Now, most fruit predominantly contain carbs

but avocado is high in healthy fats.

This unique nutrient profile has many beneficial effects

on health and in this video I'm looking at five of the best.

Number one, avocado is incredibly nutritious.

There are many kinds of avocado

and the shape, size, and color can vary between them.

The most popular type is called Hass avocado

and this is what it typically looks like.

Avocados are very nutritious

and contain a wide variety of nutrients,

including 20 different vitamins and minerals.

Here are some of the most abundant nutrients,

in a single 3.5 ounce, or 100 gram, serving.

It has 26% of the recommended dietary allowance

for vitamin K; 20% of the RDA for folate;

17% of the RDA for vitamin C;

and between 10% to 14% of the RDA

for potassium, vitamin B5, B6, and vitamin E.

It also contains small amounts of magnesium, manganese,

copper, iron, zinc, phosphorous, vitamin A, B1, B2, and B3.

This is coming with 160 calories, two grams of protein,

and 15 grams of healthy fats.

Although it contains nine grams of carbs,

seven of those are fiber so there's only two net carbs,

making this a low-carb friendly plant food.

Avocados also don't contain any cholesterol or sodium

and are low in saturated fat.

I personally don't think that really matters

but this is one of reasons why all health experts

agree that avocados are healthy.

Number two, avocados contain more potassium than bananas.

Potassium is a critical nutrient

that most people aren't getting enough of.

This nutrient helps maintain electrical gradients

in the body's cells and serves various important functions.

Avocados are actually very high in potassium,

with a 100 gram, or 3.5 ounce, serving containing

14% of the RDA, compared to 10% in bananas,

which are a typical high potassium food.

Several studies show that having a high potassium intake

is linked to reduced blood pressure,

major risk factor for heart disease,

strokes and kidney failure.

So for those who have high blood pressure

eating more avocados could do you a lot of good.

Number three, avocado is loaded

with heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids.

Avocado is a high fat food.

In fact, about 70% of its calories come from fat

which makes it one of the fattiest plant foods in existence.

But they don't just contain any fat,

the majority of the fat in avocado is oleic acid.

This is a monounsaturated fatty acid

that is also the major component in olive oil

and believed to be responsible

for some of its beneficial effects.

Oleic acid has been linked to reduced inflammation

and been shown to have beneficial effects

on genes linked to cancer.

The fats in avocado are also quite resistant

to heat induced oxidation which makes avocado oil

a safe and healthy choice for cooking albeit expensive.

Number four, the fat in avocados can help you

absorb nutrients from plant foods.

When it comes to nutrients in food

the total amount is not the only thing that matters.

We also need to be able to absorb them,

move them from the digestive tract

and into the body, where they can be used.

Some nutrients are fat soluble, meaning that they need

to be combined with fat in order to be utilized.

This includes vitamins A, D, E, and K,

along with antioxidants like carotenoids.

Of course, avocados provide that fat for absorption.

One study showed that adding avocado or avocado oil

to either salad or salsa can increase antioxidant absorption

by 2.6 to 15-fold, and this is due to its healthy fats

and why you should always include a healthy fat sauce

when you eat veggies.

So not only is avocado highly nutritious

it also increases the nutrient value

and the amount of nutrients you absorb

from other plant foods that you eat.

Number five, avocados are loaded

with powerful antioxidants that can protect the eyes.

Not only do avocados increase

the antioxidant absorption of other foods,

they're also high in antioxidants themselves.

This includes nutrients called lutein and zeaxanthin

which are incredibly important for eye health.

Studies show that these nutrients are linked

to a drastically reduced risk of cataracts

and macular degeneration, which are common in the elderly.

Therefore, eating avocados should have benefits

for eye health over the long term.

At the end of the day avocados are loaded with nutrients,

many of which are lacking in the modern diet.

They are heart healthy and best of all,

they taste incredible.

What more could you ask for in food?

Thanks for watching!

Make sure to give this video a thumbs-up

if you've found it informative

and don't forget to subscribe

to the Authority Nutrition YouTube Channel

by clicking the red Subscribe button below this video.