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Avocados: You Cannot Afford Not To Eat Them
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Avocados have been a popular food in Latin America since Pre-Columbian times, and over the past century this nutrient-packed superfood has become more and more popular in other regions of the world as well. In this article, we’ll explain why avocado health benefits are so huge that you almost can’t afford to not eat them.
Avocados are indigenous to Mexico and Central America. There are two commonly available varieties of avocados. Hass avocados are what most people would recognize as an avocado. They have a dark and slightly bumpy skin, and are named after the Californian farmer Rudolph Hoss. The result of grafting experiments from the naturally occurring fuerte avocado, today this strain accounts for around 95 percent of the avocados sold in the United States. Florida avocados are more difficult to find. They typically grow larger than the Hass variety, and have a bright green, smooth skin. Despite what the name implies, they are sold and eaten in more places than just Florida.
The interior of an avocado has a rich and creamy consistency and offers an unusual combination of flavors. A combination of a rich buttery taste with vegetable-like overtones makes it unique. Avocados are not sweet, and for this reason some people mistake them for a vegetable, but their fleshy bodies and large pits mean they are actually a fruit.
Avocados are typically served as part of a main course, but they can also make an excellent snack on their own. Here, we’ll give the best proof as to why avocados should be included in your meal plan regularly!
1. Avocados are a great source of potassium
This essential nutrient is one of the most important minerals we need to take in order to stay healthy. But unfortunately, an enormous amount of the world’s population, particularly in developed countries, is deficient. Potassium deficiency is linked to many serious health problems, including muscle weakness, low energy, paralysis, poor concentration, and kidney disease. There is also a greatly increased risk of stroke in potassium deficient individuals.
Potassium supplements can be useful, but these often contain synthesized forms which are not as beneficial as naturally occurring potassium. The best way to get more potassium is through diet and avocados. Avocados have more potassium than almost any other food, even bananas. A single avocado contains 975mg, which puts you well on your way to reaching the World Health Organization’s recommendation of 3150mg per day.
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