7 Health Benefits Of Avocados & How Many To Eat A Day

No matter what kind of healthy eating principles you follow, avocados can be a staple superfood. It's no secret, either, as avocado consumption in the U.S. has tripled since 2001, according to the USDA, and the average American now eats 8 pounds of them a year.

So, what exactly are the benefits of avocados? Here's a look at what the fruit (yep, it's a fruit!) can do for your gut, skin, and overall health.

Avocados are filled with healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals that support our overall well-being in a few key ways.

"Avocados contain a phytonutrient called beta-sitosterol that has been shown to help maintain healthy cholesterol levels1," says Alyssa Wilson, RDN, a metabolic success coach for Signos.

Beta-sitosterol is a phytosterol that is similar in structure to cholesterol and leads to lower levels of cholesterol in the body via the hepatobiliary system (through excretion).

Avocados contain wonderfully healthy fats: monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Both MUFAs and PUFAs work to lower LDL levels (bad cholesterol)2 in the blood.

You may not associate avocados with fiber, but they have a fair amount of it. "A medium-sized avocado contains 3.4 grams of fiber—9 to 16% of our daily fiber needs," says Heather Munnelly, FNTP, a functional nutritional therapy practitioner. "Whole food fiber leads to a diverse and robust microbiota. The healthier our gut bacteria are, the healthier we are."

Wilson adds that with a healthy gut and adequate fiber comes regular bowel movements—an essential part of the body's detoxification system.

Munnelly says that most fruits contain high amounts of sugar that are then quickly digested by the body. Avocados are different, however, and instead contain high levels of oleic acid, the same fatty acid found in avocado oil and olive oil. Oleic acid has several health benefits, but a big one is related to skin health.

The skin is a metabolically active organ, meaning it can use fatty acids like oleic acid3 in order to lock in moisture.

RELATED READ: 4 DIY Avocado Face Mask Recipes For Dry, Dull Skin

"Avocados are packed with anti-inflammatory compounds like carotenoids, vitamins C and E, and phenolic compounds," says Wilson. "All of these substances have been shown to protect against oxidative damage and chronic disease while improving cognitive function."

Oleic acid plays a role here, too, says Munnelly. Previous research has found that diets high in oleic acid have a positive impact against inflammatory-related diseases4 and activate the pathways of certain immune-boosting cells.

Avocados are also a great source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential omega-3 fatty acid. ALA has been shown in preclinical research to lessen inflammatory pathways in gastrointestinal disease models like colitis5, and has neuroprotective effects6.

Avocados are often touted as a food that helps people lose weight, particularly belly fat. But does eating avocados really support a healthy weight?

Perhaps this is an unexpected benefit of avocados, but Wilson says they are rich in two carotenoids: lutein and zeaxanthin. "These two phytochemicals are found in eye tissue and help protect against eye damage8, like that from UV light," she says.

The carotenoids in avocados are especially important because they have a built-in absorption benefit—intrinsic fats in the fruit help enhance the bioavailability and absorption of these fat-soluble carotenoids.

Those with high blood pressure might want to introduce more avos to their diet. Avocados have been associated with a reduction in hypertension9 and they're high in potassium, which relaxes the walls of the blood vessels

Here's a breakdown of the nutritional value in half of an avocado10:

One reason to love avocados is that they're super versatile: You can eat your avo in guacamole, smother it on a slice of toast, add it to your smoothie for extra creaminess, or add it as a garnish to an omelet, salad, or chili.

Research has even found that eating avocado alongside other whole plant foods helps increase the body's absorption of phytonutrients such as beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, adds Munnelly.

As a general rule of thumb, Munnelly recommends sticking to one-half an avocado as the standard serving size with your meal or as a snack. Avocados are particularly beneficial if you follow a ketogenic diet or Mediterranean diet pattern due to their nutrient composition of healthy fats. Eating one avocado a day is perfectly healthy for most people.

Here are just a few nourishing ways to eat (or wear!) your avocado to reap the benefits.

We would be remiss if we didn't mention this widespread phenomenon. A nutrient-dense combo of bread (preferably whole grain) with avocado, avocado toast is a good source of healthy fat that's easy to customize. Add your own creative additions with plant-based options like tomatoes or vegan cheese, or top with a fried egg or smoked salmon. This Detox Bruschetta Recipe is one of our favorites.

Avocados grow best in the warm, humid conditions of South and Central America. This means that in the U.S., "avocados often need to be shipped long distances to reach the supermarket," says Munnelly. "We know that transportation is a significant contributor to climate change gas emissions12. When possible, try to purchase avocados that are grown as close to you as possible."

Not to mention, according to a water footprint calculator, it takes 60 gallons of water to grow just one avo.

To help reduce the environmental impact of the fruit, Wilson also recommends buying avocados that are labeled Fair Trade and/or organic. When you're done enjoying your avo, the leftover pits can even be used to dye your clothes a wonderful shade of pink!

It's always a bummer to reach for an avocado and find that it's still not quite ripe. A hard, green avocado typically needs four to seven days to ripen. However, there are a few tricks you can use to speed up this process:

"To store cut avocado and prevent it from getting brown and mushy, squeeze some fresh lemon juice on it and place it in an airtight container," says Munnelly. "Cold water will also work if you don't have lemon juice on hand. It helps if you don't remove the pit before storage." Here are more hacks to keep your avocados fresh.

An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but an avocado a day can also provide lots of health perks for your gut, your heart, and even your hair. Beware, however, that the avocados you find in the grocery store tend to have a pretty hefty carbon footprint. Maybe it's time to grow your own backyard avocado tree?