Cinco De Mayo (the 5th of May) is almost here, and it just seems right to talk about the famous Mexican fruit the avocado! Avocados are creamy and smooth in texture, making them easy to use for a variety of foods. They also usually have a mild flavor that can be punched up and turned into something more savory, salty, or even sweet!
Avocados are originally from Puebla, Mexico and the oldest evidence of the avocado dates back to 10,000BC. It’s thought that they weren’t cultivated until about 750BC. They have also been grown and used in Central and South America as well as the Caribbean. Now days they are usually grown in tropical climates and in some temperate ones like California. There are nearly 400 types of avocados!
The amazing part of the avocado is what it can do for you based on health. Avocados have gotten a bad reputation for being fatty, which is true, but it’s good fat not bad fat. Avocados are high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that are great for reducing bad cholesterol and raising good cholesterol. This, of course, promotes good heart health through preventing strokes and heart disease. Research has shown that avocados can help destroy pre-cancerous oral cancer cells without harming healthy cells and help prevent prostate and breast cancers as well!
The fat in avocados is a lot (30g per avocado), but it seems that it can still help with weight loss. This is because of the amount of vitamins and nutrient absorption that the body receives from a small amount of food. The fat helps the body feel full longer, reducing spikes in blood sugar and curbing cravings for more food. Just don’t eat an avocado every day, eat a couple of small slices every day or more every other day.
When trying to come up with ideas for avocados, there are a vast variety of different and unique ways to add them to your diet. They can be sliced and placed raw on salads or eaten by themselves. Guacamole is a famous Mexican dip that is made primarily with avocado. In Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam and India use avocados in a sweet dessert drink. Sushi also sometimes incorporates avocado, such as California rolls.
Choosing an avocado isn’t too difficult, look for avocados that give slightly when squeezed if using them within a day or so, or harder if waiting to use them. Try not to use avocados that are soft or have dark blemishes on the skin. If you are wanting to ripen your avocados, place them in a brown paper bag and leave them at room temperature for a few days, but make sure to check them so they don’t become overly ripe.
Avocados are a great way to get good fat and nutrients into your diet. They give a creamy texture and mild flavor to any type of food, be it sweet, salty or savory. The avocado is one of nature’s most perfect foods and so versatile that it seems like something everyone should give more attention to!
“...the avocado is a food without rival among the fruits, the veritable fruit of paradise” – David Fairchild
3. May 2010 at 12:58 pm
great minds think alike, just bought three and doing a post on them as well….love the great healthy info on here great post!
3. May 2010 at 1:17 pm
Thank you! Glad to hear you enjoyed this post!
3. May 2010 at 3:24 pm
Thanks for all the info about avocado. I love it. I like to make it into a drink with condensed milk…very delicious, or even with coffee.