Are Avocados Bad or Good for You?

Avocados have gotten a “bad rap” from some people because of the avocados high fat content, with over 80% of its calories coming from fat.

In the past, it was mistakenly believed that fat should be avoided in the diet because of its propensity to spur weight gain and increase the levels of dangerous cholesterol in the blood.

But as the science of nutrition has progressed and we have gained a better understanding of the different types of fats in foods, those beliefs have proven to be misguided and are now considered outdated.

The truth is that fats are a vital part of a healthy diet. But the key is differentiating between healthy fats, such as those found in avocados, and unhealthy fats which to increase levels of LDL cholesterol.

Almost all of the fat in avocados consists of monounsaturated fats, which are found in vegetable sources. Monounsaturated fat is very healthy and helps to reduce LDL cholesterol as well as increase HDL cholesterol.

Not only are avocados not bad for you, they are so good for you that they have been included in the list of superfoods, which are widely believed to be the most health beneficial and nutrition packed foods on earth.

Avocados are packed with over 20 different vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. Don’t believe the negative hype about avocados– they are wonderfully healthy.

Photo: Avocado maki rolls by Lablascovegmenu