It goes against all the common advice, but it's absolutely true: If you want to get skinny, then one of the best foods you can eat is actually full of fat! I know it may seem hard to believe. We grow up hearing that eating fat is bad for us. We're told it will clog our arteries and cause us to gain weight. And sure, there's certainly some truth behind those statements. Eating the wrong type of fats will probably cause us some health problems down the line.
It probably isn't a good idea to load up on the bacon grease and potato chips. Eating too much of those foods is likely to make us look and feel terrible. But all fats aren't created equal!
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There's a certain fruit that is filled with healthy fat. And this fruit is one of the best things you can eat when trying to lose weight and get healthy. The fruit I'm talking about is the avocado. It's a tasty superfood with many documented health benefits.
But before I tell you about all those, first let me clear up your concern. Yes, it's true that avocado contains lots of fat, but the type of fat it contains is monounsaturated, which means it's easily burned for energy instead of stored around your butt and thighs. But that's not all: Avocado has been shown to actually lessen the harmful effects of other fats. A 2012 study detailed in Medical News Today showed that eating avocado with a hamburger actually prevented the slowing of blood flow that occurs when you eat a hamburger alone.
This explains why avocado has been shown to promote a healthy heart and circulatory system. Avocado is also packed with complex phytonutrients, which have been shown to offer protection from certain cancers, heart disease, and eye problems that develop later in life.
But here's the best part: Avocado actually helps you maintain a healthy weight. The monounsaturated fat it contains has been shown to improve your metabolism. It helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels. As you probably know, your blood sugar plays a huge role in the way you look and how much you weigh. This is because when your blood sugar strays too far from normal, your body has to produce insulin to get it under control. But insulin is a hormone responsible for fat storage. So when your body produces too much of it, you go into "fat-storing mode" and can find it almost impossible to lose weight.
Well, avocado contains a special kind of sugar called mannoheptulose. Unlike dangerous table sugar, mannoheptulose actually helps keep your insulin levels steady, avoiding those horrible spikes that cause you to store fat. The less insulin spikes you have, the less fat you store around your butt and thighs.
So don't be close-minded. Understand that all fats aren't bad for you. Find ways to add avocado into your diet. As a snack, as part of your salad, whatever way you find best. Because by eating avocado, you'll give your health and fat-burning ability the boost you need to look and feel your best.
Feel free to enjoy that guacamole!
This post was originally published on June 6, 2013.
Image via iStock
