Avocado is known as a high source of fat, ie 14.66 g per 100g. Avocado fat content exceeds the durian, which is to achieve double that. It causes some people to be afraid to eat them, especially women, for reasons of fear of being fat.
Are Avocados Fattening?
Consuming 200 grams of avocado per day proved not promote weight loss. Opinion that the avocado is a fruit that contains a lot of fat and therefore unhealthy, it was a long time circulating in the community. In fact, avocado is high in fat, but generally there is in the form of monounsaturated fats
Avocado and Cholesterol
Fat avocados also contain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) with levels of 1.82 g/100g. PUFAs in avocado same benefits to that in sea fish. Consumption of MUFA and PUFA in amounts sufficient to provide optimum health benefits for the body.
MUFA fatty acids that are found in avocados is oleic acid (such as fatty acids contained in the almond and olive oil). Oleic acid is an omega-9 fatty acids that can lower total cholesterol and LDL (bad cholesterol), but instead increase the HDL (good cholesterol).
The results of a study, men who ate avocados for three consecutive months will experience a decrease in LDL cholesterol levels by 12 percent. It can protect blood vessels from damage caused by atherosclerosis.
Research conducted by a cardiologist in Queensland, Australia, found that consumption of avocado (1 fruit per day) can substitute low-fat diet to lower cholesterol. The study was conducted by comparing women who were given a diet high in carbohydrates but low in fat with other women who were given a diet high in avocados for 3 weeks. Avocado is eaten or smeared on bread or crackers.
The results showed cholesterol dropped an average of 4.9 percent in the first group and 8.2 percent in the second group. Low-fat diet did not reduce levels of LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels even lower to 14 percent. This is especially true at a very low fat diet. Conversely, eating avocados can lower LDL cholesterol.
