Hailing from the depths of Central America, Avocado is an overgrown, single seed berry. The plant has become extremely commercially interesting and is now grown across the world, especially in the Mediterranean climates. The fruit is consumed as an exotic fruit by millions of people and is known to be very nutritious and valuable for your health.

The nutritious benefits of Avocado come from a range of its ingredients, starting with vitamins, through potassium, fatty acids, fibers, and protein. Some studies have suggested Avocado consumption to be in relation to cancer prevention. Avocados have also been proven to help you lose weight and fight off arthritis. On top of all this, the fruit is exceptionally delicious and easy on the senses, which is the main reason for it gaining its incredible popularity.

The Nutritional Values

A typical 100-gram portion of Avocado will contain approximately 8.5 grams of carbohydrates, 14.5 grams of fats, 2 grams of protein, and an extensive arsenal of vitamins and minerals. Avocado contains some of the most important vitamins for our body, such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and vitamin K. The fruit is also an excellent source of potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, and Sodium, all crucial to our health.

• Potassium is one of the nutrients our diets simply don’t give us enough of in most cases. An excellent source of Potassium that we often see is bananas, but Avocado actually contains more potassium than a banana. 100 grams of Avocado will contain 14% of the recommended daily intake of potassium, the important mineral that helps prevent high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, and kidney issues.
• Fibers can also be found in Avocado in a substantial amount. A single avocado plant will contain 25% of your daily fiber intake and fibers are known to fight off many diseases as well help you lose weight and feed the good bacteria in your belly. Avocado is possibly the best fiber source out there.
• Protein is a nutrient we usually get from meat and foods such as eggs and milk. In the modern-day, more and more people are turning to vegetarian and vegan lifestyles and it can be very difficult for these groups of people to get the proper protein intake. So how much protein is in an avocado? There are 2 grams of protein per 100 grams of fruit. While this may not be a huge part of the recommended daily intake, it can be a very reasonable portion of it.
• Fat loss is another part of your health that will be greatly helped by Avocado fruits. A scientific study included avocado in the diet of one group while not including it in the diet of the other group. The individuals who ate avocado were shown to be more satisfied with their diet and thus much less likely to crave food within the next five hours. The end result was less fat and less weight gain. Eating avocados is likely to make you less prone to craving calorie-rich foods.

Avocado In Cuisine

Unlike many other fruits, Avocado actually has a fairly high-fat content, that comes from monosaturated fat contained within. This makes it a great addition to a diet of those people who generally don’t take in enough fat foods like meat and dairy, namely vegetarians and vegans. In vegetarian cuisine, Avocado is a famous meat substitute in salads and sandwiches.

The fruit is in 90% of the cases served raw, while some strains can be cooked for a short period without turning inedible. Some famous uses of Avocado in cuisine include its role as the base for the famous Mexican dip Guacamole. Avocados are also used worldwide as ingredients for sandwiches and additions to salads such as chicken salad.

So Is There Protein In Avocado?

Absolutely yes. Avocado is one of the best plant sources of protein out there. While for the most part, your daily protein intake will come from meats and other animal sources, plant sources of protein can have a significant role in your diet. Avocado is an excellent way to eat protein without getting fat, as eating too much meat or dairy can also mean you have eaten too many carbs and fats at the same time. So how much protein is in an avocado? A medium-sized Avocado can have about 7-8 grams of protein, which is about 15% of the daily protein intake recommended for an average adult.

What Else Is It Good For?

Avocados are an absolute delight as a part of a diet. Like many other fruits, Avocados have endless advantages. The complex structure of the fruit means that it will help with numerous areas of your health. A survey of over 17 000 people in the USA found that frequent Avocado consumers were much healthier over a wide range of medical fields than the people who didn’t consume Avocado. People who used Avocado in this survey weighed less, had lower belly fat, higher HDL, and many other health benefits. The study was of course not 100% conclusive, but the fact is; Avocado can only help you!

When all is said and done, Avocado is one hell of a fruit. Compared to most other everyday fruits we see on our kitchen tables, Avocado is a much higher nutrient source, a source of protein, and a fantastic source of overall health. Add to that the fact that it tastes excellent and has a wide range of use in the cuisine, vegans, and vegetarians of the world should be more than happy to use avocados as a daily part of their diets. Vegan or not, add Avocado to your diet and your body will thank you for it. The health benefits proven or speculated in numerous studies are not a fluke and this is the number one fruit you should be looking to add to your daily food intake.