5 Reasons to Add Avocado to Your Diet
Are you a guacamole lover? If so, here’s your invitation to continue enjoying avocado as a regular part of your diet! Avocados are excellent for overall health for many different reasons. They are the ideal source of healthy fat and pack in a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals making them a nutritious and delicious superfood to enjoy regularly.
As if you need another reason to keep enjoying this creamy fruit, here are five reasons to add avocado to your diet.
#1 Rich Source of Healthy Fat: Avocados are an excellent source of monounsaturated fat, making them a great addition to a healthy diet. Healthy fats are essential for overall health. Fats play a role in hormone balance, brain function, energy, and they can help keep you full for longer periods of time. When it comes to adding avocado to your diet, a little goes a long way. All you really need is 1/3 of an avocado to reap some of the amazing health benefits of this fruit. Try adding avocado to your smoothie, mashed on toast, or enjoyed with a sprinkle of salt.
#2 Rich in Magnesium: Magnesium plays a role in more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. As you can imagine, not getting enough magnesium can lead to a whole host of health issues. Some people experience muscle cramping, sleep issues, or even anxiety when they are deficient in this important mineral. One great way to make sure you are getting enough magnesium is to add avocado to your diet and to enjoy them regularly.
#3 Great for Hair & Skin: This healthy fat is also the ideal beauty food. The rich-fat content helps to keep hair and skin moisturized and shiny. A diet that is lacking in healthy fat can cause dull and brittle hair as well as dry skin. By increasing your healthy fat intake, and adding avocado to your diet, you can help support the health of your hair and skin. Avocado is so great for hair and skin health that some people make their own face and hair mask using fresh avocado!
#4 They Will Help Keep You Full: Since this fruit is rich in fat and fiber, it will promote satiety, meaning you will be less likely to overeat. This is why people who add more healthy fats to their diet often find they have an easier time losing weight. Healthy fat should be a part of every balanced meal you consume, and avocado makes a great addition to any meal or snack of the day.
#5 Full of Fiber: Speaking of fiber, avocados are the ideal source of dietary fiber. In one cup of sliced avocado, you will get about 10 grams of dietary fiber. That’s a ton considering the recommended amount of fiber men should be getting per day is 30-38 grams, and about 25 grams for women. Eating avocados will definitely help boost your fiber intake, making it easier for you to reach that recommended amount you should be consuming per day. Fiber is super important for digestive health and can help keep your bowel movements regular. However, fiber is also important for stabilizing blood sugar, maintaining a healthy weight, and promoting satiety.
If you love avocados, keep enjoying them, because they certainly come with a ton of health benefits. However, remember that as with anything, too much of a good thing isn’t always good. While avocados come with many health benefits, you don’t want to overdo your fat intake. So, stick to the recommended 1/3 of an avocado serving size, and you can feel great about all of the amazing nutrients you are fueling your body with.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rebecca Jacobs N.C is a Certified Holistic Nutrition Consultant, specializing in digestive and women’s health. She doesn’t believe in dieting but rather making lifestyle changes, and believes that healthy eating must be delicious. Rebecca is also a recipe developer and creates healthier alternatives to traditionally unhealthy foods.
