Avocados are definitely one of my very favorite vegetables! In the past they were given a bad name because they are high in fat but what we didn’t realize during the “low-fat” craze (that still plagues many of our diets and views on food) is that there is such a thing as “good” fat…which is exactly what avocados have! 
The fat contained in avocado is unusual and provides research-based health benefits. According to WHFoods, the unusual nature of avocado fat is threefold.
1. The phytosterols that account for a major portion of avocado fats are key supporters of our inflammatory system that help keep inflammation under control.
2. They contain polyhydroxylated fatty alcohols (PFAs). These also provide anti-inflammatory benefits. (PFAs are very unique in land-based plants.)
3. There is a high amount of a fatty acid called oleic acid in avocado. Oleic acid helps our digestive tract form transport molecules for fat that can increase our absorption of fat-soluble nutrients like carotenoids. As a monounsaturated fatty acid, it has also been shown to help lower our risk of heart disease.
Benefits of avocados:
1. Anti-inflammatory
2. Support our digestive tract
3. Reduce risk of heart disease
4. Nutrient dense (see chart here)
5. Help reduce cholesterol levels
6. Great for your skin (try this face mask recipe)
These are just some of the many benefits of avocado! So this week I challenge you to throw some onto your salad…or as I love love love to do-on top of a turkey burger with salsa yummmm…..hmmm…now I am hungry…I hear that turkey burger calling my name….
We love avocados! It is actually the very first solid food that we fed to both of our boys!
Yep that is what I am planning on doing with the one we have on the way