Heart- Healthy Monounsaturated Fatty Acids
Avocados are rich in fats; in fact, almost 77% of the calories in it are from mono-unsaturated fats – making it one of the high-fat plant foods in existence. However, avocados not only contain fat, but the majority of the fat content in avocado is a monounsaturated fatty acid, i.e., oleic acid – which is very good for promoting heart health by lowering triglycerides and cholesterol levels naturally. Oleic acid is responsible for its beneficial effects in the body, such as reduction of inflammation and lowering cholesterol levels. In addition, oleic acid is a major component of olive oil and gives tremendous health benefits such as the positive suppressing effect on genes leading to cancer. The fats in avocado are also more resistant to oxidation due to heat, thus making it a safer and healthy choice for cooking.