This nutrient-packed green superfruit has such an amazing bounty of health benefits that it’s been called “the world’s most perfect food.” Here’s a look at why avocados—not just apples—might just be your best bet for keeping the doctor away.

Stay Leaner and Lighter

  Although avocados are high in fat (the healthy kind), people who eat them regularly are actually thinner than those who don’t, according to a new study published in Nutrition Journal. What’s more, the same study found that avocado eaters also had lower risk for metabolic syndrome. Fifty million Americans, many of whom are undiagnosed, suffer from this dangerous cluster of abnormalities that quintuple risk for type 2 diabetes and triple it for heart attack. To be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, you must have at least three of these disorders: a large waistline (also called an “apple shape.”), high blood pressure, high blood sugar, low HDL (good) cholesterol, and high triglycerides.

More Youthful Skin and Fewer Wrinkles

  Foods that are high in carotenoids, such as avocados, may slow down skin aging, protect against damage from UV rays, and even protect against sunburn, according to a new paper published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. Most remarkably, several preclinical studies suggest that compounds in avocado may also enhance wound healing.

Anti-Inflammatory Benefits

  In a small study published in Food & Function, healthy men who ate a hamburger with a slice of avocado had reduced inflammation and blood vessel reactivity two hours later, compared to men who only ate a hamburger. Chronic inflammation has been linked to an increasingly long list of diseases, from Alzheimer’s to heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, sleep apnea, and cancer. Some scientists even theorize that this fiery process may underlie all chronic diseases.

Protection Against Cancer

  Also known as alligator pears, avocados have a high concentration of phytochemicals that may have cancer-combatting powers. UCLA scientists have also found that an avocado extract inhibited growth of prostate cancer cells.