Avocado 🥑
What Is an Avocado?
An avocado is a bright green fruit with a large pit and dark leathery skin. They're also known as alligator pears or butter fruit. Avocados are a favorite of the produce section. They're the go-to ingredient for guacamole dips. And they're turning up in everything from salads and wraps to smoothies and even brownies. So what, exactly, makes this pear-shaped berry (yes, that's right!) such a superfood?
Avocado Nutrition
Avocados have a lot of calories. The recommended serving size
is smaller than you'd expect: 1/3 of a medium
avocado (50 grams or
1.7 ounces). One ounce has
50 calories.
Avocados are high in fat.
But it's monounsaturated fat, which is a "good" fat that helps lower
bad cholesterol, as long as you eat them in moderation.
Avocados
offer nearly 20 vitamins and minerals. So in a
100-gram serving, you get:
- 485 milligrams of potassium
- 81 micrograms of folate
- 0.257 milligrams of vitamin B6
- 10 milligrams of vitamin C
- 2.07 milligrams of vitamin E
Avocados are low in sugar. And they contain fiber, which helps you feel full longer. In one study, people who added a fresh avocado half to their lunch were less interested in eating during the next 3 hours than those who didn't have the fruit.
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