It's no surprise that fruit is good for you and your heart, but different fruit can offer different benefits. Apples help manage blood sugar levels, blueberries are anti-inflammatory, and oranges are high in vitamin C.

But there's one fruit in particular that might be surpass all others when it comes to keeping your heart healthy.

You might have it in your fridge right now, and if not, you should.

Best Fruit For Heart Health

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away" is a famous saying you've probably heard ever since you were a child. And while apples are a great fruit to eat regularly, it's not on the very top of the list.

So what is the best fruit for heart health? It's avocados.

You might be thinking wait - I thought an avocado was a vegetable! And you wouldn't be alone.

It’s easy to see why people often mistake avocados for vegetables. They’re green, creamy, and usually found in salads, on toast, or next to savory dishes. But despite their vegetable-like vibe, avocados are technically a fruit.

More specifically, they’re classified as a single-seeded berry. What makes a fruit a fruit isn’t color or sweetness - it’s about structure. Fruits develop from the flower of a plant and contain seeds. Avocados check both boxes: they grow from the avocado tree’s flower and contain that unmistakable pit in the center.

Benefits of Avocados

Besides being extremely versatile and tasty, avocados come with plenty of health benefits, especially for your heart.

Avocados Contain Heart-Healthy Nutrients

These fruit contain loads of heart-healthy nutrients.

Avocados are loaded with potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure by balancing out the negative effects of sodium. In fact, avocados have even more potassium than bananas!

On top of that, they’re rich in fiber, which supports healthy cholesterol levels and keeps your arteries happy. Add in antioxidants like lutein and vitamins like folate and vitamin E, and you’ve got one seriously heart-smart fruit.

Avocados Are Loaded With Healthy Fats

One of the biggest reasons avocados get so much love from heart health experts? Their loaded with healthy fats. Specifically, they’re rich in monounsaturated fats, which is a type of fat that can help reduce bad LDL cholesterol while boosting good HDL cholesterol.

Keeping your cholesterol levels in check is key to preventing plaque buildup in your arteries, which can lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. Unlike saturated fats found in fried or processed foods, the fats in avocados actually support your cardiovascular system rather than harm it.

Avocados Are Packed With Fiber

You might not think of fiber when you eat an avocado, but it’s actually a sneaky source of it. One medium avocado packs around 10 grams of fiber, which is a big chunk of the 22-34 grams you need in a day, according to the USDA.

But why does fiber matter for your heart? For starters, it helps lower cholesterol levels by binding to excess LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) and moving it out of your body. Fiber also supports healthy blood sugar levels and can help keep your weight in check - two major factors in maintaining long-term heart health.

Your Heart Loves Avocados

When it comes to heart health, avocados check all the boxes. They’re creamy, delicious, and loaded with nutrients that do your body good - from fiber to healthy fats to essential vitamins. And even though they often get mistaken for vegetables, these fruits deserve their spot in the heart-health spotlight.

So whether you're spreading it on toast, blending it into a smoothie, or adding it to a salad, avocados are a simple (and tasty) way to show your heart a little love one bite at a time.