Rich in nutrients, this is the benefit of consuming avocados for health
KONTAN.CO.ID – JAKARTA. Do you regularly eat avocado every day? Here are the benefits of avocado for your body’s health.
Avocado is one of the most popular fruits among various ages. Not only because of its taste, this green fruit is famous for its nutritional content.
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The rich nutritional content in avocado makes this fruit even more popular. These nutrients have a myriad of health benefits for the body.
There are at least 10 health benefits that you can get from eating avocados. Anything?
1. Healthy heart
For information, avocado contains natural plant sterols. This content is known as beta-sitoterol.
Summarizing from Medical News Today, consumption of beta-sitoterol has been shown to be able to keep cholesterol in healthy levels. This is able to keep the heart healthy.
Apart from that, avocado also contains potassium. Potassium itself is needed by the body to work normally, one of which is to keep the heart rate stable.
2. Protect the eyes
Avocados contain lutein and zeaxanthin, types of vitamins called carotenoids.
Reporting from WebMD, the two types of vitamins are known to treat various eye problems, including absorbing light waves that can damage vision.
This green fruit also contains antioxidants in the form of beta-carotene. People who eat a lot of foods rich in this type of antioxidant are less likely to develop age-related macular degeneration.
Macular degeneration itself is the leading cause of blindness in older adults.
3. Strengthens bones
A typical half whole avocado contains 15% of an adult’s daily vitamin K requirement. These nutrients can help increase bone density and prevent fractures.
The popularity of vitamin K is often overpowered by calcium and vitamin D. Even so, eating foods that contain vitamin K will help increase bone strength.
4. Reducing the risk of cancer
Avocados are also known for their high folic acid content. Consumption of foods with high folic acid content itself is known to show great hope in protecting against colon, stomach, pancreatic, and cervical cancers.
Researchers believe that folate protects cells against unwanted mutations in DNA and RNA during cell division.
In addition, in a study involving 4,000 women showed avocados have oleic acid which can reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Laboratory studies have also found that avocados also contain avocatin B compounds which can kill leukemia cells.
5. Helps lose weight
Avocado is known as a fruit that is rich in unsaturated fats and fiber. Both of these ingredients can help reduce your waist circumference.
Launching from Live Strong, a study published in Nutrition Jornal in 2013 showed eating avocado can increase feelings of fullness, which helps promote weight loss.
Overall, avocado is a healthy food. Consumption of this fruit can lose weight and reduce cholesterol.
6. Lower the risk of depression
As a food source that is rich in folic acid, avocado also has the benefit of reducing the risk of depression.
This benefit is obtained because folate can help prevent the buildup of homocysteine, a substance that can interfere with circulation and delivery of nutrients to the brain.
The buildup of homocysteine in the blood can also interfere with the production of the hormones serotonin, dopamine, and neropinephrine. These three hormones are responsible for regulating mood, sleep and appetite.
7. Pregnancy nutrition
Folic acid is also known as an essential nutrient for pregnancy. This is why, in general, pregnant women are advised to consume lots of avocados. Folate intake is very important to reduce the risk of miscarriage and birth defects in babies.
8. Protect the brain
Avocados are also known to be a good source of vitamin E. This vitamin E content can help protect yourself from Alzheimer’s disease and slow down your memory and thinking skills.
9. Skin care
Not only eaten, avocado is also often used as a face mask. This is because of the antioxidant and vitamin C content in the green fruit.
Both of these nutrients can help keep your skin looking youthful by smoothing wrinkles on your face.
10. Lower the risk of chronic disease
Avocados are known to have a high fiber content. Launching from Healthline, a study on dietary habits shows that people who eat avocados are healthier than those who don’t.
This is because avocados are high in nutrients which lower the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Apart from that, this tropical fruit also has a high fiber content.
According to the Department of Internal Medicine and the Nutrition Science Program of the University of Kentucky, high fiber intake is associated with a significantly lower risk of developing coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity (Resa Eka Ayu Sartika)
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This article was published on Kompas.com with the title “10 Benefits of Avocados for Health”
