroke.

Avocados are also a rich source of beta-sitosterol. This plant compound effectively helps to lower cholesterol. Beta sitosterol also may play a significant role in helping to prevent or fight cancer.

Baby Food – Mashed avocado is an excellent fruit to start baby on solid food. The nutritious calories in an avocado and its high levels of folic acid both help the baby's rapid growth.

Beauty Mask – The calories in avocado certainly don't count here. To make an anti-aging facial mask for dry skin combine equal parts of mashed avocado and raw honey and spread it on your face. Leave the mask on for at lest 30 minutes or longer before removing.

Brain Health – The antioxidant glutathione that avocados are rich in is an important antioxidant to protect brain health. Avocados may help to prevent brain degeneration as seen in Alzheimer's Disease.

Blood Pressure – Monounsaturated fat, the kind of fat that gives the calories in avocado, has been associated with lower blood pressure.

Cholesterol – Avocados seems to maintain good cholesterol while reducing bad cholesterol.

Eye Health – A single avocado contains 81 micrograms of the eye-enhancing nutrient lutein.

Fiber – The avocado is rich plant source of both soluble and insoluble forms of fiber.

Glutathione Source – Along with asparagus, avocado is rich in what some have called “the master antioxidant” glutathione.

Nutrient Enhancer – One of the most interesting benefits of avocados is that it helps your body to assimilate the nutrients from the other foods that you eat. To get the most nutrition out of your raw foods, forget about counting the calories in avocado, just add one to your other raw foods.

Heart Health – The levels of fiber, of vitamin E, potassium, folic acid, the ability to balance cholesterol levels and blood pressure coupled with its various antioxidant phytonutrients makes this particular fruit very protective of your heart.

Protein – The avocado contains all 8 of the essential amino acids – the building blocks of protein. Essential amino acids means that you must get these through your diet since the body cannot make these nutrients. Eat an avocado for a complete source of protein.

Prostrate Cancer – Avocados may be an effective fighter against prostrate cancer. Their high levels of vitamin E and other plant nutrients working together may inhibit the growth of prostrate cancer cells.Men, forget about the calories in avocado, just enjoy one every few days.

Stroke Prevention – High potassium intake, as found in avocados, has been linked to preventing strokes. In fact, a study cited in Prevention magazine, August 1987, found that you can reduce your risk of stoke by 40 % just by adding about 400 mg of potassium— less than half an avocado daily.

Vitamin E – Forget the synthetic vitamin E supplement— eat an avocado for a superior source of naturally formulated, raw vitamin E. The avocado is the best fruit source of vitamin E.

Weight Loss – The calories in avocado, approximately 300 per average-sized fruit, can be daunting. However these are very beneficial, nutrient-packed calories. The avocado gives the feeling of fullness that helps us feel satisfied without eating as much. Think of your avocado as a vegetable form of roast chicken breast. They have about the same amount of calories, but far superior nutrition.

Enjoy these raw recipes with avocado:

Guacamole Wraps	Avocado Smoothie

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