Avocados are an extremely healthy and nutritious food. Grown in tropical climates all over the world, the avocado is a fruit that contains a soft edible pulp, along with a large seed or pip in the center.

Unlike most fruits, avocados contain moderately large quantities of fats and oils, including “healthy” fats such as Omega 6 fatty acids. While the calories in an avocado are quite high, they are also a fantastic source of many vitamins and minerals.

Calories in Avocado

So let’s find out how many calories in avocado: Below we have created a list of the calories in an avocado that is fresh and uncooked. We have listed the listed the calories in a whole avocado, along with the calories in 100g or 3.5oz of avocado. These figures only include the edible portion of the avocado of course, we have not listed the figures for the avocado skin or the avocado pit.

How Many Calories in an Avocado?

As we can see from the table above, the calories in one avocado are whopping 332 calories. For those of us on low calories diets, this high number of calories might make it seem like avocados should be avoided, but that is not necessarily the case. Many people would only eat half an avocado at a single serving, and the calories in half an avocado are only about 160, which is much less daunting. The high fat content of avocados is the main reason that there are so many calories in an avocado. Unlike the saturated fats that are more common in heavily processed foods, the fats in an avocado are generally considered “healthy” fats, and can actually help to lower cholesterol levels.

Glycemic Index of Avocado: LOW GI

Avocados have an exceptionally low glycemic index of just 15. This means that avocados well and truly fall in to the “Low GI Foods” category. From a nutritional standpoint, what this means is that the energy from an avocado (in the form of calories) is absorbed by your body and delivered to your bloodstream slowly, which effectively gives you “longer lasting” energy. Because the energy from low GI food is provided gradually, it can also help you feel full for longer than you would if you had consumed High GI foods of a comparative calorie level, such as if you had a sugar-filled soda for example.

Calories, Avocado, and Health

So we have talked about the calories avocados contain, and we have talked about the glycemic index; now we can move on to the other nutritional benefits of an avocado. Like most fruits, avocados are packed full of vitamins and minerals. Avocados have a huge amount of potassium, as well as other nutrients such as calcium and magnesium, make them extremely healthy energy source. If you are “watching your weight” then you still need to know how many calories are in an avocado, and compare that with how many calories you burn on a day-to-day basis. You can use this handy calorie calculator to work out how many calories you should be consuming each day.

Vitamins in an Avocado

Here is a list of some of the most important vitamins you will find in an avocado. These figures are one whole, medium avocado, eaten raw.

Minerals in an Avocado

Avocados are also high in minerals. Here is the table that shows how many minerals you can find in 1 medium avocado, consumed fresh.

Avocados are a delicious source of many vitamins, minerals, and nutrients such as Omega-6. There are plenty of calories in an avocado however, so if you are on any sort of calorie restricted diet, be sure to factor that in to your eating plan.

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