Avocado - King Of The Superfoods

Due to their appearance the avocado is often called the ‘alligator pear’ but the more health conscious refer to it as the superfood.

Throughout the years the word ‘superfood’ has been thrown around a lot in the dieting community and some other foods with this status include; blueberries, garlic, goji berries, beetroot and broccoli. Although according to the Dr Axe research it is the avocado that is the supposed king of the superfoods.

Since the UK first started importing them over 40 years ago, avocados have become a common staple in British diets. Dr Axe suggests that the people of Britain consume more than 35 million avocado fruits each year. However it is not just the taste of avocados that makes them so unique, the health benefits are phenomenal.

Avocados contain several of the following nutrients and benefits that unquestionably explain their superfood status:

• Staple trace minerals – You would have to eat two bananas to consume the same amount of potassium and magnesium as one avocado. That makes them an excellent attribute in regards to preventing low potassium.

• Protein – They are one of the best fruits for protein content that helps the body burn fat and build up muscle.

• Low sugar – Avocados contain less sugar than most fruits.

• Monounsaturated fats – Avocados have been proven to regulate blood sugar levels and their oils are one of the richest sources of monounsaturated fats known in the world.

• Fibre – There is more soluble fibre than most foods. Soluble fibre helps to stabilise blood sugar levels and also helps towards regulating the bowels and maintaining control of your weight.

• Folate – They have a high supply of folate that is proven to help prevent birth defects such as spinal bifida.

• Monounsaturated fatty acids – Avocados are made up of 71% monounsaturated fatty acids. These fatty acids prevent the development of arteriosclerosis (the hardening of the arteries) and help reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol.

• Prevent cancer – The phytochemicals in avocados are currently being studied by Ohio State University and it has been suggested that they are so powerful they could potentially be used in chemotherapy.

• Weight loss promotion – Avocados are known for being incredibly filling and increase satiety hormones. This encourages you to stop snacking and helps you feel fuller for much longer.

As well as the incredible health benefits, avocados also have an endless amount of uses. Here are a couple interesting ones:

• Can be used as a natural moisturiser for your skin.

• When mashed or whipped can be consumed by babies as a transition food.

• Effective as a replacement for oils and butter in baking as it is an unsaturated fat.

• Can be added into countless recipes for mousses, smoothies, cakes and lots more.

• Perfect for soup toppings and gives your salad an extra health boost.

It is evident why the avocado is now claiming superfood status, as all of the health benefits are incredible. Therefore it is not surprising that more and more people are adding the avocado into their diets. It is very simple to do. Just simply chopping an avocado and adding them into your salads or eating them with a low sodium soy sauce is enough. It is also evident in most detox smoothie recipes. Detox smoothies are very easy to add into your diet therefore they are a great way to boost your avocado intake.

Here is a detox recipe of my own that is very simple to recreate:

(Pineapple, Kale, Avocado, Mango, Hazelnut milk, Chia seeds – You can also add organic inulin and honey to sweeten the smoothie.)

-Kaisey Elder