Nutrition facts & health benefits of Avocado

Avocado is scientifically known as Persea americana. According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the Central American avocado tree originated in southern Mexico and Colombia around 7,000 years ago. There are many types of avocado that vary in shape and color — from pear-shaped to round and green to black. The most popular variety is the Hass avocado. This fruit is prized for its high nutrient value and is added to various dishes due to its good flavor and rich texture. These days, the avocado has become an incredibly popular food among health-conscious individuals. It’s often referred to as a superfood, which is not surprising given its health properties. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), these are the nutrition facts for about one-half, or 68 grams (g), of an avocado: Calories 114 Dietary fiber 6 g Total sugar 0.2 g Potassium 345 milligrams (mg) Sodium 5.5 mg Magnesium 19.5 mg Vitamin A 43 micrograms (μg) Vitamin E 1.3 mg Vitamin K 14 μg Vitamin B-6 0.2 mg Monounsaturated fatty acids 6.7 g Health benefits of Avocado are: 1. Eating Avocados helps to lose weight Avocado may help you lose weight because it contains monounsaturated fat. Another characteristic that makes avocados waistline-friendly is the fiber. Not only is the monounsaturated fat in avocados good for you, but their fiber fills you up. For every 100 g of avocado, you get about 7 g of fiber. In a small study published in BioMed Central, 26 overweight adults reported a 28 percent reduction in hunger and a 23 percent increase in satisfaction after adding half an avocado to their daily diet. 2. Beauty benefits of Avocados Adding avocado to your diet may promote a healthy complexion. Its vitamin C may help reduce skin inflammation, accelerate wound healing, and soothe dry skin. Avocado oil may boost collagen production, further reducing signs of aging, research suggests. 3. Avocados are loaded with powerful Antioxidants that can protect your eyes Not only do avocados increase antioxidant absorption from other foods, they are also high in antioxidants themselves. This includes the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which are incredibly important for eye health. Therefore, eating avocados should benefit your eye health over the long term.