Avocado - The Healthiest Food In Existence

As one of the more unusual foods to make a name for itself as a staple of popular western cuisine, avocados have a strange history. "Discovered" by conquistadores during the first visits to the Americas, avocados looked and tasted unlike anything European palates had ever known. At the same time, there was something about the avocado that captivated imaginations and kept us coming back for more.

In part, our obsession with avocados has something to do with the flavor. Mild yet aromatic yet distinct, avocados pair well with strong, spicy flavors. The texture too, especially when ripe, offers the comforting richness of butter. And yet, as romanticized as the avocado may have been, there's still something inexplicable about the way we yearn for them. Even though many people have offered explanations, it may all be as simple as a matter of nutrition.

As of this moment, according to the Guinness Book of World records, the healthiest food in existence is the avocado. Avocados are rich in heart-healthy oils, bursting with over twenty different essential nutrients, chock full of phytochemicals and antioxidants that have an innumerable variety of beneficial effects on the body.

Although avocados once earned a bad reputation for their high calorie and fat content, they've been redeemed over the past decade or two. Now that we understand how certain fats affect our cardiovascular system, we've come to realize that the fats found in avocados do us nothing but good. The avocado's high concentrations of monounsaturated fatty acids has been shown to significantly reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and help ward off heart disease.

Avocados are also a superior source of over twenty different nutrients, including potassium, folate, copper, and vitamins C, B6, E, and K. Avocados are also rich in the antioxidants lutein and zea-xanthin, compounds that promote eye heath and prevent age related problems like cataracts. And studies have shown that when eaten in conjunction with tomatoes, avocados help our bodies absorb four and a half more times the amount of cancer-fighting lycopene.

Extracts taken from avocados have additionally been shown to have even more powerful applications. One such extract has clinically proven to kill off pre-cancerous cell growth that leads to oral cancers. Other extracts have been successfully used to treat osteoarthritis. And as researchers continue to explore the many wonders of the avocado, its almost certain that even more incredible uses for the avocado will be discovered.

When incorporating avocado into your diet, experts recommend using it in place of fats or eating it along with other fresh vegetables. For instance, instead of spreading mayo on your sandwich, add a few slices of avocado instead. Its heart-healthy fats will help lower your cholesterol, and its high fiber content will help with your digestion and metabolism. It's also great when added to salads, fresh salsas, pastas, and more. Remember, regardless of how you manage to work a little avocado into your day, every little bit will help!