Did you know that avocados are technically fruits, specifically single seed berries, and not vegetables? In addition to the wide array of nutrients avocados offer, they contain an anti-cancer compound that is beyond preventative with certain cancers. It's called Avocatin B, and it has been extracted to undergo trials for targeting certain cancer stem cells. There are many other health benefits offered by avocados that make it a true superfood.
Registered dietician Cynthia Sass, with master's degrees in both nutrition science and public health, calls avocados worthy of superfood status: They can effectively combat nearly every aspect of metabolic syndrome. The high-fat content in avocados is a good thing — it's not "bad" fat. In fact, it's good, necessary fat from oleic acid, which is the same monosaturated fatty acid contained in olive oil. Oleic acid is associated with decreased inflammation, which helps stave off such diseases as cancer.
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” is a quote often attributed to Hippocrates, along with the “first do no harm” medical approach. He is considered the Greek father of Western medicine and his philosophical natural approach is repeated by many in the alternative health field today. But these quotes are rarely practiced in mainstream medicine. Instead, we have a culture suckered into eating unhealthy processed and fast foods and indoctrinated by mainstream medicine to believe only western modern medicine, ruled by the pharmaceutical industry's toxic synthetic chemicals, can keep you disease free. Most mainstream medical professionals disapprovingly wince or shrug their shoulders whenever someone inquires about dietary influences. Except for cautioning against cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption, the attitude among most practicing M.D.s is just eat what you want and rely on our pharmaceutical solutions to fix you. Food as first medicine for cancer is mostly preventative, though some prove worthy as healing agents or adjuncts to other protocols. Studies show that avocados and purple potatoes kill cancer cells, for example.
Cutting down or eliminating refined carbs is one of the best and easiest ways to normalize your weight and support your health, but when you cut down on non-vegetable carbs, you need to increase your intake of healthy fats. Avocados are an excellent source. They're especially rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fat that is easily burned for energy, which you need more of once you start to remove those carbs. Improved weight management is in fact one of the health benefits of avocado consumption, according to recent research, and its high-fat, low-sugar content is part and parcel of this effect.
Recent research finds that some of the fats in avocado are antioxidant and block cancer growth. This is in addition to the incredible array of health properties of the humble avocado. The research looked at the antioxidant capacities of the avocado and found that the avocado’s lipophilic phytonutrients, which include tocopherols, sterols, monusaturates, carotens and acetogenins, provide the bulk of these antioxidant benefits. The acetogenins in avocados have been found to provide more than just antioxidant benefits. Researchers from Ohio State University found that two of avocados’ acetogenins – dihydroxyheptadecenyl acetate and dihydroxyheptadecynyl acetate – inhibited the growth of cancer cells.
By Simone Kitchens and Raydene Salinas
The Huffington Post
“Day-to-day, I don’t wear much on my face,” Kelly Russell, a stylist we met in Union Square, told us of her beauty routine.
“Coconut oil as eye moisturizer. I also make my own avocado masks, just make sure it’s organic and really fresh. I also use it as […]
