By: Dr. Kristie

The guacamole dish you enjoy at your favorite Mexican restaurant may be more than just a tasty treat it may also reduce your risk of disease. Why? You can give the credit to the avocados used to prepare it. Although the avocado may not be the first fruit that comes to mind when you're looking for something healthy for, it does have benefits you may want to consider before passing it by. What are the health benefits of avocados?

Health benefits of avocados: They're high in monounsaturated fats

While most people view fats in a negative light, the monounsaturated fats found in avocados are the heart healthy kind and have positive benefits when it comes to heart health. Studies have also shown that people who eat a diet high in monounsaturated fat have better blood sugar control and higher levels of the good cholesterol, HDL as well as lower levels of LDL, the bad cholesterol. This bodes well for both heart health and diabetes risk.

Even though the monounsaturated fat content of avocados makes its calorie count higher than most fruits, monounsaturated fats promote a "full" sensation meaning you'll probably eat less. Most studies have shown that people who substitute monounsaturated fats for saturated ones actually lose weight. Another advantage of the high monounsaturated fat content of avocados is these fats may help improve vitamin absorption at the intestinal level.

Health benefits of avocados: They're rich in vitamins.

Avocados are an excellent source of vitamins K, C, folate, and pyridoxine. They're also high in potassium which helps to regulate blood pressure. With the monounsaturated fats present in the avocado, you'll get better absorption of these vitamins which will help you get maximal benefits from them.

Health benefits of avocados: They're rich in glutathione.

Glutathione is a strong antioxidant that plays a role in protecting the body against oxidative damage. It helps to protect almost every organ in the body from free radicals along while at the same time promoting healthy immune function and reducing inflammation. It also plays a role as a detoxifier to remove harmful chemicals that could damage DNA and potentially lead to cancer.

Health benefits of avocados: It helps to increase absorption of carotenoids.

Studies have shown that avocado added to a salad helped to increase absorption of the carotenoids present in other salad vegetables. This allows you to get more benefits from the vegetables in your salad. Carotenoids such as lycopene and beta-carotene are thought to play a role in reducing certain types of cancer, particularly prostate cancer.

Adding a little avocado to your dishes can not only add great taste but health value as well. The next time you're at the grocery store; don't pass by the avocados without taking a second look.