Avocado. An ally of health.

Originated from Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela, the avocado is currently cultivated in half of the world. It’s multiple qualities, makes this fruit one of the most precious jewels of health.

The properties of the avocado are:

Its high levels of Vitamin C increase and reinforce the immune system. Whilst also actively contributing to the development of elastin and collagen and decreasing the emergence of wrinkles, dryness of the skin and redness of the face.

Its high levels of folic acid or Vitamin B9, improves cardiovascular health by reducing levels of Homocysteine, which is a substance that when elevated produces heart problems in patients with arterial and cardiovascular diseases.

Avocado also acts as a potent antianaemic for pregnant women and helps to prevent the emergence of spina bifida in newborns.

Avocado has high levels of Phytosterols, which is a potent antioxidant that aids in the prevention of cancer and its richness in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids such as Oleic acid, Omegas 9, 6 and 3 helps the body to lower the levels of Triglycerides, LDL Cholesterol or bad cholesterol in the bloodstream.

Its richness in fibre, both soluble and insoluble, helps to decrease the absorption of fats and sugars into the body and contributes to the prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. It is also a great food source for our intestinal flora thereby contributing to the prevention of constipation.

Two other antioxidants present within the avocado are Lecithin and Lutein.

With one of them intervening directly to the peripheral nervous system and the other contributing to the prevention of the main cause of blindness in people over the age of 60, age-related macular degeneration.

The presence of Vitamin E within avocados would slow down the effect of ultraviolet rays in the skin and in turn slow down the aging process.

Its richness in Vitamin K, would contribute to the blood coagulation process and its cooperation with Vitamin D would prevent the emergence of osteoporosis.

The high concentration of Vitamin B6 present within this fruit would also fight against depression and the minerals present within it including copper, zinc, magnesium, and most importantly potassium, would contribute towards the management of blood pressure.

The avocado would also aid in the preservation of smooth and soft skin when used as a cream.

Lastly when referring to its seed, researchers from the universities of Waterloo in Canada and Perugia in Italy, published a study in June 2015 that highlighted the fact that a substance named Avocatin B had been found which would aid in the proliferation of leukaemia cells. According to these researchers, it is an exciting finding that would aid in the development of new treatments that would treat this disease.

Apart from the avocado being a tasty fruit, eating avocado often or having it accompanying our meals daily would make it a great ally of our health.

Dr. J. Hurtado Martínez

Medical Director of HealthSalus