WEST LONG BRANCH N.J.– Although the saying goes, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” the recent rise in popularity of avocados may call for a modern update of that phrase. This is coming from a girl who never liked the taste of avocados, but who has adapted her taste buds and now eats avocados almost every week. How can someone come to like something they once hated? One easy answer: the health benefits!
“I eat avocados almost every other day,” said Rebecca Milford, a senior at Ocean Community College. “Before adding them to my diet, I wasn’t getting my healthy fats from good foods. I would snack on chips and greasy foods. Avocados are the perfect day time snack or fruit to add to any meal.”
There are multiple proven benefits of avocados, according to Authority Nutrition. Avocados are considered one of the healthiest foods a person can put into their body, especially since this fruit helps aid in digestion, weight management and protection from cardiovascular disease.
They don’t call avocados “super food” for nothing. For one thing, they pack tons of nutrients. According to Authority Nutrition, a single avocado contains 27 percent of your needed dietary fiber, 14 percent of your potassium and 17 percent of your vitamin C. Avocados actually contain more potassium than bananas, which our cells need to function at their best capacity.
Avocados also contain antioxidants, which can help not only maintain good eyesight and prevent cataracts or other eye diseases, but also to keep hair and skin healthy. This is why people normally throw avocados into their salads–to easily absorb all of those missed antioxidants!
While avocados are high in fat, they contain what we call “good fat” or mono-saturated fat, which helps digest nutrients from plant-based foods. The phytochemicals inside them fuel the body with natural energy, helping athletes and active people stay motivated and full of high energy when working out or playing sports.
Luckily, it is easy to take advantage of an avocado’s health benefits. All you have to do is incorporate the super-food into your diet in creative way. Here are just a few examples:
- Whole avocados with salt, pepper and shredded cheese sprinkled on top
- Avocado cut into halves and put on top of a chicken breast
- Avocado toast, with sliced avocados, egg whites, and tomatos on a piece of toast (salt, pepper or ketchup can be added to this one for extra flavoring)
- Cubed avocado thrown into any type of salad
- Cooked avocado breakfast omelette
- Traditional guacamole and tortilla chips (don’t forget the salsa here!)
- Avocado cooked in a pan with a cream base for the perfect pasta sauce
Although there are a plethora of ways to eat avocados, as a student on a budget and tight schedule, these are the easiest and fastest ways to enjoy this delicious fruit!
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