Defy Age Naturally

I love avocados, and rarely go a day without eating these incredible super foods. If I were to be on a desert island and could only have a few foods for the rest of my life, avocado would definitely be one of them! Not only because it is so delicious and nutritious, but also because it is called the alligator pear, which makes me happy.

Because I don’t eat dairy, avocado brings that creamy quality to my food like no other fruit or vegetable. It also takes the place of butter. One of my favorite breakfasts is a piece of wheat free toast with a thick layer of avocado, alfalfa sprouts and tomatoes. It’s so tasty and packed with anti ageing nutrients.

Packed with Anti Ageing Nutrients

In fact, many skin care products use avocado oil for its anti aging properties that create youthful, glowing skin. Eating one of these great super foods offers the same nourishing benefits, and because it is a natural antioxidant, it defends against carcinogens and other ageing elements.

While avocado is known as a vegetable, it is actually a fruit. It contains a variety of nutrients including:

*Magnesium
* Folate
* Potassium
* Vitamins B, E and K
* Glutathione
* Lutein
* Monounsaturated fats
* Omega-3 fatty acids

When I was growing up my dad had high cholesterol and was advised to avoid avocados so we never had them around (Another reason that I love them so much). It has since been proven that the fats in these yummy super foods actually reduce the level of bad cholesterol in the body. It can also lower blood pressure naturally.

The avocado pulp is both antibacterial and antifungal so it fights off disease and keeps the immune system healthy. Avocados are also an excellent source of the amino acid lecithin which prevents liver overload, boosts memory and which helps to balance weight.

Absorb More from Your Food with the Alligator Pear

More than providing us with these fabulous health benefits, there is also much evidence which shows that avocados actually help us absorb nutrients from other fruits and vegetables!

In 2004, researchers at Iowa State University and Ohio State University conducted a study to find out more about this unique benefit. Six males and five females ate 300 grams of tomato salsa. About half of the group was given salsa that contained 150 grams of avocado (about five tablespoons), and the others ate salsa without avocado. After a period, the test was repeated but the subjects were given the opposite type of salsa they were given in the first phase.

In the second part of the study, the subjects ate a salad of carrots, spinach and lettuce. Half the group enjoyed their salad with 150 grams of avocado, and the other half without. The process was then repeated after some time and they ate the opposite type of salad.

Blood was drawn from each subject several times after each meal to determine changes in nutrient levels for up to nine and a half hours after the meals. The results were:

* Subjects who ate avocado with salsa absorbed
nearly 4.5 times more lycopene than those who didn’t eat avocado

* Subjects who ate avocado with salad absorbed
8.3 times more alpha-carotene and 13.6 times more beta-carotene than those who didn’t eat avocado

* More than four times as much lutein was
absorbed by subjects who ate avocado with salad compared to those who ate only salad

So when we eat avocados, we are not only getting a range of health enhancing nutrients, we are also more likely to absorb the nutrients from the other foods we are consuming. Bring on the Guacamole!

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This entry was posted on Friday, January 4th, 2008 at 3:33 pm and is filed under diet, superfoods.

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