Avocado : Nutrition, Benefits, and Side effects

Overview

What is Avocado?

Avocado (Persea Americana) is the fatty pear-shaped to round delicious fruit of the Avocado tree belonging to the Lauraceae family. There are wide varieties of avocados, ranging from pale green to bright green and black when completely ripe. Avocado has a polished and creamy texture and is highly nutritious.

Avocado is indigenous to Central America and Mexico. It is a versatile fruit used as a kitchen staple in many world regions. The fruits, seeds, and leaves are used to make medicines.

Key Facts of Avocado

• Avocado fruit is also referred to as alligator pear, avocado pear, or butter fruit.
• Botanically, avocado is a large single-seeded berry
• Avocados are grown in many countries around the world with the tropical and Mediterranean climate
• For commercial purposes, avocados are picked when unripe and then ripened after harvesting
• In the United States, California is the lead producer of avocados, with 400 million pounds of avocado every year
• In 2020, Mexico was the world’s leading producer of avocados, with a supply of 30% of the global harvest ¹Overview| Researched based study from Sciencedirect.com , ²Overview| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Nutrition

Nutrition in Avocado

A 200gram avocado contains the following nutrients

• Calories-322
• Protein -4 gm (gram)
• Carbohydrate-17 gm
• Fat-30 gm
• Fiber-14 gm
• Vitamin K-35% DV (Daily value)
• Vitamin E-28% DV
• Vitamin C-22% DV
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)-20% DV
• Vitamin B3 (Niacin)-22% DV
• Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)-30% DV
• Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)-56% DV
• Vitamin B9(Folate)-41% DV
• Magnesium-14% DV
• Manganese-12% DV
• Copper -42% DV
• Potassium-21% DV

The nutrients in avocado have the following functions in our body

• Potassium is needed for many bodily processes, such as blood pressure regulation and proper nervous system functioning
• Copper helps maintain the nervous system and immune system
• Manganese is a mineral required by the body for activating many enzymes of bodily processes and maintaining healthy bones
• Magnesium is necessary for maintaining nerve and muscle function as well as blood pressure and sugar levels in our body
• Vitamins B6, C and E are needed to work the immune system correctly.
• The monosaturated fat in avocado help in the better absorption of the vitamins A, D, E, and K and help lower the bad cholesterol in our body
• Vitamin B9 (Folate) is necessary for normal cell functioning and tissue growth.
• Vitamin K is crucial for healing (blood clotting) and normal bone health
• Vitamin B6 is vital for converting food into energy ³Nutrition| Researched based study from Usda.gov

Bioactive compounds in avocado

Persenones A and Persenones B

• Persenones A and Persenones B are the novel natural compounds found in avocado fruit.
• It is a unique antioxidant that inhibits abnormal cell growth and prevents inflammation.
• It protects the body against cell damage

Carotenoids

• Carotenoids are natural pigments present in the plants
• Lutein and Zeaxanthin are the carotenoids found in avocado
• It improves eye health and decreases the risk of age-related eye diseases ⁴Nutrition| Researched based study from Acs.org

Health Benefits

Health Benefits of Avocado

The health benefits of avocados are mentioned below

• Promotes gut health
• Helps with weight loss
• Improves the heart health
• Reduces arthritis symptoms
• Promotes eye health
• Promotes the brain health
• Promotes the skin health
• Strengthen bone health
• Fights cancer

Promotes gut health

• The fiber in avocado helps promote the growth of healthy bacteria necessary for digestive health.
• It lowers the fecal bile acid concentration. Greater bile acid concentration causes intestinal inflammation ⁵Health benefits| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Helps with weight loss

• Avocado decreases the abdominal fat
• It reduces the body weight
• It keeps the stomach full and reduces hunger ⁶Health benefits| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Improves the heart health

• Nutrients in avocados increase the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and decrease the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol responsible for plaque (fat deposit) formation in arteries.
• It regulates blood pressure.
• It reduces the risk of heart disease ⁷Health benefits| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Reduces arthritis symptoms

• Avocado supplements reduce the pain and swelling in hip and knee arthritis Arthritis is a disorder that attacks the joints
• It decreases the redness and improves the mobility ⁸Health benefits| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Promotes eye health

• Zeaxanthin and lutein in avocados absorb the light waves that can affect our vision.
• It decreases the risk of macular degeneration in older adults ⁹Health benefits| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Promotes the brain health

• Avocados slow the decline in memory
• It improves mental activity and thinking
• It reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease ¹⁰Health benefits| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Promotes the skin health

• Avocado enhances the skin elasticity
• It increases the skin firmness
• It decreases wrinkles and protects the skin from UV(ultraviolet) damage ¹¹Health benefits| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

However, more research is warranted to prove the effects of avocados on skin health

Strengthen bone health

• Avocado increases the bone density
• It reduces the risk of fractures ¹²Health benefits| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Fights cancer

• Avocado inhibits the growth of abnormal cells
• It reduces the risk of colorectal, lung, and bladder cancer ¹³Health benefits| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Side effects

Side effects of Avocado

Avocado is generally safe when consumed as food. There is not enough information on whether avocado is safe as medicine.

Allergic reactions

Most people can well tolerate Avocado oil for up to three months. However, some people might experience the following:

• Itching
• Skin rash
• Hives
• Swelling in the face, neck, and lips

Unwanted weight gain

• Eating avocado in moderation has no potential health risk. However, excess consumption can cause unwanted weight gain as the fruit has high-fat content.

Avocado may cause digestive problems

• FODMAP is a fermentable oligosaccharide, disaccharide, monosaccharide, and polyol (sugar alcohol) with short-chain carbohydrates. The small intestine poorly absorbs it. So people with digestive problems might find it difficult to digest ¹⁴Side effects| Researched based study from Sciencedirect.com

Contraindications

Who should avoid consuming Avocado

• People on blood thinning medication
• People allergic to the fruit
• One who is allergic to rubber or latex ¹⁴Contraindications| Researched based study from Sciencedirect.com
• Nursing mothers and pregnant women should avoid consuming avocados in large amounts as medicines due to inadequate information on the safety and efficiency of these groups. However, they can consume avocado in food amounts

Storage

Storage and Selection of Avocado

Selecting avocado

• One must gently press the avocado to confirm the ripeness.
• If the fruit’s skin is tough, one must keep it to ripen further.
• If the skin compresses under pressure, the fruit is ready for eating.

Storage of avocado

• One can keep the ripe avocados in a refrigerator
• Hard and green unripe avocados can be kept in the stock room for several days until they ripen.
• One willing to ripen the fruit faster can keep it in a paper bag with a banana or apple. The outer skin becomes dark purple or black on ripening, and the skin breaks on gentle pressure.
• Avocados that are molded and discolored or have a sour taste and smell must be discarded.

Tips

Tips for incorporating Avocado into the diet

• One can make a salad (guacamole) using avocados, lime, onion, and cilantro (coriander)
• Top chicken breast with a salad of cubed avocado and tomato
• One can toss frozen avocados into smoothies
• Add avocado toppings to soups
• Incorporate avocado into grain bowls
• One can make a dairy-free avocado chocolate mousse
• Add avocados to bread and bake it for a crisp treat
• Have half avocado with egg and berries for breakfast
• Use avocado in place of mayo with yogurt in salmon, chicken, and tuna salads
• Smash avocado on the top of toast
• One can slice it into sandwiches
• Toss it with pasta and substitute it for butter in baked food
• Stuff avocado with bean or chicken salad
• One can blend avocado with olive oil and lemon juice for a creamy dressing
• Top a burger with sliced avocado
• One can sprinkle a half avocado with salt and pepper and enjoy it raw
• Use the over-ripe avocado in baked meals ¹⁵Tips| Researched based study from Sciencedirect.com

Interactions

Interactions of Avocado

Warfarin

• Warfarin is an anticoagulant used for delaying the blood clotting process
• So, taking avocado and warfarin together might decrease the efficiency of the drug
• It might increase the risk of clotting ¹⁶Interactions| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Takeaway

Key Takeaways

• Avocado is a nutritious, delicious fruit with many health benefits
• Avocado contains a notable amount of nutrients, including vitamin B6, vitamin C, folate, potassium, vitamin E, and copper
• Avocado is also rich in minerals, vitamins, fiber, and fats that reduce the risk of chronic diseases
• Avocado is an excellent addition to a nutrient-enriched balanced diet