I hope you’re having a great week, whether you’re working or happen to be one of the lucky ones on days off or perhaps even on holidays!
It was back to Uni for me this week so I’m super-excited but a little nervous at the same time. It’s been quite a few years since I’ve studied full-time so no doubt it will come with a few challenges however my passion for nutrition specific to shift work health, is my motivating force so I’m sure I’ll find a way to get through it and come out alive!
So this week I’m going to talk about one of my favourite shift work foods and that’s the Avocado.
Whilst I don’t believe there is a one-size-fits-all diet for shift workers (because we are all very different), I certainly believe that some foods are much better for those of us subjected to constant sleep-deprivation than others.
Human beings are unique creatures. Each and every one of us has different nutritional requirements which is why no two diets should ever be the same.
However I do believe the majority of shift workers would benefit from consuming avocados on a regular basis.
And yes, I am referring to that weird oval shaped thing which is actually full of saturated fat, but it’s the fat found in avocados which provide us with so many health benefits.
Its unfortunate (thanks to a lot of clever marketing over the years), that we’ve been led to believe that a low-fat, high carbohydrate diet is actually the way to go. We’ve been brain-washed to believe this kind of diet will help to keep us healthy and slim.
But is “low fat” really a healthy option?
No – because our bodies need fat. Good fats that is. I’m not talking about the highly refined trans and polyunsaturated fats but the good fats and oils which include omega 3 fatty acids.
Here’s 3 great reasons to include avocados in your diet:
1. They help support cognitive function as our brain receptors need fat! Continual sleep deprivation contributes to cognitive decline and memory loss so having an avocado every day is going to help slow down this degenerative process.
2. They help to reduce inflammation in the body, as they contain phytosterols and polyhydroxylated fatty alcohols (PFAs).
3. They support our digestive tract as they contain a high amount of oleic acid, a fatty acid which assists in the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients like carotenoids. Considering shift workers are notorious for suffering from gut and digestive complaints, including avocados in our diet is definitely a step in the right direction towards reducing some of the effects of this sometimes embarrassing and painful complaint.
So please don’t be scared of eating fat!
Our bodies need fat so get stuck into the good stuff like avocados as well as olive oil, organic butter, free range eggs, walnuts and Brazil nuts. These natural whole foods are going to support your body and help you to function as best as it possibly can – despite working some pretty ruthless hours 24/7.
P.S: Avocados are also great at stabilizing blood sugar levels which help to keep those sugar cravings at bay so no more visits to the vending machines!
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