To avocado or not to avocado: the final word

There has been much discussion over the years about whether avocado is healthy or not. Let’s settle this debate once and for all.

Avocado is incredibly nutritious. Here’s why: it’s a good source of vitamins K, C, E, B5 and B6, and it’s high in folate, zinc, magnesium, carotenoids, monounsaturated fats and fibre. These superfoods are also naturally low in salt and saturated fats – the bad cholesterol-increasing kind. In fact, new research has emerged to show that eating avocado every day as part of a moderate fat diet is more effective at reducing one’s LDL cholesterol than a low fat diet without avocado. This impressive fruit has also been shown to reduce triglyceride levels – another biomarker for heart disease.

Evidence shows that avocado can be regularly consumed without hampering one’s weight loss efforts. Just be sure to exercise some portion control – about ¼-½ a day is an appropriate amount.

The Australian Dietary Guidelines encourage us to switch from saturated fats to healthy monounsaturated fats, like those found in avocados.  That’s even more reason to ‘ave some avo every day.

Whether you like it squished or smashed, layered on thick or thin, or even diced or spread, be sure to include avocado as part of your healthy diet. So the debate is settled once and for all. Better spread the word then.