CR.ORG CR.ORG GUIDE TO WGUIDE TO WELLNESSELLNESS 33
PH
OT
O:
M
AR
CU
S^ N
ILS
SO
N/
GA
LL
ER
Y^
ST
OC
K
A Toast to
the Avocado
Avocados have become hugely
popular in recent years, but
are they good for you? In a word:
Yes. Half of a medium avocado
has 114 calories and 10 grams of
fat. That might sound like a lot
of fat, but about 64 percent of
it is monounsaturated, which
lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol levels,
reducing the risk of heart attack
and stroke. And avocados offer
an array of vitamins and minerals
not often found together in one
place. These include folic acid and
vitamins B6, C, E, and K. Avocados
are rich in blood-pressure-lowering
potassium and fiber. They also con-
tain the carotenoids lutein and
zeaxanthin, which are linked to eye
health. So go ahead and enjoy
your avocado—on toast, in a smoo-
thie, or however else you please.
UPDATE
Trends, product news, and expert advice