Easy ways to fit heart-healthy avocados into your meals
Learn about avocado health benefits and easy ways to enjoy them at any time of day.
- Reviewed by Teresa Fung, ScD, RD, Contributor; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing

With its bright green flesh, an avocado looks like a vegetable — but botanically, an avocado is a fruit. From a nutrition standpoint, it fits more into the healthy fat category: half of a medium avocado has as much fat as a tablespoon of olive oil. Indeed, avocados can defy categorizing. And they’re popular: the average American eats about nine pounds of avocados per year, much of it around football season and holidays.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online Plus (HHO+) to unlock expert-backed health insights, personalized tools, and exclusive resources to feel your best every day.
Here’s what you get with your HHO+ membership:
- Unlimited access to all Harvard Health Online content
- 4 expertly curated newsletters delivered monthly
- Customized website experience aligned to your health goals
- In-depth health guides on topics like sleep, exercise, and more
- Interactive features like videos and quizzes
- Members-only access to exclusive articles and resources
I’d like to subscribe to HHO+ for $4.99/month to access expert-backed content to help make smart, informed decisions about my well-being.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
About the Reviewer
Teresa Fung, ScD, RD, Contributor; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.