Some people avoid avocados due to their high fat content. Most of us know by now that avocados have the kind of fat that actually help you lose weight!
Avocados are bursting with of other health benefits too, and are so strongly associated with fertility and aphrodisiacs that the Aztecs would lock up virgin daughters during avocado harvest time to keep them safe.
Avocados Benefits:
Nutrient dense fruit
Yes, they are actually a large berry with one seed. One avocado contains approximately 1/3 of the daily requirement of vitamin K and folate, lots of pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin C.
Avocado has twice the potassium of a banana. It also contain vitamin E, niacin, and riboflavin. That is definitely nutrient dense!
A Source of Healthy Fat
They help increase good cholesterol. Avocados are full of fat, but adding avocados to the diet can increase HDL and decrease triglycerides.
Help Cure Cancer
The glutathione found in avocados has been found to help prevent some kinds of cancers.
Researchers found extracts from Hass avocados kill or stop the growth of pre-cancerous cells that lead to oral cancer. Avocado extract was found to inhibit prostate cancer.
Excellent as a First Baby Food
Dr. William Sears puts it as #1 on the top ten list of fruits for babies because avocado nutrition is well-suited for a baby’s growing development.
Stabilize Blood Sugar Levels
Avocado slows digestion which keeps blood sugar from spiking after a meal.
Avocados can Protect Unborn Babies
One avocado provides one third of your recommended daily intake of folate, which helps form a baby’s brain and nervous system. The USDA recommends avocados as one of the best sources for some of the nutrients needed when pregnant.
Improve Eyesight
The high amount of lutein and zeaxanthin in avocados can protect your eyes from age-related macular degeneration and improve your vision. One ounce of avocado contains 81 micrograms of lutein.
Have Low Pesticide Levels
Avocados were the cleanest: only 1 percent of avocado samples showed any detectable pesticides.” Says Environmental Working Group The thick skin of the avocado protects it from absorbing pesticides.
Help with Weight Loss
It was found that those who ate half of a fresh avocado with their lunch had a 40 percent less desire to eat for 3 hours after lunch, and a 28 percent less desire to eat 5 hours after as compared with those who ate lunch with no avocado.
Good for Sexual Health and Fertility
They are rich in Vitamin B6 and folic acid which regulate sexual hormone functions. Also, Vitamin B6 and potassium boost testosterone production in males. Being rich in heart healthy fats, the heart will keep beating strong; making sure that blood is flowing to the right places.
Perhaps those Spanish priests were on to something when they banned their parishioners from eating avocados. Avocados were a fertility fruit for the Aztecs and used as an aphrodisiac by the Mayans. Old folklore mentions the Aztecs would lock up virgin daughters during avocado harvest time to keep them safe from farmers who may be sexually-aroused from eating too many avocados.
Great for Beauty Treatments:
The glutamine amino acid in avocados helps cleanse your skin and offers it enough protection against harsh environmental factors. D-manno-heptulose found in avocados has been shown to boost collagen formation. Their specific amino acids and carotenoid anti-oxidants can help reduce age spots and heal scars and burns.
