Avocados - fab or fad?

There has been a lot of debate about whether avocados are good for you, or simply a trendy fad loaded with fat. Here, we shall explore the benefits of this fruit.

The avocado fruit has been around for several thousand years and was popular in South America. This fruit was first sold in the UK by Sainsbury's in the 1960s, under the name Avocado Pear. It became very popular in the late 1990s, despite being regarded as a 'fatty food'. It is true that the avocado does contain fat, but we shall explore the full benefits of this wonderful food source.

1. Avocados are nutritionally rich. Avocados are an excellent source of monounsaturated fat (good fat) and vitamin E and are a good source of folate. They are also rich in fibre and contain a number of useful minerals including iron, copper and potassium. Amazingly, one half of an avocado pear counts as one of your five-a-day!

2. Avocados are good for the heart. Avocados are high in good fats which, research suggests, helps to protect against heart disease and lower blood pressure. They are also an excellent source of potassium, folate and fibre, all of which benefit the heart.

3. Avocados may help to reduce cholesterol. The oils supplied by avocado include oleic acid and linoleic acid. These unsaturated fats which are recommended as part of a balanced diet to help manage cholesterol.

4. Avocados are good for the eyes. Avocados are a rich source of protective vitamin E which are thought to help keep the eyes healthy.

5. Avocados may help to reduce appetite. Avocados contain more calories than other fruits and vegetables. However, a recent study has shown that the good fat and fibre content of avocados leads to feeling of being more full.

With all these benefits, and the awareness that avocados have more calories than other fruit, avocados are certainly not a fad and should be eaten as part of a balanced diet for your slim transformation!