Page 26 - Seniorstoday April 2022 Issue
P. 26

cardiac illnesses. The Vitamins, minerals          well as transport of oxygen in the body.
         and fibre also help in reducing heart               Selecting a variety of fruits as toppings
         problems.                                          will give you the additional goodness and
         May reduce risk of macular                         nutrition inherent to fruits.
         degeneration                                       Potential downside
         Rich in phytochemicals like lutein and             Latex fruit syndrome: Studies show that
         zeaxanthin, avocados help in providing             30 to 50 % of people allergic to latex will
         protection to the eye, especially from             also have allergic reactions to certain foods
         UV rays. The fatty acids present help              like avocado. On a milder scale, it causes
         absorption of antioxidants, and could              itching, irritability, rashes and reddening
         prevent macular degeneration.                      of skin. If severe, it could even lead to
         Helps body digest nutrients                        anaphylaxis
         The monosaturated fatty acids present in           Weight gain: Being very rich in fats,
         avocados helps absorption of fat-soluble           Avocados can cause weight gain if
         nutrients required by the body, such as Vit        consumed in large amounts. Remember,
         A, E and K. They also help in absorption of        even good fats are ultimately going to affect
         antioxidants.                                      your weight if eaten in large quantities.
         Very good for the skin                             White bread, bacon etc. can also add to the
         The monosaturated fatty acids present in           weight gain, so choose the toppings wisely.
         Avocado act as anti-aging agents, keeping          Avocados are also calorie dense; 1 entire
         your skin looking younger.                         avocado could contain up to 320 calories.
          The toppings of chia seeds, lime juice and        Limit your quantity of avocado to half or
         berries additionally give you vitamin C,           one third, per serving.
         omega 3 fatty acids, anthocyanins. They            Low Protein content: Avocados are
         could help prevent wrinkles, promote               very low in protein, an important part of
         collagen production and generally give             any meal. However, this can be remedied
         your skin a healthy glow. They can also            easily, by adding protein rich ingredients
         help reduce chances of neoplasms.                  to it like egg whites and chicken. If you’re
         Maintains foetal health                            a vegetarian, mushroom is a good option.
         Folate requirement of the body increases           Adding it to rice and beans also makes for a
         exponentially during pregnancy and breast          complete, protein rich meal.
         feeding.                                           Blood disorders: Avocados are also rich
          Avocados are found to have high folate            in Vit K, which plays an important part in
         content, and can provide about 27% of the
         body’s requirement and can help in foetal
         development. It also helps prevent MTPs,
         miscarriages and neural tube defects.
          Using whole grain bread brings additional
         benefits to the plate, as do the fresh fruits or
         lemon juice you might add onto the toast.
          Whole grains are very rich in vitamin B
         complex, as well as iron. These help in the
         production of red blood cells in the body, as


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