An Avocado is Almost a Complete* Food
Avocado is sometimes referred to as an alligator pear and is technically a fruit. Native to Central America, it grows in a tropical and subtropical climate. There is evidence that avocado trees flourished some 50 million years ago, in what we now call California and may have been food for dinosaurs.
Avocado contains about 20% monosaturated fat, which is better in helping to maintain the beneficial type of cholesterol, the HDL. They are considered cooling, nourishing to the blood, lubricating to the lungs and large intestines, and harmonizing to the liver. They soothe the bladder in cases of cystitis. They have been traditionally recommended as a remedy for erectile dysfunction, constipation, nervousness and insomnia. Avocado is recommended for convalescence, ulcers, and colitis.
Avocado is rich in vitamin E, B vitamins, beta-carotene, potassium (two to three times that of bananas), fluorine, copper and lecithin. It is considered beautifying to the skin and hair. Avocado can be used in facials and as a hair conditioner, simply mashed applied and left on the face or scalp for ten minutes before rinsing. Especially, good for dry conditions.
Those that have a difficult time digesting fats will usually find avocado to be easy to assimilate. An avocado has about 300 calories. Look for fruits that yield when pressed. Placing avocados in a paper bag in a warm area will speed ripening. Once ripe, refrigerate to avoid having them turn rancid. Refrigeration will slow down ripening. Avoid rancid or overripe fruits. They are excellent as a garnish, in fruit salad, vegetable salad, sandwich filler, and of course, guacamole. Stuff with chopped celery and a bit of olive oil and lemon juice. There are about five hundred varieties. Florida avocados have about half as much fat as the California varieties. An acre of avocado trees will yield more food than any other tree crop.
* Nutritionally complete means it can be used as a sole source of nutrition because it will provide all of the important carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals an child needs to grow and thrive.
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Nice article. How many grams of protein does an average avocado have? I love this fruit, thank you for writing!
I was raised eating avocado’s. My mother had a tree in her back yard they were great. Still eat them and the family too. I used to put a little salt and squeeze a lemon on them. Just eat them like that right out of their shell. Yum.
Very interesting. Thank you for that.