Avocado-A Fruit of Choice

By Tran Trai, 10th Sep 2010 | Follow this author | RSS Feed | Short URL http://nut.bz/1hh3quv0/
Posted in Wikinut>Health>Diet & Nutrition

Avocado has abundant nutrients, antioxidants and fatty acids that are good for your joints.

Health benefits

Avocado is a tropical American tree that bares oval or pear-shaped fruit. It is also known as an alligator pear. The fruit is not sweet, but fatty and strongly flavored. The meat is smooth with creamy texture. The tree prefers basaltic soil, thus it is widely known in Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

Avocado fruit has plenty of unsaturated fatty acids, similar to those in olive, sunflower, peanut and sesame oils, which are very good for the body, especially for those who are dieting. The fruit has higher fat content than most other fruits, mostly mono-unsaturated fat. Studies show that a low-calorie regime with avocados is as good as any conventional diet regime. Avocados also have 60% more potassium than bananas. It does not increase blood pressure.

Avocado flesh contains antioxidants that can inhibit the development of cancerous cells of the prostate glands. These antioxidants can help prevent eye diseases and certain cancers; these can also protect the skin against the ultraviolet light. The fruit is rich in vitamin E, vitamin K and folate. It can help lower the LDL or bad cholesterol level and triglyceride while increasing the HDL or the good cholesterol level in the blood.

The avocado is very popular in vegetarian cuisine, making an excellent substitute for meats in sandwiches and salads because of high fat content. Studies also show that eating avocados can help sufferers relieve joint pain and improve joint functions without having to use anti-inflammatory drugs.

Avocado is also thought to promote physical beauty and is used in cosmetics nowadays. The mixture of avocado and soybean can stimulate the formation of cartilage, retard bone sclerosis and tissue degeneration. In Vietnam, avocados are frequently used for mil-shakes and occasionally added to ice cream.

100 grams of avocado flesh contain: Energy: 160kcal Protein: 2g Lipid: 14.66g Calcium: 12mg Magnesium: 29mg Potassium: 485mg Iron: 0.55mg Selenium: 0.4mg Beta-carotene: 62mcg Vitamin B3: 1.738mg Vitamin B5: 1.389mg Vitamin B6: 0.257mg Vitamin B9: 81mcg Vitamin C: 10mg Vitamin E: 2mg Vitamin K: 40mcg

Meet the author

Tran Trai
I love writing and my favorite subjects are quite various. However, the most interesting topics that I mainly focus on is business and health.