Avocados are packed with vitamins and minerals, like vitamin E, magnesium, vitamin C, folate, and zinc. Ounce for ounce, they even provide more potassium than bananas!

Of all the drug-free ways to lower your cholesterol, avocados are probably the most delicious. Here are some of avocados' other benefits:

They reduce the risk of heart disease. Substituting saturated fat with unsaturated fat - avocado's calling card - can reduce heart disease risk better than merely lowering overall fat intake.

They keep your blood sugar steady. Avocado's (healthy) fat slows digestion, making it easier on your blood sugar, and its soluble fiber also helps stabilize blood sugar levels to help fight insulin resistance.

They help maintain hair health. Moisturizing your hair with avocado makes strands longer by loading them with protein.

They improve digestive health. The fiber in avocados helps shift the balance of bacteria in the gut, increasing healthy bacteria while decreasing the unhealthy bacteria that can be the root of some digestive disorders. It also nourishes the gut's lining, which decreases the likeliness of constipation.

They improve cognitive function. Their fatty acids help maintain a healthy central nervous system, reproductive system, and cognitive processes, making avocados among the foods that can actually make you smarter.