Avocado Could Lower Bad Cholesterol and Reduce Painful Inflammation


Many people avoid eating avocados because the bulk of their calories are primarily made up of fat. But avocados contain a dose of healthy monounsaturated fats that are actually beneficial and very important to maintaining your good health.

Avocados are high in fruit oil, giving them a high food energy value. Avocados are low in carbohydrates. They contain 14 minerals that help regulate your bodily functions. Avocados contain no starch and little sugar.

How beneficial are avocados to your health? Well, in one clinical trial performed at the Wesley Hospital in Brisbane, Australia, 15 women were put on a diet that was enriched with either avocado or complex carbohydrates. Researchers found that the avocado diet actually reduced cholesterol levels better than the complex carb diet.

And, in another trial, avocados have been shown to be an effective remedy for reducing pain and inflammation in people who suffer from osteoarthritis and gout. Researchers did a systematic review of three of the top medical databases. They went all the way back to 1985 to see if avocado and other herbal supplements had any positive effect on arthritis pain. What they discovered was that the evidence was strong for avocado when it came to reducing chronic back and joint pain.

So, avocados could actually help your lower levels of bad cholesterol and reduce painful inflammation caused by arthritic conditions. Avocados are good for your heart. Their high potassium levels could help lower your blood pressure and protect against heart attack and stroke. Half an avocado contains 57 mcg of folate. Folate, of course, is recommended for pregnant women, as it helps prevent life-threatening birth defects of the brain and spine. But moms- to-be are not the only ones who could benefit from eating folate-rich foods. Everyone needs folate to keep the nerves functioning properly.

Here are two suggestions to keep in mind when buying avocados. If you are still worried about the fat content, shop for Florida avocados, as they have about two-thirds of the calories and half the fat of avocados grown in California. Or buy those harvested between November and March, as these avocados may have as much as one-third of the fat of those picked in September or October.

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