“But avocados are fattening! They are not good for you!!”

I often hear this from people who are trying to follow their doctors recommendations, whether it’s to reduce their cholesterol or keep their blood sugar/diabetes in check.

Well yes, it’s true that avocados are high in fat. A one ounce serving (30g) of avocado roughly contains 4.5 g of fat. That’s often not even half of a avocado!

But what type of fat is it????                                                                                       

Oh yeah, there are different types of fats! Yellow fat, pink fat, silky fat, fatty fat… I know, I know… I’m just kidding!! 🙂

But seriously, it is important to consider the type of fat you are consuming and what  the rest of your daily diet consists of before rejecting certain foods from your diet.

One of the biggest and most persistent dietary myths is that “Eating fat makes you fat”.  But we need fat in our diet, just like we need proteins, carbs, and sugars.  Good fats are important in our diet because they provide us with energy, help absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, build healthy cells, improve brain function, and help regulate hormones.

So what type of fat is in avocado and how is it beneficial to you?

Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fat, which is the good fat that helps lower LDL cholesterol and improve your heart health. It is also high in omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce inflammation in the body. Avocados also help in the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients. The good fat, protein, and fiber in avocados can help you feel full and keep you going till your next meal. Along with good fats avocados are also rich in nutrients such as potassium, vitamin B, vitamin K, vitamin E, folate, magnesium, and vitamin C.

Therefore, it’s not right to eliminate one food item just because it is high in fat. Get to know the type of fat you are consuming and its benefits and disadvantages. It is important to keep in mind that if your diet is high in unhealthy processed foods and inflammatory fats, it’s not fair to blame the fat in avocados, which is actually good for you. When you focus on the goodness of natural whole foods, you will automatically reduce your intake of the junk that is doing way more harm than your precious avocados!

It’s time you get over your fear of the fats in avocados. Enjoy them by balancing out the rest of your diet with good whole foods.                                                                                                                                                

If you have never tried avocados before, here are some ways you can add some Yum to your Tum!

• As a snack/starter- sprinkle some lemon juice, sea salt, and black pepper
• In salads- as topping
• In smoothies/shakes- to make it creamy and filling
• Spreads/dips- use on toast or make guacamole
• Dessert: make them into chocolate truffles (try this recipe) or puddings