3 Reasons to Eat Avocados Everyday
Foods that have an incredible array of health benefits that go well beyond just their nutrient value are considered superfoods. These foods are typically loaded with a combination of critical fatty acids, antioxidant phytonutrients, and essential amino acids. In this article, you will discover 3 major reasons to eat avocados every day.
Avocados are native to Central America and were a favorite food of the Aztec Indians. It is part of the flowering plant family Lauraceae which includes camphor, bay laurel, and cinnamon. Avocados are considered a fruit. They are cultivated in tropical climates throughout the world including southern Florida and California. Avocados are one of the best anti-aging superfoods to consume and you will learn the major reasons to eat avocados daily. (1)
Avocado History:
The oldest known evidence of avocado use as a food was found in a cave in Puebla, Mexico. The dates of the writings are thought to be from around 10,000 BC. The two major types of avocados are the Hass Avocado and Florida Avocado. The Hass avocado was named after Rudolph Hass who developed an avocado farm and obtained a patent for the avocados he was growing.
The Florida avocados are significantly larger than the Hass avocados but are lower in overall fat and calories. The Hass avocado is more dense in monounsaturated fatty acids than the Florida avocado. The Hass avocado averages between 18-30% fatty acids while the Florida avocado has about 3-5% fats. This equals out to the Florida avocados being about 25-50% of the total fat content found in the Hass avocados.
Eat Avocados For Healthy Fats & Antioxidants
This amazing fruit is very high in healthy oleic acid. This is a monounsaturated fat that helps increase fat metabolism. It is also rich in the powerful carotenoid antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin as well as Vitamin E (tocopherol). (4)
These antioxidants decrease oxidative stress and allow for a healthier cellular environment. Other critical components include ionic potassium and folate. These elements are alkaline forming in the body, helping to buffer acidic wastes that accumulate within the human tissue and bloodstream.
Avocados Enhance Nutrient Assimilation:
Avocados are a terrific complement to a vegetable based meal. Most vegetables, particularly in their raw state, contain a high amount of carotenoid based antioxidants. Studies have shown that these antioxidants are lipophilic (fat-loving) and are absorbed best in the body when combined with a healthy fat such as oleic acid. (4)
A study published in the Journal of Nutrition in March 2005 showed that adding avocados to salad increased absorption of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and lutein 7.2, 15.3, and 5.1 times higher, respectively, than the average amount of these carotenoids absorbed when avocado-free salad was eaten. (2) This is one reason I eat avocados with my salads regularly!
Eat Avocados for Great Digestive Function:
Hass avocados have been found to be the most densely concentrated variety of the avocado fruit. They contain the highest content of lutein, zeaxanthin, and other fat-soluble nutrients. (1) Both types of avocados are terrific for the digestive system as they contain a good variety of both soluble and insoluble fibers.
Avocados are one of the best anti-aging foods that prevent wrinkles and skin aging. The D-manno-heptulose sugar that is found in avocados has been shown to improve the skin epidermis by boosting collagen formation. Avocados also contain specific amino acids and carotenoid antioxidants that reduce age spots, soothe inflammation, and heal scars and burns. (3) Another great reason to eat avocados daily.
When looking to find a ripe avocado it is best to feel the consistency rather than judge them off on their color. They will get darker as they ripen so the forest green is typically not ripe yet.
Ripe avocados that are still good are typically firm but have a slight give to them. Any sort of mushy consistency is a warning sign that the inside meat is oxidized and rotten. Refrigerating your avocados will increase their shelf life while putting them in a bag with an old banana peel will make them ripen faster.
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What can a person who is sensitive to histamines in foods do to increase their tolerance of avocados, which are a high histamine food?
Bee – if you are unable to tolerate avocados due to histamine intolerances, you will want to heal your gut. Leaky gut aggravates histamine levels, so be sure to work on an auto-immune/leaky gut protocol such as GAPS plan to restore integrity to the gut lining.
The “Eating for your Blood Type” diet says that Avocados are “poison” for Type O blood. What do you think about that diet? Coconuts are also considered “poison”. Yikes! I guess I could come off both for a month and see how I do. I’ve been on your Leaky Gut powder for 2 months now. Thanks!
Hey Ann,
I only agree with some of the tenants of this diet. I do believe some individuals are able to secrete more stomach acid and therefore can handle more red meat than others. But I am a blood type O and I do wonderfully on both avocados and coconut and eat both ever day.
hey guys whats up this help me a lot in my research paper that I have of avocados thanks
Great to hear about that Gracy!
I need info on how to heal gastritis in march 2017 went to er for stomach burning & bad indigestion never experienced any of this in my life im 34yrs old & still 5mths later im experiencing the frustrating symptoms of alot of gas & on & off stomach burning plus constipation i have did the whole changing eating habits i only drink water any feed back is appreciated thanks?
So sorry to hear about this. This could be many things Maria. You may want to consider working with one of our health coaches.
Here is some helpful information:
https://drjockers.com/12-ways-to-overcome-constipation/
https://drjockers.com/8-ways-to-reduce-gas-and-farting/
Hello Maria. I used to suffer a lot with gastritis, reflux for years. I healed my problem with Cabbage juice for 3 weeks. Drink a 8 onz glass in the morning and afternoon. Use a juicer (No blend). Also intermitent fasting help too with probiotics. Minimize carbs.
Thank you Dr. Jockers for this great article! My absolute favorite superfood! My day is not complete without at least one!🥑❤️
Same here Jennifer!
I freeze them in chunks to use in my morning protien shake.
Great idea Tracey!
I have tried and tried to like avocados but alas, I still don’t like them! Is there anything I can substitute that would be close to the benefits of avocados?
Plenty of vegetables and healthy fats!!
Is vitamin K2 MK-7 the best way to reduce the calcium score ? And how much to take be effective ? Also where is the best source of this vitamin to buy ?
Actually the best way along with healthy diet and lifestyle is to take vitamin D3 and K2 together. I recommend doing 1-2 mg of K2 daily and 5-10,000 IU of D3 daily. We have this ratio of 1,000 IU/200 mcg K2 in our D3/K2 Liquid formula here https://store.drjockers.com/products/vitamin-d-k2-liquid?_pos=2&_sid=d061aa32d&_ss=r
Could avocados help heal adrenal fatigue?
Also, could you explain a bit more about the relationship between potassium and sodium? Can avocados help you to retain sodium which is lost by the adrenals due to stress?
Yes they can as they contain both sodium and potassium. To get enough sodium I would use a good quality sea salt like Redmond’s Real Salt, Celtic or Himalayan Sea Salt.
Hi! I have a multitude of health issues. Gastric Parisis 50percent, IBS w/constipation, Gerd, Esophagitis and Rhuematoid Arthritis. Whew…can leaky gut cause all this? I’m at a loss 😭 right now.
Sorry to hear about this! Here is a helpful article for you: https://drjockers.com/gastroparesis/
Hi:
I read that avocados are high in salicylates, every time my son eats them he gets very hipper, what can I do to prevent that, I would appreciate any info, thanks