Sports & Health

An avocado a day makes the healthy fat stay

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You don’t even have to eat one to benefit! 

“An avocado… Thanks!” In recent years, avocados have made a huge impact on the health food scene. They have even become a popular fashion trend as seen on pins, phone cases, clothing, and hats — and all for good reason.

As one of the most versatile superfoods, avocados can be incorporated into any meal of the day. Add them to a salad, turn them into a dip, spread them on toast, or even make them into a dessert. And not only are avocados incredibly delicious — they’re also packed with fiber, potassium, healthy fats, and antioxidants. Native to Mexico and Central America, archaeologists have discovered proof of avocado consumption dating back almost 10,000 years.

Avocados are rich in many vitamins and minerals and consist of roughly:

  • 73% water
  • 15% fat
  • 8% carbohydrates
  • 2% protein

Incorporating avocados into your diet can help improve digestion, detoxify the body, prevent osteoporosis, and improve heart health.

Even though avocados are good for you, consumers still shy away from the fruit because of its high fat content. Megan Ware, from Medical News Today, however, discusses how the fat in an avocado provides an abundance of health benefits. “Avocados are full of healthy, beneficial fats that help to keep you full and satiated. When you consume fat, your brain receives a signal to turn off your appetite. Eating fat slows the breakdown of carbohydrates, which helps to keep sugar levels in the blood stable,” Ware says. With healthy fats being an essential nutrient for all the cells in the body, avocados are a great way to incorporate them into your diet. But avocados are not just for eating! If you suffer from bad breath, dry scalp, frizzy hair, or dehydrated skin, you can also use the fruit as a way to help heal the body.The oils found in an avocado are very similar to the natural oils found in the skin; by incorporating avocado into your daily skincare routine you can help to deeply nourish and hydrate the body. One easy way to do this is to try out the hair mask recipe here.

And if you haven’t already gotten on the avocado train, it’s not too late. As a true superfood, avocados can help heal the body from the inside out while also providing numerous health benefits — and they also taste really good!

Avocado, Honey, and Olive Oil Hair Mask

Ingredients

  • 1 avocado
  • 2 tablespoons of honey
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil

Directions

  1. Pit and scoop out avocado and combine with the honey and olive oil in a small bowl.
  2. Whip or mix the ingredients together until the mixture is light in colour and has a smooth texture.
  3. Spread the mask onto towel dried or damp hair, paying more attention to the ends.
  4. Cover hair with a shower cap and heat. (This can be done using a hair dryer for 10 minutes, or by sitting in the sun for about half an hour.)
  5. Remove the shower cap, rinse out the mask, and wash hair as usual.

Voila, you’re done!

Photo by Madigan Cotterill