subject: Avocados for Heart Health [print this page] Avocados are high in heart healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats which help to promote good heart health. They are a fruit that grows in the warmer regions of the world. They are also known as an alligator pear because they are shaped like a pear, and the pebbly and leathery outer skin resemble that of alligator skin.
In addition to the heart healthy fats, avocados are also a good source of potassium, fiber, vitamins A, C, E, K, and B complex.
Heart Health
It is very important that you take care of your heart so that you can live a long and healthy life without heart disease or other complications. Adding avocados to your daily diet will help you to take proper care of your heart, as they contain many essential nutrients to help promote good heart health.
Potassium
Avocados are rich with potassium, which is not only needed for helping to regulate the heart rhythm, but it also regulates the blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for stroke and heart disease. 1 study showed that those who consumed about 1/2 cup of avocados every day reduced their risk of strokes by a whopping 40 percent.
Lowers Cholesterol
You may or may not be surprised to discover that the healthy fats that are contained in avocados help you to lower your bad cholesterol levels. Thus you can prevent cholesterol plaque which contributes to high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, heart disease and stroke.
Folate
Avocados are a good source of vitamin B9 (folate), which studies show helps to reduce the risk of stroke.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants help your body to remove harmful toxins from your body. When toxins come in contact with the heart and other organs they can cause serious damage. If there are not enough antioxidants in the body to get rid of the toxins, then the body simply wraps them up in fat cells and stores them away from the organs. In addition the body keeps extra fat cells lingering around the heart and other organs to ward off the toxins. But these fat cells can contribute to high cholesterol and poor blood circulation which can lead to heart disease and stroke.
Therefore it is essential that these toxins are removed from your body in a timely manner so that your body can reduce the amount of fat that surrounds the heart and other organs. Avocados are high in antioxidants which will help to remove the toxins at a deep cellular level so that all unhealthy fat cells can be removed as well.
