Fat Aids Absorption of Nutrients

A study at the University of Ohio has shown that eating small amounts of fat with vegetables increases the absorption of vitamins. The study used salsa with and without avocado to test the absorption of carotenoids.

Carotenoids such as beta-carotene are a precursor to vitamin A, essential for good vision. Carotenoids can also act as antioxidants which fight free radicals and ward off cancer.

Most of the valuable nutrients in vegetables are fat-soluble or lipid-soluble vitamins. So in order to be absorbed into your cells they need to grab a ride on a fat molecule. So next time you're eating raw carrots, celery, cauliflower, broccoli, and peppers for a snack you might want to consider adding in a little healthly fat to help take full advantage of the vitamins you are consuming.

Any type of fat will make fat-soluble vitamins more absorbable, but it is best to consume healthy fats, like olives, olive oil, nuts, peanut butter, avocados and guacamole, instead of saturated fats.

Link to study

Note: When making changes to your diet such as adding fat like I have talked about above, you should use caution. Whenever you make changes to your diet or exercise routine you should do it slowly over a period of time such as a few days or a week to make sure that you do not experience any ill effects.