Calling all guac addicts: Avocados keep you thin, protect your vision and may even prevent cancer. Read below to find out more about their amazing benefits.
Eye opener
Protect your vision with a few slices of avocado at lunch or dinner. Avocados are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants found in the retina that keep eyes healthy; they also may help prevent age-related problems like cataracts and macular degeneration.
Cancer fighter
Extracts from avocados kill or stop the growth of precancerous cells that lead to oral cancer and may have a similar effect on other cancers, according to a recent study. Researchers credit the fruit’s unique combo of nutrients — which include folate and vitamins C and E.
Nutrient booster
Add avocado to salsa for a bigger health payoff. A study from The Ohio State University found that people absorbed four-and-a-half times more of the cancer-fighter lycopene from the tomatoes when avocado was added; the healthy fats help you absorb more nutrients.
Healthier fat
Skip the mayo, and go for creamy avocado on your sandwich. It packs four grams of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat (which lowers cholesterol), two grams of fiber and one gram of protein per ounce, making it a lower-fat, more-filling substitute for the white stuff.
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