Health Benefits of Monounsaturated Fats from Avocado

Overview

Avocado is a fruit that offers tremendous health benefits. One of the key benefits of avocado is promoting cardiovascular health. This protection comes from its high content of monounsaturated fats.

Nutrients in Avocado

Avocados are rich in healthy monounsaturated fats, fiber and potassium, which help to control cholesterol and promote blood flow to the heart, brain and other organs.

Monounsaturated Fats

Monounsaturated fats found in avocado act as powerful antioxidants, mopping up free radicals and preventing them from damaging your heart and blood vessels. Monounsaturated fats also help to lower cholesterol levels and improve the ratio of HDL or 'good" cholesterol to LDL or "bad" cholesterol in the blood. 

Health Benefits

• Heart disease. Monounsaturated fats help to prevent heart disease and stroke by increasing HDL or "good" cholesterol, lowering LDL or "bad" cholesterol and reducing triglycerides.

• Skin health. Monounsaturated fats help to promote blood flow to your skin, build collagen and maintain healthier, smoother looking skin.

• Brain function. Monounsaturated fats may help to prevent or slow the  progression of dementia and Alzheimer's disease by improving blood flow to your brain and protecting your brain cells from oxidative damage.

• Weight loss. Despite it's high fat content, studies show you can lose weight on a diet that includes avocado. Simply substitute a about 3 thin slices of avocado for other fats in your diet. Avocados may also cause a decrease in appetite, which could result in fewer calories consumed, thus promoting weight loss.

Resources

High density lipoproteins (HDL) size and comp... PubMed result
Avocado consumption is associated with better .... The FASEB Journal
The effects of various avocado oils on skin collagen

Health Benefits of Losing Weight

Overview

Studies show that people who are overweight or obese can enjoy a number of health benefits by losing weight. These benefits include improvement in overall health, decreased healthcare costs, more energy, and a richer, fuller and longer life.

Getting Started

Making healthy food choices and getting more exercise are two key strategies for successful weight loss. Experts recommend that you eat more fruits, vegetables and other foods that are high in fiber as an important step in your efforts to lose weight. Eating these foods will help you to cut back on calories while boosting your nutritional intake.

Another important strategy is to reduce the amount of sugar and fat in your diet.  Cutting back on these will leave room for more nutrient-dense foods that can boost your health without the unwanted calories.

You will also need to avoid consuming too much salt. Research shows that salt can affect the way your body handles fat and make it difficult to lose weight.

Health Benefits of Losing Weight

Chronic disease. Research shows that losing weight can produce significant improvements in diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and a number of other serious medical conditions. 

While many of these conditions were thought to be irreversible, studies show that not only can they be controlled; in many cases, patients are able to have their prescription doses reduced or to be taken off of the drugs altogether.

Rejuvenation. Losing weight will help to restore your cells to a more youthful state. Without the excess weight on your body, you will be able to do so much more and truly enjoy life.

Brain function. Eating a healthy diet, rich in antioxidants and other key nutrients can help to protect your brain cells and delay the onset of Alzheimer’s or other diseases of aging that affect the brain.

Strong bones. Adding more fruits and vegetables to your weight loss diet can help to keep to prevent osteoporosis by preventing calcium from being leached from the bones. Drinking vitamin D-rich milk instead of sugary drinks will also help to keep your bones strong.

These are just some of the health benefits that you can begin to enjoy by losing weight.