10 Reasons You Should Eat Avocados

They taste great, are incredibly versatile and even have incredible health benefits.  Check out why you need to make avocados a part of your diet.

1.  Avocados taste great

You can add spices to create a variety of amazing recipes including guacamole, dressings, soups, smoothies and even desserts (see below for some yummy recipes).

2.  Avocados can help you release weight.

Yes!  According to research published in the Nutrition Journal, eating just one-half a low-carb avocado with lunch may satiate you if you’re overweight (or if you’re not).  This may also contribute to prevent snacking.  This is due to its high content of healthy fats, high fiber content that will keep you satisfied longer, but will also help your body burn fat for energy.

3.  Avocados may help you absorb nutrients

Vitamins A, D, E and K can only be absorbed with fat in your body.  Without fat, you can eat foods with these crucial vitamins until the cows come home, but if you don’t have fat to transport them, they won’t get absorbed.  Because avocados are rich in monounsaturated fat, they will help your body take in all these essential vitamins.

4.  Avocados have cancer-fighting elements.

Avocados are rich in carotenoids, antioxidants, which have been known to help combat cancer.

5.  Cholesterol fighting fruit.

Numerous studies have shown that eating avocado can improve LDL bad cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol) as well as blood triglycerides.

6.  Higher in potassium than bananas.

Potassium is abundant in avocados and is important in helping regulate and/or lower blood pressure levels.  High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.

7.  Avocados are abundant in fiber.

Fiber is non-digestible plant food that is crucial to help food move efficiently throughout and out of the body.  Fiber contributes to improve blood sugar control and weight management.

8.  Avocados contain a ton of healthy fats.

Good fat doesn’t make you fat, contrary to slick marketing that has brain washed our country into thinking so.  Healthy monounsaturated fats, such as the Oleic fatty acid in avocados, can help to lose weight and is also linked to reduced inflammation and beneficial effects on genes linked to cancer.

9.  Avocados provide many nutrients which many people are deficient.

Avocados boast 20 different vitamins and minerals including potassium, B-vitamins, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K along with magnesium, iron, copper, zinc and more.

10.  You can incorporate avocados in many delicious ways.

You can easily make delicious guacamole, dressings, soups and even smoothies.

Here are some of my fave ways to add avocados in my meals:

Guacamole.

Just add fresh salsa to mashed up avocado.  If you don’t like onions, a delicious variation is to just add lime juice, cilantro, and sea salt to mashed up avocado-yum!

Dressing.

Add organic Greek yogurt, cilantro, lime juice, garlic and sea salt to 1/2 mashed avocado and blend.

Soup.

Add avocado instead of cream to make creamy soups.

Smoothies.

My latest discovery that I LOVE is to add avocado to smoothies to make them rich and creamy and super filling.