Fighting Obesity with Avocados

Avocados: Avocados are jam-packed with essential minerals, bioactive compounds and C, E, K and B-group vitamins that improve human health and help to prevent many diseases.

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 23% of men, 24% of women have high BMI, 3.4% of children under 5 are overweight.

• “Studies have shown that avocados can help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases,” says Zac Bard, Chairman of World Avocado Organization.
• “Obesity is a major health concern in India thanks to our sedentary lifestyles and faulty dietary habits. Incorporating avocados into the Indian diet can help combat this epidemic. The combination of fiber, healthy fats, and nutrients in avocados contributes to higher satiety and better nutrition, and these, in turn, can aid in weight management,” says Kavita Devgan, a leading dietitian, holistic health consultant, and an eminent writer.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognises obesity as a complex disease with health consequences and is linked to chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. The WHO observes that obesity continues to be a public health concern as the number of people who have obesity or are overweight continues to rise around the world.

Also read: Avocado Health Benefits: A Superfood For Your Health

Avocados are jam-packed with essential minerals, bioactive compounds and C, E, K and B-group vitamins that improve human health and help to prevent many diseases such as metabolic syndrome (a combination of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity). Avocados supply more energy per kilogram than many other fruits and vegetables and contain high amounts of vitamins B, B2, B3 and B5 which help the body to break down and release energy from food. They are also low in sugar, have a low glycemic index (GI) and contain more potassium gram for gram than bananas!

A standard serving of avocado may be just around 80 calories, but it contains a high amount of unsaturated fats that are widely considered to be beneficial to human health. Just one small portion of this unique fruit contains a whopping 5g of monounsaturated fats and 1g of polyunsaturated fat. These fatty acids can help reduce LDL cholesterol levels in the blood, which in return helps to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.