Is it Healthy To Eat an Avocado a Day?

There are quite a few myths out there about avocados. This delicious yet healthy fruit is full of wonder and health benefits. We can blend it up in a smoothie, dice it over a salad, or make savory guacamole. We can prepare avocados in such a large variety of ways; it’s easy to eat them all the time. Can there be too much of a good thing, though? Is eating an avocado a day still healthy?

An Avocado a Day Diet

According to Ariana Fiorita, a functional medicine dietician, the answer is a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no. A lot depends on your body type, health, and goals. Dr. Fiorita recommends eating an avocado a day or half an avocado each day. 

The Benefits of Monounsaturated Fat

An avocado a day is a healthy dose of monounsaturated fat. These superfruits have between 20 and 25 grams of fat, and, usually, around 15 grams is monounsaturated. Monounsaturated fat is “healthy fat” that leaves you feeling fuller and more satisfied. They also help lower bad cholesterol. It’s important to remember, however, that fat is still calories. If you are counting calories or otherwise trying to lose weight, avocados are not a low-calorie option; each avocado has between 200 and 300 calories.

It’s great that avocados have all this healthy fat, but they aren’t the only source of healthy fat you should consume. Here are a few other options:

• Nuts
• Seeds
• Olives
• Olive oil

One of the most important things you can do is seek variety in your diet. 

Other Reasons to Eat an Avocado a Day

In addition to healthy fats, there are plenty of other health benefits to eating an avocado a day. Avocados are high in fiber, which also helps you feel full – and stay full – between meals. Fiber also helps move things along in our digestive tract and lower our cholesterol. Avocados are high in several vitamins and minerals, including potassium. Potassium has many health benefits, especially for our hearts and muscles. The fats in avocados help us absorb fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, so pairing avocado with a meal with plenty of vegetables, like a salad, helps you better absorb their nutrients.

Who Should Take It Easy On Avocados? 

Like we mentioned above, avocados are better for some people than others. If you’re watching your weight, stick with half an avocado a day instead of a whole one. Make sure, however, that you are consuming other sources of healthy fats too. Avocados are a high “FODMAP” food, meaning high in some carbohydrates that are difficult to digest. Anyone who requires a low-FODMAP diet or has intestinal issues should stick to eating no more than ⅛ an avocado a day. 

Is an Avocado a Day Healthy?

The bottom line is: yes, eating an avocado a day is healthy. What portion of an avocado you should eat each day depends on you and your dietary requirements. With all the ways we can eat delicious avocados, it’s super easy to incorporate a little green superfruit into your daily diet.