Yoga Diet Tips: Health Benefits of Avocados
Avocados are nutrient dense fruit yielding a wealth of health benefits for your daily dietary requirements:
*Avocados contain oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat that may help to lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and promote good cholesterol (HDL). Oleic acid has also recently been shown to offer protection against breast cancer.
*Avocados are a great source of potassium. Potassium helps regulate blood pressure and promote the prevention of circulatory diseases like heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.
*Avocados are rich in folate, another nutrient that promotes heart health and lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease or stroke.
*Avocados contain a very concentrated dietary source of the carotenoid lutein and contains measurable amounts of related carotenoids (zeaxanthin, alpha-carotene and beta-carotene) plus significant amounts of tocopherols (vitamin E). The combination of these nutrients in avocados has shown to have been able to inhibit prostate cancer cells. An important component to this nutrient combination is the presence of mono-saturated fats that aid the absorption of the fat-soluble carotenoids into the bloodstream.
*Avocados also greatly increase your body’s ability to absorb the health-promoting carotenoids of other vegetables as well when avocado is eaten with these vegetables.
How to Choose and Store
*Avocados are ripe for eating when they are slightly soft, but have no dark spots. Hass avocados are dark green or black skin with a pebbled texture. Fuerte avocados are smoother in texture and have brighter green skin. Avoid Fuerte avocados with skin that is too bright and light.
*Pick avocados that have a slight neck versus being round on the top. This indicates that it was probably ripened on the tree and will have better flavor.
*Avocados can be purchased firm and can be ripened within a few days in a fruit bowl or a paper. Avoid refrigerating avocados until they are ripe.
*Ripe avocados can last up to 1 week in the refrigerator. If cut, the avocados will turn brown due to oxidation. To prevent this browning, sprinkle with lemon juice and cover to reduce exposure to air.
Get creative and start enjoying avocados throughout your weekly meal plans. Avocados can be added to many meals including vegetable salads, sandwiches, cold pasta salads, and as guacamole. Read More about our quick easy Avocado Salad recipe.
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