Nutrition Information

Avocado

by Pierre S Aoukar, MD and Hratch L Karamanoukian, MD
Posted: February 16

True, avocados are high in fat; so you’re wondering what they’re doing here. The fat is almost all monounsaturated, the same type of fat that constitutes olive oil. Monounsaturated fats are best for your heart because they help reduce levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise levels of good cholesterol (HDL). Studies have even shown that they can act as a blood thinner the same way aspirin does. Furthermore, avocados are high in folate, vitamin C, beta-carotene and fiber. If you love this fruit, a little avocado everyday is definitely good for your heart. As a heart healthy person, you still want to maintain a diet relatively low in fat. Avocados can vary greatly in their fat content. Here are a few hints. Florida grown avocados contain about half the fat of California avocados. Furthermore, stick with those harvested between November and March; they contain 1/3 the fat of those picked earlier in the season.

Reference:
Avocado, Introduction to Heart Disease, Excerpt from the book: Everything Good For The Heart: The A to Z Guide, Aoukar PS and Karamanoukian HL. Magalhaes Scientific Press

Date of Article Publication:
In Press