Today, over on our blog, we wrote about the health impacts of strawberries and shared the fact that strawberries aren’t berries. Now we would like to speak about an actual berry: avocados. Avocados have been trendy for over a decade. The hype is fair. They are not only delicious and nutritious: they can help your health. Rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, they are great for cholesterol support. In fact, studies have shown that avocados can reduce total cholesterol levels significantly, lowering LDL cholesterol by up to 22 percent and increasing HDL cholesterol by 11 percent. The fruit can also reduce blood triglycerides by up to 20 percent.

One-fifth of an avocado has 64 calories, almost six grams of fat, 3.4 grams of carbs and nearly three grams of fiber. That is quite a lot of fat for one-fifth of a fruit, but the fiber and fat combine to make you less hungry. Besides, avocados aren’t just stuffed with fat — they contain a good amount of vitamins B6, C, E and K, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, niacin, folate, potassium and magnesium, in addition to lutein, beta-carotene and omega-3 fatty acids. In fact, avocados have almost 20 vitamins and minerals in every serving. All of these compounds have a multitude of health benefits. This means the fruit aids everything from better digestion and antimicrobial action, to easing depression and supporting healthy bones, to lowering risk of cancer and supporting better vision, to feeling less arthritis pain and having healthy babies and so much more.

In a study, people who ate avocado tended to be less hungry and more satisfied five hours after eating than people who hadn’t had any. This could help with weight loss. Moreover, studies have seen that people who ate avocado were generally healthier than those who didn’t. However, avocados are a trendy food that tends to be favored by upper-middle-class people who may have better access to doctors. And, seen as a health food, it is possible that people who regularly eat avocado are also biking to work or something similar. The avocado may be one small factor in their already healthy lifestyle.

Some people don’t usually eat avocado in anything from guacamole. If you have been put off in the past by the flavor or texture, consider giving this mild fruit a second chance. When buying an avocado, you can tell if it is ripe by pressing the fruit gently. When it’s completely firm, it’s not ripe. If it has a bit of give, it’s great for sandwiches. When the fruit’s a little softer is great for guacamole; once it’s past that stage and quite soft, it’s no longer pleasant. If you are allergic to latex or on blood thinners, speak to your doctor before eating avocados or increasing the frequency you enjoy the fruit.