One of the healthiest foods on the planet you can eat for maximum health has a taste that ranges from rich, creamy and buttery to light and fruity depending on the variety. This is the Avocado fruit. You can eat this fruit by itself or combine it with sandwiches, salads, Omelets, or to make it even more appetizing, you can cut this fruit up in chunks and sprinkle it with Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, Pepper and sea salt. Avocado is classified as a super food with tons of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that provide the body with a series of health benefits. These include better heart health, better cholesterol health, weight loss, Diabetes control, cancer prevention and even anti-aging benefits to boot. Therefore, if you are looking for a super food that is good for the eyes but is also healthy, here are a series of reasons why Avocado is an essential food for general health and better vision:
Nutritional Content: Avocado consist of Vitamins A, C, E, K, B-6 and a rich source of Potassium. It also consists of Omega 3 – fatty acids, and vision vitamins such as Lutein and Zeaxanthin. Avocado has 35% more Potassium than Bananas and Potassium is essential in maintaining heart health and healthy Cholesterol. This particular fruit often gets a bad reputation for its fat content. For example, just one medium Avocado has 22 grams of fat. Nutritionists suggests however that Avocado should not be perceived as a fattening food as long as it is included as part of a healthy diet regimen. This is due to the fact that its fat is derived from a healthy source called Monounsaturated fat. Furthermore, when combined with other fat burning foods it increases the absorption of those foods by 400% making it an effective food for weight loss.
Heart Health Benefits: According to nutritionists it’s a source of an important Fatty acid called Oleic Acid. It is also a rich source of Omega – 3 Fatty acids; two primary nutrients that have been shown in research studies to improve heart health and eye health.
Cancer Prevention: According to Dr Nalini Chilkov, it consists of antioxidants and phytochemicals(plant compounds in fruits and vegetables that lower the risk for major chronic diseases), such as Beta Carotene, that promote good eye health, Alpha Carotene, as well as Zeaxanthin which have also been shown to stunt the growth of prostate, breast, head and neck (oral) cancer.
Improves Eye Health: According to the American Optometric Association, Lutein and Zeaxanthin are the two main Carotenoids that are found in the highest concentrations in the Macular of the eye which is responsible for sharper eyesight and helping us to see fine details and read fine print. According to the AOA, not only are these vital nutrients essential in protecting the eye from age related vision disorders such as Macular Degeneration, but they also filter out harmful blue light.You need a good source of Lutein for better vision and healthier eyesight. Even an ounce of Avocado consist of 81 micrograms of Lutein.
