The health benefits of avocado will be looked at in a few minutes, because, over the years avocado serves as a remedy to certain ailments.

Before the end of this article, you will be enlightened on the value you didn’t know Avocado has.

So what then is Avocado?

Avocado is a pear-shaped vegetable with hard skin, with rich and yellowish pulp enclosing a single large seed.

Avocado plant first originated in South Central Mexico and it is classified as a member of the flowering plants.

The botanical name for avocado is alligator pear or climacteric pear.

The important Nutrients to look at in avocado

Avocado is a nutrient power house which serves as fat to produce energy, absorb nutrients and build cell membranes.

Avocados provide vitamin C and K to the body.

Avocado improves flow of blood, boosts the immune system and helps protect the body against infection and diseases.

The health benefits of Avocado makes the fruit have a regenerative effect on cell tissue, which makes this a sustainable support system for arthritic pains.

Avocado is a good source of potassium which makes it a great food to improve heart health. Avocado is low on sugar which prevents high blood sugar which can lead to heart disease.

It prevents eye disease later on in life. But will also provide immediate relief for other cells that are being damaged by free radicals.

Health benefits of avocado in weight loss and beautiful skin

Avocados support beautiful skin for nourishment and glow. Avocado is rich in healthy fat that translates to beautiful skin. It supports collagen metabolism for your skin.

Avocado exfoliates skin which helps remove dead skin cells, excess bam and other impurities from the skin. Build up of dead skin cells makes your skin look older and even leads to acne by clogging up your pores. Avocados help repair and nourish dry and damaged skin and give it an incredible glow.

It helps in lowering bad cholesterol partly because of the phytosterols present in the fruit; phytosterols tend to act as preventive agents that keeps one’s body from absorbing cholesterol.

It helps in weight management, however  a healthy metabolism is a very influential factor in maintaining a healthy weight.

So adding metabolism supporting food into your diet has a huge impact on weight success.

Avocados support weight loss. The antioxidants-rich seeds help burn fat to aid weight loss.

Their double fibre content lowers one’s appetite and provides a feeling of fullness for several hours. This prevents a person from eating calories rich snacks.

It provides full healthy fatty acid to the body. Avocado is one of the healthiest foods for getting these healthy fats in your diet.

Do you know that the body needs fatty acids for hormone production for cell development and nutrients absorption?

Health benefits of avocado to plant

The health benefits of avocado are not for human beings alone. I would like to blow your mind by telling you that avocados are rich in plant compounds which help improve the nutrients in plants, absorption properties of these antioxidants.

Avocados are delicious and versatile. A person can eat avocados anytime of the day and add them to different dishes for various purposes.

Avocado helps in liver cleansing because it contains glutathione producing compounds that helps the liver to cleanse itself.

Avocado improves the bone which makes it more healthy.

As we age one’s bones get weak and the risk of developing osteoarthritis rises   

significantly in the body.

Avocado delays the aging process which accelerates skin aging and promotes wrinkles, age spots, sun damage, fine line and sagging skin.

The oil made from avocado seeds increases collagen in your skin which is important for youthful, firm and smooth skin. This will help reverse aging and keep you looking young for years.

Health benefits of avocado shows that it strengthens one’s immunity system during cold and flu season, and also keeps you safe from bacterial, viral and fungal infections.

Avocado fights cancer in which the healthy fats in avocado seeds can wipe out leukemia stem cells, while leaving healthy cells unharmed.

Avocado is beneficial for reducing inflammatory disease within the body which includes acne, asthma, Celiac disease, hay fever, inflammatory bowel disease and even cancer.

Treats arthritis: The health benefits of Avocado

Arthritis is a painful condition that is caused by swelling and inflammation of the bone joints. And this pain could get worse by staple food such as wheat, corn, sugar e.t.c.

However avocado is one fruit scientifically renowned for anti-inflammatory properties and pain killing.

Avocado lowers high blood pressure

Avocado seeds are very high in potassium, which is a good vasodilator. This nutrient helps relax the tension of blood vessels and arteries, lowering high blood pressure.

Avocado eases stomach and bowel. It can prevent and relieve constipation naturally and improves digestion of food when eaten.

It is interesting to know that avocado seeds are used to make shampoo. This homemade shampoo will be free of toxic ingredients and help make hair thick and soft. It also helps to reduce the grey nature of the hair. This is why the health benefits of avocado can’t be over emphasized.

Avocado helps to reduce bad breath. As you know, bad breath is an exclusive tissue of an unhealthy mouth, or an imbalance in the stomach and intestine, which the intake of avocado helps to remove the microbes that are the cause of bad breath.

Conclusion on the health benefits of avocado

We will end this article by looking at a very important point.

Avocado is an excellent food during pregnancy. It not only helps in forming the nervous system of the unborn child, it also ensures healthy brains, cells and blood, and helps to reduce the cholesterol levels of the pregnant mother and reduces the risk of depression as well.

NB: With its cancer protecting features, skin care potentials, helping on weight loss, and normalizing sugar levels, it has been discovered that people who often eat avocado are usually blessed with robust health.

I hope this article is informative?

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Studying Cassava benefits is important. But first, we have to briefly know why this crop is important in human existence. I covered the production of Cassava in Part One of this Article, do check it out.

Cassava is a root vegetable widely consumed in developing countries. It provides some important nutrients and resistant starch which have health benefits. This article will explore the unique properties of cassava to determine if it’s a healthy and safe food for you to include in your diet.

What Is Cassava and why is Cassava benefit highly researched?

Cassava is a nutty-flavored, starchy root vegetable or tuber. Native to South America, it’s a major source of calories and carbohydrates for people in developing countries.

It is grown in tropical regions of the world because of its ability to withstand difficult growing conditions.

Infact, it is one of the most drought tolerant crops. In the United States, cassava is often called yuca and may also be referred to as manioc or Brazilian arrowroot.

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The most commonly consumed part of cassava is the root which is very versatile.

Here are some of the benefits of cassava;

* It can be eaten whole, grated or ground into flour to make bread and crackers.

* Also, cassava root is well known as the raw material that’s used to produce tapioca and garri, a product similar to tapioca.

* Individuals with food allergies often benefit from using cassava root in cooking and baking because it is gluten-free, grain-free and nut-free.

* Cassava benefits and contains carbohydrates while the rest are from a small amount of protein and fat.

* It also provides fiber as well as few vitamins and minerals.

* It provides phosphorus, calcium, thiamine and riboflavin, niacin, iron and vitamin C

* Cassava is high in Calories. It contains 112 calories per 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving, which is quite high compared to other root vegetables. For example, the same serving of sweet potatoes provides 76 calories, and the same amount of beets provides only 44.

This is what makes cassava an important crop for developing countries, since it is a significant source of calories. The nutrition profile of cassava is unremarkable. While it does provide some vitamins and minerals, the amounts are minimal.

There are many other root vegetables you can eat that will provide significantly more nutrients — beets and sweet potatoes, to name two.

* Cassava is high in resistant starch, a type of starch that bypasses digestion and has properties similar to soluble fiber.

* Consuming foods that are high in resistant starch have several benefits for overall health.

* Resistant starch feeds the beneficial bacteria in your gut, which may help reduce inflammation and promote digestive health.

* Resistant starch has also been studied for its ability to contribute to better metabolic health and reduce the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. This is due to its potential to improve blood sugar control, in addition to its role in promoting fullness and reducing appetite.

* Products made from cassava, such as flour, tend to be lower in starch resistance than it’s root that has been cooked and then cooled in its whole form.

* You can prepare several snacks and dishes with the root on its own. It is commonly sliced and then baked or roasted, similar to the way you would prepare a potato.

* The root of cassava can be mashed or mixed in with stir-fries, omelets and soups.

* You can also enjoy it in the form of tapioca, which is a starch extracted from the cassava root through a process of washing and pulping. Tapioca is commonly used as a thickener for puddings, pies and soups.

Processing Cassava Reduces Its Nutritional Value

Processing cassava by peeling, chopping and cooking it significantly reduces the nutritional value.

This is because many of the vitamins and minerals are destroyed by processing, as well as most of the fiber and resistant starch.

Therefore, the more popular processed forms of cassava — such as tapioca and garri — have very limited nutritional value. For example, 1 ounce (28 grams) of tapioca pearls provides nothing but few calories and small amounts of minerals.

Boiling cassava root is one cooking method that has been shown to retain most nutrients, with the exception of vitamin C, which is sensitive to heat and easily leaches into water.

The benefits of resistant starch are promising, but it is important to note that many processing methods may lower cassava’s resistant starch content.

The Benefit of making Cassava Safe for Consumption

Cassava is generally safe when it is prepared properly and eaten occasionally in moderate amounts. A reasonable serving size is about 1/3–1/2 cup.

Peel it: The peel of cassava root contains most of the cyanide-producing compounds.

Soak it: Soaking cassava by submerging it in water for 48–60 hours before it is cooked and eaten may reduce the amount of harmful chemicals it contains.

Cook it: Since the harmful chemicals are found in raw cassava, it’s essential to cook it thoroughly — by boiling, roasting or baking, for example.

Pair it with protein: Eating some protein along with cassava may be beneficial, since protein helps rid the body of toxic cyanide.

Maintain a Balanced Diet: You can prevent adverse effects from cassava by including a variety of foods in your diet and not relying on it as your sole source of nutrition.

It’s important to note that products made from cassava root, such as cassava flour and tapioca, contain extremely little to no cyanide-inducing compounds and are safe for human consumption.


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HEALTH BENEFITS OF ONIONS IN OUR BODY SYSTEM

Onions are undeniably one of the most important vegetable crops/spices in the world. I took time to list and explain the various types of onion and their importance.

Read up Part One

It helps in fighting cancer.

The red onions are the most effective in destroying breast and colon cancer cells. These onions have high levels of quercetin and anthocyanins. They activate the pathways that provoke the cancer cells to kill themselves. They make the environment unfavorable for cancer cells to communicate and this inhibits their growth.

It helps in improving heart health.

It can cut the risk of cardiovascular disease. It acts as a natural blood thinner  and reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.  The quercetin in onions has the potential to fight heart disease. It offers both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that promote heart health.

Onions also prevent the blood platelets from sticking to each other which can lead to clothing and eventually heart attacks.  They also prevent high blood pressure thereby averting heart danger. Also they help in the removal of small blood clots activity.

Onions fight inflammation.

Cooking onions in soup doesn’t diminish their quercetin value but simply transfers the antioxidant from the  vegetable to the soup broth.  Even the essential oil from onions has benefits.  The oil has antiseptic and antibacterial properties.  Onions when combined with garlic  could have greater  benefits.  The two together  are known to be effective antidepressants, painkillers, anticoagulants and anti-inflammatory.

Onion promotes healthy digestion which is attributed to insulin, a fiber present in the vegetable. Consuming this fiber helps the body maintain good levels of healthy bacteria. It also helps to treat different types of diarrhea, and phytochemicals in onions can cut the risk of gastric ulcers. It also eases constipation, stomach ache and stomach worms.

Onions improve the immune system.

The selenium in onion stimulates immune function. It also helps in producing important proteins and transporting calcium.

Sleeping with onions underneath your feet or placing them in your socks eradicates infection and hydrates your body. Doing so can also strengthen your immune system.

It helps to maintain bone health and reduce bone loss. It is also beneficial on bone density of women older than 50 years. It also helps to treat joint pains.

It lowers blood sugar levels. One exhibits the positive effect only when taken along with metformin,  the anti diabetic drug.

You can also make onion tea for treating colds.

This tea gives you an immunity boost and helps to prevent ailments.  Making the tea is as simple as cutting an onion, boiling it in water and drinking  the juice. This serves as a quick remedy for cold and other illnesses.

You can also add other ingredients like ginger for taste.  The anti-inflammatory property of onions can also help improve asthma. It helps in respiratory issues and allergic rhinitis.

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Enhance brain health. The antioxidant in onions binds with the harmful toxins in the brain, flushes them out of the body.  While the sulfur content slows down age related memory loss and it also improves memory impairment. Onions also treat dizziness and epilepsy.

Ease Menopause Symptoms.

Onions help during menopause as they support the liver and get rid of the waste hormones. Taking enough calcium is also imperative during this period.  Onions  contain calcium too and can help in this regard.

Help to cure fever.

It cures fever as a food ingredient. It can prevent or treat nose bleeding given it’s natural fumes which can help the blood clot.

Enhance eye health.  

The sulfur in onions improves the health of the lens of the eye.  It stimulates the production of a protein named glutathione, which acts as an antioxidant. Higher levels of glutathione mean a reduced risk of glaucoma and cataracts. The selenium in onions supports vitamin E in the eye.  Onion is a potential cure for common eye infections like conjunctivitis and blepharitis.

Gives an energy boost.

The fiber in onions slows digestion and keeps the energy level stable. The “Ibukun” in the vegetable helps maintain your stamina levels.

It improves sexual health.

It is used to manage sexual impotence and erectile dysfunction. Taking onion juice with honey is known to increase fertility in men.

Improves sleep.

Onions contain prebiotics that improve sleep and even reduce stress.  The metabolic byproducts help brain function and induce sleep.

Cure ear disorders.

Onion juice can work great to relieve earache. One way to do this is to heat up the onion,  extract some of the  juice and pour a few drops into the affected ear.

Onions are good for oral health.

It helps to reduce bacteria that causes tooth decay. It also relieves tooth pain. Eating them raw is best as cooking might destroy some of these beneficial compounds.

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