Avocado Calories The avocado, sometimes referred to as an alligator pear, is a large green fruit that grows in warm climates throughout the world, including Florida, California, and Central America. Avocados are climacteric fruits, meaning they mature while still on the tree, but ripen only after they fall. Cultivated for over 10,000 years, there are currently more than 500 avocado varieties in existence, and one tree can yield as many as 450 avocados per year. Many people are surprised to discover the vast array of nutrients that are packed into avocado calories. When reviewing avocado nutrition information, one will quickly discover that there are few fruits which can boast as many health benefits as avocados./font>

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Avocado Nutrition Facts

There are approximately 290 calories in a medium avocado, 75 percent of which come from fat. The fruit is also high in potassium and vitamins such as B, E, C, D and K. Avocados also contain lutein, a nutrient essential to eye health. Additionally, avocado calories are packed with fiber, both soluble and insoluble, and generous amounts of essential fatty acids, which play a vital role in heart, brain and skin health. Furthermore, avocado calories contain high levels of minerals such as magnesium, copper, potassium and calcium, all of which play a crucial role in human nutrition.

Avocado Calories and Concerns About Fat

For years, the fat content associated with avocados has caused some individuals to shun the fruit in lieu of other options. However, over the past decade, additional information has been discovered by scientists and dietitians regarding healthy and unhealthy fats.

Saturated fats are harmful and can cause one's blood cholesterol to rise to a dangerous level. This can result in a host of health problems such as heart disease and stroke. However, avocado calories primarily come from heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, which are not harmful and do not cause one's cholesterol levels to rise.

The Role of Fat in the Absorption of Carotenoids
There are additional avocado benefits of which the general population may be unaware. One such benefit is the fruit's role in optimizing vitamin and nutrient absorption.

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Carotenoids are plant pigments found in certain fruits, and they are turned into powerful antioxidants when metabolized. These nutrients enhance the human immune system's ability to fight conditions such as heart disease and cancer. Research conducted in 2005, indicated that carotenoid absorption was increased by 100 percent when avocados were added to the daily diet of 200 clinical trial participants. This study was significant, as it proved that although carotenoids are found in many fruits and vegetables, they cannot be absorbed unless consumed with fats.  

Potassium and Avocados

Avocados also contain high amounts of potassium, a mineral that is vital to one's nervous system's health and his or her fluid balance. A small avocado contains 60 percent more potassium than a medium banana, and while the latter is also a healthy fruit, the nutritional content of a banana cannot begin to compete with the nutritional value of an avocado. In addition, research has suggested that diets high in potassium can help to prevent high blood pressure, even in those with a genetic predisposition for the disease. Some doctors and scientists are of the opinion that this is due to the fact that potassium helps to balance sodium, which is a culprit in some cases of high blood pressure.

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Why Are Avocados Good For You?