Avocados seem almost too luscious to be healthful, but the fat they
contain (and there’s quite a bit) is highly monounsaturated, the kind
that’s associated with a healthy heart. Avocados are also rich in
vitamin E, another heart helper.
Although the banana is thought of as an
exemplary potassium source, the avocado actually supplies 60% more
potassium, ounce for ounce. These velvety “vegetable fruits” are high in
fiber, and provide substantial amounts of folate (folic acid), vitamin
B6, and pantothenic acid, as well as some iron, copper, and magnesium.
On the phytochemical front, avocados contain glutathione, an antioxidant
with anti-carcinogenic potential. They also contain a significant amount
of a cholesterol-lowering phytosterol called beta-sitosterol.
Avocados seem almost too luscious to be healthful, but the fat they
contain (and there’s quite a bit) is highly monounsaturated, the kind
that’s associated with a healthy heart.