Did you know avocado has been shown to aid in weight loss and arthritis management? A recent study found patients with arthritis who supplemented their diet with avocado and soybean oil (in supplement form) reduced their joint space narrowing. Another recent study found that eating an avocado at lunch time can help one lose weight by improving satiety and reducing hunger later in the afternoon. Because the fruit wasn’t shown to increase blood sugar, researchers thought this might be particularly beneficial for those with diabetes. And some prior research found avocado beneficial for reducing the risk of certain cancers! (Source: “Avocado: Good for Your Waistline and Your Joints” by Marissa Luck.)
Kris Gunnars, BSc recently published “12 Proven Benefits of Avocado (No. 5 is Very Impressive)” for the website Authority Nutrition, An Evidence-Based Approach. The evidence is not only interesting, but great news for those of us who love this unique and powerful fruit (and yes, it is a fruit!). While most fruits are high in sugar, avocado is intead high in healthy fats (particularly the heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids, which are the same nutrients that make olive oil so good for you). Further, those fats help your body absorb beneficial nutrients from not only the avocado, but other plant foods, too. Avocados are very high in fiber, which can promote weight loss, regulate blood sugar, and lower our risk of a number of diseases. Avocados also have a great number of vitamins and minerals, such as more potassium than even bananas! Avocados are a great source of antioxidants that promote eye health, and the “Impressive” No. 5 Kris Gunnars refers to is that avocados can significantly lower one’s “bad” LDL cholesterol, increase the “good” HDL cholesterol, and lower blood triglyceride levels, all of which decreases one’s risk of heart disease, the most common cause of death in the world.
If you’d like to learn more, read the articles linked above, and don’t forget to give avocado a try! It’s wonderful in salads, on sandwiches, as a tasty (and filling) topping for dishes ranging from soups to rice bowls to burritos and beyond. Guacamole anyone?
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