If you’re an avocado fan, here’s another good reason to enjoy delicious avocados. A recent study by The Ohio State University (OSU) showed that eating avocado helped your body absorb provitamin A and convert it to Vitamin A. So adding some creamy avocado to your meal can give you an overall nutrient boost.
The OSU study found that people who ate avocado along with either raw carrots or a tomato sauce rich in beta-carotene had higher levels of Vitamin A in their blood than those who ate the carrots or tomato sauce alone. The addition of avocado provided a boost for Vitamin A.
About Vitamin A
Foods like carrots and tomato sauce contain provitamin A or carotenoids, an inactive form of Vitamin A. Carotenoids include beta-carotene and alpha-carotene. When you eat foods high in carotenoids, your body converts them into Vitamin A. In the OSU study, researchers found that eating avocado with foods rich in provitamin A helped people absorb more beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, and convert these carotenoids into more Vitamin A.
Vitamin A is important for proper growth, reproduction and good vision. It supports your immune function, along with cellular growth and reproduction. Vitamin A has a vital role in the development and maintenance of the heart, lungs, kidneys and other organs.
This month, give yourself a nutrient boost. Enjoy avocados with vegetables and fruits high in provitamin A, like carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, mangoes or red peppers.
Try These Avocado Recipes
Here are some of our favorite recipes to try this holiday season:
Avocado Hummus: serve with raw carrots or red pepper slices
Avocado and Mango Kick-starter Smoothie: a quick tasty breakfast for busy mornings
Avocado and Tortilla Soup: this easy-to-make soup is perfect for a cold winter evening
Sylvia E. Meléndez-Klinger, MS, RD, LDN, CPT is a founding member of the Avocado Goodness Community, sponsored by the Hass Avocado Board.
