Around the middle of the 1st decade of the 2000s, I had gained about 20 pounds with the births of each of my 3 children and tipped Dr. Dirk Frater’s scale at a robust 235, or a little more, pounds. I consider my “playing weight” to be about 175 pounds on my (at that time) frame of 6’ 1½“. I was told my “numbers” were “way out of wack” and that I needed to lose down to 210 lbs. by the time I came back for my next physical in 4 months. The good doctor suggested I follow the “Dash Diet” of lower-in-saturated-fats foods. To make a long story reasonable, I did what was asked of me with the suggested diet and added my own addition of stopping the intake of all “sugar” soda pops and the eating of no more than two “regularsized” meals per day. And, I did more yard work!
When I returned for my “follow-up physical,” I weighed 200 lbs., with numbers all in the “recommended ranges.” Dr. Frater put away all the medicines he had ready to suggest for my use and told me to continue what I had been doing so successfully, after he had reviewed my PLAN, and to lose another 15 pounds before the next exam. But, he made one recommendation that absolutely disillusioned me, though, when he said to cut back my eating of AVOCADOS to one or two per week, because they are “high in saturated fats.”
While to this day, I laud what Dr. Frater did for my health and outlook, I did look and look until I could find reputable sources that told me it was O. K. to eat an avocado or two per day, since their saturated fats were not animal in origination—but PLANT! And, to this day, I still probably average eating at least 3 or 4 per week!
Why? Let me try to answer your question.
Some doctors feel that AVOCADOS contribute to high cholesterol levels, but let me cite what I have read in more than one study the past months. “Avocados LOWER ‘LDL’ cholesterol.” A study I read just today took 45 overweight men and women and had them follow three different diets for five weeks each—(1) low fat diet—(2) moderate fat diet—(3) one added avocado per day diet. Guess the results! The “avocado diet” lowered ‘LDL’ better than the other diets and reduced small, dense particles. I could only clap my hands and say, “Yes!”
Did you know……that this “fruit” is a BERRY that is also known as an “alligator pear” or a “butter fruit?”……
……that a “recommended serving size” is 1/3 of a medium avocado (1.7 ozs.) and contains 50 calories?......
……its fat is “monounsaturated” fat, which lowers bad cholesterol, eaten in moderation?......
……can lower triglyceride levels?……
……has 20 vitamins (E, C, D, K, B-6, various other Bs, potassium, and folate) and minerals?......
……is low in sugar?...... …...can ward off psoriasis?……
…...is a good source of fiber, which helps in “elimination” and in reducing eating binges?.....
……is generally nutritious?……
……keeps skin and hair healthy?……
…...helps level out blood pressure?……
……provides anti-oxidants?……
……aids with digestion— heart issues—vision—preg nancy problems?.....
……wards off inflammation—depression—osteoporosis—arthritis—cancer?......
……there are small, native avocados, but the larger ones are domesticated varieties that are often propagated by “grafting” or selective cultivating?……
SO—How Many Should You Eat Per Day according to Nutritionists? ½ avocado per day—one-half avocado per day, maxed out at one per day-----1/2 avocado per day------one-half to two avocados per day------one-half to one per day-----one per day--- ---one-half to one per day….. and on-and-on!
So, there it is for you to decide. I heartily recommend the use of avocados for a healthy diet and especially do so after having one of my former teachers tell me that she went to the doctor with numerous complaints and troubles with “everyday” getting around/trouble walking. He told her to add ½ avocado to her diet each morning, and she did so. As this lady was telling me her story, she was walking un-aided back to her car at the Post Office and smiling broadly!
I went home and ate the other half of the avocado that I had started before my routine morning trip. Oh, yes, I also continue to weigh under 180 lbs.
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