by Charlotte Louise Nystrom

Created on: March 09, 2009   Last Updated: July 07, 2009

Avocados are a delightful and intriguing fruit. On the surface, they are darkly colored, green or black, and have a thick bumpy skin. Slicing into a fresh avocado yields smooth, creamy pale-green flesh. It can be difficult to describe the taste of this strangely unique fruit. After all, an avocado tastes like well, an avocado. Beyond a surprisingly decadent taste, the avocado boasts a wide variety of health benefits.

Avocados are a great source of fats and oils, particularly for vegetarians. Just one avocado holds approximately 30 grams of fat. The majority of this fat is monounsaturated. You may recall that monounsaturated fats are the "good" kind, which actually work to lower overall cholesterol levels. These are the same fats found in heart healthy olive oil. In addition are high in substance called beta-sitosterol. This substance also shows great potential in the reduction of blood cholesterol levels.

Along with these "good fats", avocados are a wonderful source of fiber. Most avocados have about five or more grams. Fiber is essential to our health as it helps our body to rid itself of toxic waste. A single avocado boasts four to five grams of quality protein.

For a fruit, the avocado is unusually high in calories. One single avocado is estimated to have approximately 100 calories including, around 12 grams of carbohydrate. This trait makes the avocado an excellent choice for individuals seeking weight-gain.

Avocados are a great source of nearly all the B vitamins. A single avocado provides generous amounts of pantothenic acid (B5), niacin (B3), and folic acid. Folic acid protects the blood vessels and prevents neural tube defects in offspring. Niacin helps to stimulate the circulatory system, ensure normal brain functioning, and maintain the nervous system. Vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid, works closely with the adrenal cortex to produce the hormones, which counteract stress and boost metabolism.

In addition, avocados are a decent source for vitamins C, A, and E. These vitamins are very potent antioxidants, vital to the body's defense against free radicals and the prevention of cancer. In addition, vitamin E is essential to healthy functioning of the heart. Vitamin A promotes keen eyesight, as well as healthy skin, teeth and bones. Finally, Vitamin C maintains collagen, bolsters the immune system, and aids in the metabolism of other vital nutrients.

Avocados are a very rich source of potassium. In fact, one avocado has nearly two times as much potassium as a banana. They also provide a variety of other essential minerals including manganese, iron, and magnesium.

Incredibly, all these benefits may be derived from a single fruit. At the center of an avocado is a smooth, dark seed. This seed holds the potential for new growth. Given the right environment, soil, sun, and water this seed may sprout and grow into a tree. That tree may bring forth more health-enhancing avocados. Consider adding more of this wondrous fruit to your diet for health, variety, and vitality.

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