The Fat That’s Good For You

Beauties, we have a confession to make—we love avocado! Considered by most to be one of the best beauty foods out there, this creamy fruit is full of good beauty fats and nutrients, and works just as well for your insides as it does slathered on your skin! We spoke with celebrity food coach and Mom Energy author Kathy Kaehler, and discovered that not all fat is bad for you. In fact, you need healthy fats in your diet—they can lower your cholesterol, maintain cell growth, and keep your skin moisturized!

"Avocado is a super food, and one of the best things to include in your everyday diet," says Kathy. "It's full of potassium, which combines with the sodium in your body to help fight against cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and cholesterol problems." This delicious fruit also has a high amount of folic acid, which is especially important for pregnant women because it helps prevent birth defects.

But avocado’s real beauty secret is its bounty of monounsaturated fats. These fats are essential for a healthy body and help to add moisture to your skin. They work to keep you full for longer, help to break down bad fats, and develop and maintain cell growth—which is extremely important for healthy skin, hair, and nails. "Avocados contain around 200 calories, so it's fine to eat one a day," according to Kathy. Try it alone with some chopped tomato, in guacamole, or on toast for a yummy breakfast.

Avocado’s monounsaturated fats also work miracles when you apply the buttery fruit directly to your skin. Fresh avocado and avocado oil both provide plenty of moisture and contain vitamins A, D, and E—which provide your body with plenty of antioxidants to fight free radicals, maintain cell growth, and prevent the signs of aging and sun damage.

So what’s stopping you, Beauties? Jump on the avocado bandwagon and let us know your favorite snack or DIY mask recipes in the comments below.