Superfood Spotlight: Avocado

Hey hey HEY hey my healthy eating, smoothie drinking, hummus shoveling, beauteous friends! My dear Kendall is joining me here today for something extra special to feast your eyes on. We’re crazy excited to introduce a new monthly segment on the blog today. So ahem…drum roll pleeease…the Superfood Spotlight!

Each month we’ll be honing in on one superfood— telling you about what it is, about all of its humbelievable benefits, and how to incorporate it into everyday use. I might even throw in a few recipes to satisfy all of our taste buds. Who knows!

This week’s megastar: the avocado!

A few years back, the avo became trendy among hip Cali restaurants and healthy food bloggers every which where and from there, the fame only grew. Lettuce give you a few reasons why. But first, is it a fruit or is it a vegetable?

It’s actually a whole grain.

I kid! Thanks to its signature green color and oh so savory taste, what is widely thought of as a vegetable is in fact technically a fruit. That big pit in the middle is technically a seed!

They’re Delicious and Nutritious.

The avocado is an action-packed fruit that comes with tons of nutritious benefits. Each serving contains copious amounts of vitamins K, C, the B’s, E, and WHAT NOW? More fluid-regulating potassium than a banana! These magical fruits are also low in carbohydrates and free of cholesterol and sodium.

Another key benefit of avocados is their fiber content. These babies are simply loaded. The high fiber in your avo will help keep you feeling fuller and satisfied longer, reduce blood-sugar spikes, and help support healthy digestion. One serving, or a fourth of an avocado, has about 3.5 grams of fiber.

They’ve Got Those Fatties.

It’s known as nature’s butter for a reason. You heard right, avocados have got the fatties that make all the boy fruits turn their heads. Don’t be scared! The fats that avos are filled with are the heart-healthy monounsaturated kind that help to keep our hearts healthy, support a fast metabolism, reduce bodily inflammation, and actually increase the burning of unhealthy, unwanted body fats. Eating fat does not make you fat!

Tip: Try avocado on toast instead of butter or on sammies instead of mayo. Dreamy!

Studies Suggest That Your Bod will Thank You.

Now, I don’t want to get all “studies have shown” on you chickpeas, but I will share what many studies suggest about the benefits of eating avos. Regular consumption of avocados helps lowers triglycerides and not so great LDL cholesterol while it raises that good HDL cholesterol. Avid avo eaters also tend to maintain healthier weights and have more energy. The fats in avocado may help boost the moisture in skin and hair as well.

If you’re still not convinced, studies suggest that various nutrients in avocados may reduce the risk of certain cancers and also reduce side effects of chemotherapy. If that doesn’t deserve an award, we don’t know what does.

Ready, Set, Eat Your Heart Out!

We know there’s no way you don’t want to jump up and dive majestically into an avocado-filled pool, so here are some easy and delicious recipes to get you swimming.

Banana Cacao Avocado Acai Bowl

Chocolate-Walnut Avocado Brownies via The Iron You

Grab-n-Go Sweet Potato, Cranberry, Avocado, & Quinoa Power Bowl via Blissful Basil

Wild Blueberry Detox Smoothie

Avocado Pesto Hummus via Delish Knowledge

Avocado Chocolate Pudding for Two via Crazy Vegan Kitchen

Vegan Grilled Avocados Stuffed with Chickpeas via Food Faith Fitness

Avocado Bean Burgers

World’s Best Vegan Guacamole via Women’s Nature Network

Strawberry Avocado Toast

Mexican Chopped Salad with Spicy Avocado Dressing via Happy Healthy Mama

Avocado Toast: 5 Ways (V + GF) via Gluten Free Vegan Pantry

Loaded Veggie Avocado Tuna Salad

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