Until very recently, people thought that avocados were bad for the health because they contained too much fat. These days, however, nutritionists are recommending avocados as part of a healthy diet. Certainly, an avocado has a high fat content; and according to the USDA, a medium-sized avocado has 240 calories and 22 grams of fat. Interestingly, though, most of the fruit’s fat content is of the monounsaturated kind, a type of fat that is beneficial to the heart. Moreover, it contains nutrients that can help prevent several diseases.
If you have not started making avocados a staple in the meals you prepare for you and your family, perhaps these fascinating facts about the fruit will encourage you to.
Avocados are not just for guacamole
Avocados are not only for that creamy, spicy guacamole that you eat with chips and nachos. With more and more people realizing the its nutritional benefits, new ways of using the fruit have been created. Aside from the popular guacamole, you can now find recipes that make use of avocados as a sandwich spread or an ingredient in salads and smoothies. Some cooks have even been inventive enough to make avocado-based pasta sauces; or bake a healthier version of chocolate brownies by substituting the butter or oil ingredient in a recipe with avocados.
The Guiness Book of World Records lists avocado as the “world’s healthiest fruit”
There are many reasons why the avocado is recognized as the healthiest fruit in the world. All the essential amino acids needed by the body are found in avocado. Its complete protein profile is very rare for a type of food that is not animal-based. This is why avocados are very important to vegetarians who want to ensure adequate protein their diets. The nutrients found in an avocado include Vitamins E, Vitamin K, niacin, biotin, thiamine, riboflavin, beta- carotene, potassium, iron and folic acid. Additionally, avocados are essential components in many beauty treatments and products. They are usually combined with other natural ingredients to help soften and hydrate the hair and skin.
Another name for avocado is alligator pear
Because of its pear shape and thick green skin, avocados are also called alligator pears. It is native to Central and South America; and the term, “avocado,” comes from the Aztec name for the avocado tree, “ahuacatl.” To the Aztecs, the avocado tree was a symbol of love and fertility and its fruit was considered an aphrodisiac.
Avocados are ideal for babies
Avocados are excellent as your baby’s first food. It is high in healthy fat, does not contain sodium and is gluten-free. Its soft, creamy texture makes it easy to eat and its nutritional content makes it a healthier alternative to the store-bought variety.
