Avocado is a pear-shaped fruit with a large seed in it. It has become very popular in Indian kitchens these days, as people are becoming more conscious towards their health with the passage of time. In order to get a healthy diet, they are substituting their daily food with avocados as it can be used in different forms and is highly recommended for health benefits. While avocados have a high fat content, they are also packed with nutrients which adds health to many dishes.
1. Rich in Minerals & Vitamins: Avocado is highly nutritious and thus it is added to all kinds of foods because of its nutrient value, good flavour and rich texture. It contains some of the rich nutrients which include Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Potassium and Folate. It also contains small amounts of Magnesium, Manganese, Copper, Iron, Zinc, Phosphorous, Vitamin A, B1, B2 and B3. Nutrients like Lutein and Zeaxanthin are very useful for eye health and lower the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts.
2. Helps Lowering Blood Pressure: When we talk about nutrients, Avocados are very rich in potassium too. In today’s life, most of the people are not getting potassium in their daily diet and thus this is a perfect food for them. It has more potassium than bananas, which helps in maintaining electrical gradients in our body’s cells and helps the body to serve various important functions including maintaining the blood pressure levels.
3. Heart Healthy Food: Monounsaturated Fatty Acids are normally termed as good fats, as it helps in controlling the heart problems. Avocado is an excellent source of monounsaturated oleic acid Eating Avocado in different forms helps one to control the weight, cholesterol and blood pressure which are some of the main causes of heart attacks.
4. Loaded with Fibre: Another nutrient you can find in Avocado is Fibre. It is relatively found in larger amounts and is very helpful in reducing weight, blood sugar levels and also increases metabolism. If we compare Avocado with other fruits, it is high by 7% which is very useful for our health.
How to select: Avocados that yield to gentle pressure are good to eat within a day or two and are normally with unblemished skin. But if you are planning to eat it after 3-4 days, buy a firm one with shiny skin as it takes 3-4 days to ripen at room temperature.
Culinary uses: Not only they are healthy, there are delicious to eat too. You can easily incorporate Avocados in your daily food. One can use Avocados in pestos, salads, muffins, pizzas and many more such interesting things. The easiest way to eat Avocado in your daily food is sandwiches and parathas. We have lined up some recipes just for you so that you find it easy to include Avocado in your diet.
