top 5 reasons why you should eat an avocado today

However, the avocado still has a very firm place in the hearts of our health-focussed population (and their Instagram accounts!). But why is that? Let’s look at five of the key health benefits of this well-loved fruit:

1. Avocados are ridiculously nutritious

Packed with vitamins, the average avocado contains 160 calories, 2 grams of protein and 15 grams of healthy fats. Although the average avocado contains 9 grams of carbs, 7 of those are fibre, so there are only 2 grams of “net” carbs, making this a low-carb friendly plant food. Of course, they also do not contain any cholesterol or sodium and are low in saturated fat.

2. Avocados are packed with potassium

More so than Bananas, which really is a big deal. A mineral which most people don’t get enough of, Potassium has been scientifically linked to the reduction in blood pressure, and the average avocado packs 14% of your RDA. Not bad going, that’s for sure!

3. Avocados are high in healthy fats

Avocado is a high-fat food, that’s for sure. In fact, 77% of the calories are from fat, making it one of the fattiest plant foods in existence. But it’s not just any fat – the majority of the fat in avocado is oleic acid — a monounsaturated fatty acid that’s been associated with reduced inflammation and has been shown to have beneficial effects on genes linked to cancer.

4. Avocados are packed with antioxidants

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. Studies show that they’re linked to a drastically reduced risk of cataracts and macular degeneration, which are common in older adults.

5. Avocados may help you lose weight

If that’s your goal, the avocado may well be your best friend in your weight loss journey. In one study, people eating avocado with a meal felt 23% more satisfied and had a 28% lower desire to eat over the next 5 hours, compared to people who did not consume this fruit. Should this hold true in the long term, then including avocados in your diet may help you naturally eat fewer calories and make it easier for you to stick to healthy eating habits. As we’ve mentioned, they are also high in fibre and low in carbs, two attributes that should help promote weight loss in the context of a healthy and balanced diet.

So there you have it, there’s really no wonder that the avocado has become so universally popular in the UK when you think of the benefits this one fruit carries. It’s really easy to work into all sorts of dishes too. Why not try our dishes which include avocado, such as the signature Eliane breakfast, the vegan breakfast and avocado on toast, all served in Eliane every single day.

Do you love avocado? Let us know how you prefer to serve them!