Sofía P., from Guadalajara, wrote to us commenting on what her mother said about avocados: “My mother always told me that avocados are good for the heart. Is it true that this fruit helps prevent cardiovascular diseases? The truth is that I can’t stand it.”
Good advice from your mother. Avocado provides antioxidants and monounsaturated fats, highly recommended for those who are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Monounsaturated fats prevent heart disease. Its effect is noticeable when it replaces saturated fats in the diet. Olives, nuts (almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts, and cashews), as well as avocados, and the oils in these products contain large amounts of monounsaturated fats.
Monounsaturated fats have the property of reducing the levels of total cholesterol in the blood, at the expense of the so-called bad cholesterol, LDL-c, while increasing the levels of HDL-c, the good cholesterol, which in our body is responsible for carry cholesterol through the blood from the cells to the liver, preventing it from accumulating on the walls of the blood vessels.
Avocado is an antioxidant fruit that reduces bad cholesterol
Avocado is rich in vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps reduce the risk of multiple diseases, including cardiovascular, degenerative and even cancer. In addition, due to its richness in magnesium and potassium and low sodium intake, it is highly recommended for those who suffer from high blood pressure or heart and blood vessel conditions and for those who have bulimia or take diuretics that eliminate potassium.
The fruit is also rich in potassium. People with kidney failure and who require controlled potassium diets should be careful when having avocado in their diet. Avocado is a very caloric fruit, so its consumption must be moderated in case of overweight or obesity.
You can read more articles similar to Avocado is an antioxidant fruit that reduces bad cholesterol, in the Cholesterol category in Women’s Journal.
