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Avocado is one of the fruits that is in season in the Philippines from May to September. So, now is a perfect time to indulge in the sweet, creamy, and buttery fruit.

And if you're one of those who avoid avocado because it is believed to be high in fat and maybe bad for your cholesterol level, you might want to read on as Pinoy MD lists the many health benefits of avocado.

Pinoy MD sheds light on whether the avocado is truly healthy or not / Source: Pinoy MD

High in good fat

Dietitian Audee Sunga dispels the wrong notion that avocado is high in bad fat or saturated fat. The truth is that avocado is actually rich in good fat or unsaturated fat, which aids in lowering bad cholesterol.

High in potassium

Did you know that avocados contain more potassium than bananas? Potassium helps normalize blood pressure. So, avocados can be beneficial for those with high blood pressure.

Rich in fiber

The avocado is also rich in fiber. So, it makes one feel full faster. Perfect for those who are on a diet.

More than 20 vitamins and minerals

According to dietitian Audee Sunga, avocado contains more than 20 vitamins and minerals, which help normalize blood pressure and blood sugar levels. So, it's also good for diabetics.

Word of caution

Although we just enumerated the avocado's many health benefits, one must keep in mind that if not prepared or consumed right, avocado can in fact become unhealthy for us.

Just like everything else, too much of something can be bad, including always consuming avocado as a dessert, especially if you add condensed milk and sugar to it.

Much like with any other fruit, we won't be able to make the most of its health benefits if we add unhealthy ingredients to the avocado all the time.

“Nasa preparation pa rin ang lahat,” says dietitian Audee Sunga. “So, kung dagdag pa rin tayo nang dagdag ng maraming asukal o condensed milk, na-a-outweigh lang din 'yung pagiging healthy ng avocado.”

She also adds, “Madami namang alternative recipes na masarap pa rin at matamis, pero hindi ito masyadong unhealthy na.”

Speaking of avocado, have you heard about the seedless avocado called bravo avocado? Yes, it does exist! Know more about it in the Pinoy MD video below.

For more features like this, watch Pinoy MD every Saturday, 6 a.m. on GMA-7.

And for more lifestyle content, head out to GMA's Lifestyle page.

You might also want to check out these easy avocado recipes.