avocado hdl
Monday, December 28th, 2009avocado hdl

Have you been avoiding avocados because you’ve heard that they are high in fat? Well, it’s time to take another look at the avocado. Creamy, soft and delicious, avocados are rich in heart healthy monounsaturated fat, packed with 20 vitamins and minerals and low in calories. When you consider all of the nutritional benefits and think of all of the great ways they can be served, surely you will agree that avocados deserve a place at your table.
Heart-healthy fat?
Avocados have taken a beating because of their high fat content – In some circles they are known as a “butter pear”. Avocados do contain 30 grams of fat, but the fat in avocados is monounsaturated, the good fat recommended by the American Heart Association. Recent studies have shown that people eating an avocado a day for a week can lower blood cholesterol by as much as 17%, raise HDL or good cholesterol levels and lower LDL or bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Avocados, nuts and olives are the only plant foods that contain monounsaturated fat. A serving of avocado is 1 ounce - 2 tablespoons or about one-sixth of an avocado, and contains 5 grams of fat and 55 calories. But when you compare that to butter, cheese or mayonnaise, all weighing in at around 200 calories and 22 grams of fat per 2-tablespoon serving, avocados look pretty good. Plus, avocados are a delicious replacement for cheese and butter on sandwiches, in salads, on toast and with spicy foods.
20 Vitamins and Minerals
Avocados bring 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients to the table, making them a nutritional superstar. Naturally rich in their own right and full of vitamin E, vitamin C, folate and beta-carotene, avocados are also known to be a nutrient-booster, helping the body to absorb more of the nutrients in other foods when they are eaten with avocados.
How Do I Know When It’s Ripe?
Look for firm, slightly soft avocados. They tend to be more black then green when they are ripe. Avocados don’t start to ripen until after they are picked, so often hard avocados are all that is available. If they are hard when you buy them, put them in a paper sack for a day or two and let them ripen. Don’t store uncut avocados in the fridge, keep them on the counter on in a sunny window and use them within a day or two.
To store half of an avocado, replace the seed and store in an airtight bag or re-useable plastic container in the refrigerator. Storing the avocado with the seed will keep the flesh from turning black. Black avocado flesh won’t hurt you, it just isn’t very pretty.
So go ahead – make guacamole. Add avocados to your BLTs. Have a slice or two on your sandwich. Avocados are good for you!
About the Author:
Want more tips on saving your waistline along with your budget? Check out The Deceptive Diet for great results!
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - The Healthy Benefits of Avocados
Cholesterol is a wax-like product that is present in the cell membranes of body tissues and is carried in the blood plasma. It is a sterol; a combination of alcohol and steroid and is also called atherosclerotic plaque. The body must have cholesterol in order to form and sustain cell membranes, help with the production of bile and helps with the metabolism of fat soluble vitamins. Over time, cholesterol builds up on the artery walls and this condition is known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis was thought to be an affliction of the elderly until the 1950's when American pathologists were sent to Korea by the Pentagon to study the bodies of servicemen who died during the conflict. They autopsied around 2000 soldiers and found that about seventy five percent had waxy, yellow deposits on the walls of their arteries; a stunning statistic considering the average age of the soldiers was 21. Their findings astonished the scientific community as it highlighted the onset of heart disease in the very young. bad andHDL Cholesterol There are two separate types of cholesterol; low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). HDL is commonly known as 'good' cholesterol and LDL is labeled as 'bad' cholesterol. LDL has been markedly linked with heart disease, whereas HDL is thought to reduce the chance of a heart attack. It has been estimated that approximately 25% of Americans are at risk from heart disease due to atherosclerosis, and around one tenth have such high levels that doctors are left no choice than to prescribe cholesterol reducing drugs. Foods that Lower LDL Cholesterol There are a number of foods which are believed to noticeably lower LDL cholesterol. Fiber-rich foods are said to be particularly beneficial and will not only lower 'bad' cholesterol, but also help the bowel to function properly, lowering the risk of colon and bowel cancer. There are many other foods that can help the body fight back against these dangerous deposits.
- high fiber foods, particularly oat bran, barley and wheat bran.
- Beans and pulses are high in fiber and low-fat. They also contain lecithin, a nutrient that reduces cholesterol.
- Avocado contains prolific amounts of monounsaturated fat, which helps to reduce bad cholesterol and has many other health benefits including anti-cancer properties
- Raw carrots are rich in pectin that is renowned for minimizing cholesterol. There are a number of fruits that also contain pectin, including; apples, citrus fruits, strawberries, raspberries and other red or black berries
- Shitake mushrooms are widely used by the Japanese and include a material called lentinan, which not only lessens cholesterol, but is also thought to be anti-cancerous and may help to increase the immune system
- Garlic is a super food and is well known for its blood-thinning properties. It also contains a substance allicin which is thought to prevent the body from retaining bad cholesterol and research has shown that the equivalent of one clove per day can lessen ldl cholesterol by ten to fifteen% in the majority of people
- Root ginger has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries and has numerous health benefits. It can be added to stir-fry's (using healthy sesame oil) and other vegetable dishes
- Nuts are naturally high in omega-3 fatty acids and are known to significantly reduce blood cholesterol; walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts and almonds are especially beneficial
- Sesame seeds are high in phytosterols. These compounds are said to substantially lessen LDL cholesterol. Other foods containing phytosterols include; celery, lettuce, asparagus, spinach, tomatoes, ginger, squash and strawberries
- Safflower, canola, soybean, and olive oil are monounsaturated and are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. Research indicates that they can decrease atherosclerotic plaque by up to 15% when eaten regularly
- Salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerel contain considerable amounts of omega-3 fatty acids
- Prunes are a wonderful source of antioxidants and fiber, which is known to minimize bad cholesterol
- Alfalfa sprouts contain a substance called saponin, which is thought to slow the formation of atherosclerotic plaque in the arteries
If you have high cholesterol or a family tendency towards atherosclerosis it is best to avoid processed and prepared foods, fried food, food containing animal fats or animal products, high-fat dairy products and food containing either saturated fat or trans fats. Research has revealed the key to lowering bad cholesterol is a healthy, balanced diet that incorporates plenty of soluble fiber and at least 5 servings of fruit or vegetables a day. This combined with regular cardio exercise should help keep the heart healthy and provide many other health benefits as well.
About the Author:
Ralph Wilhelm-dude17111 is an online marketer and researcher who resides at http:www.dude17111.com
Stop by and say hello
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Tasty Ways to Get Rid Of Cholesterol With Out Prescriptions













