Ours is a country of avocado lovers. Who says no to a scoop of guacamole or orders a salad — hold the avocado? Our obsession hinges on two facts: avocados are delicious and avocados are good for you. In fact, they’re on par with the benefits of eating blueberries and bananas every day. Not only do avocados keep you full and satisfied, they’re loaded with nutrients. They’re a great source of vitamins and minerals such as folate, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins C, E, B and K. That guarantees perks like healthy blood cells, powerful muscles, high energy levels and strong bones. Despite the advice we’ve grown up with about avoiding high-fat foods, healthy fats are good for the ticker. As a healthy fat, avocados are at the top of the list. They can help lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Believe it or not, avocados can even help to improve your sleep because of their high concentration of potassium and magnesium, two minerals associated with better sleep. Is there a downside to eating an avocado every day? Can you ever get too much of this good-for-you food? That depends on what else you’re eating. Avocado is higher in fat — good fat — so it’s important to figure it in to your daily calorie count. If you’re eating so much avocado that you’re crowding out other healthy fruits and vegetables, you might want to back off a little and bring in some more variety.
