Avocado Fruit - A Super Food
Avocado is a fruit that originated in Mexico and is popularly known around the world because of its nutritious benefits. They are initially sourced or developed from a plant that looks like a large berry with a single big avocado seed growing in warm tropical climates. It is generally spherically shaped and sometimes even can resemble an egg-shaped or pear-shaped. If you are someone who loves fruits, then avocado would probably be available in your house, or you could have tasted it for sure. For people who are new to this fruit, it has a thick, colored, buttery flesh inside the fruit once they are ready to be consumed. They are different varieties and are visible in green, brown, purplish, or black skin when ripened.
Avocados are the hottest new food on the block, with outposts dedicated to serving them popping up in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and other culinary hotspots; The fruit dominates Instagram feeds all over the world. Want to know about the newfound or latest obsession over these fruits? Well, at the root of this popularity are the multitude of health benefits associated with eating them. They’re also versatile, fitting in well in a ton of fun, interesting recipes. Oh yeah, did we mention they’re delicious?
The ripe avocado is what some like to call a “superfood,” because there are tons of nutritional benefits that come with eating them. For one, they’re loaded with healthy fats or monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. These fats are important for lowering cholesterol, improving blood flow, and preventing artery blockages that can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. These fats are prominent in olive oil, which explains its heart benefits as well. They’re also chock full of fiber, an important part of healthy digestion, a ton of other vitamins, and antioxidants, including some that can actually help protect your vision! All of these health benefits of avocados make them a great addition to your diet.
Nutritious Benefit Information:
The fruits contain many positive impacts on the body when it is consumed. The fruit is rich in water content, carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins like C, D, E, and K. Since they have high water content, it is a perfect fruit to be consumed during the summers. Here are some of the avocado benefits of the fruit:
- Since the fruit is rich in fat, it helps in keeping blood sugar levels stable. It is a myth that fats should not be consumed. When healthy fats are taken, they help in keeping the skin healthy, and also help in absorbing the vitamins and minerals better.
- There is a natural plant sterol available in the fruit called beta-sitosterol; which is found in fruits and vegetables. With continuous intake, this sitosterol helps in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, which is important for heart health.
- The fruits help in maintaining eye vision to a better extent and discard many eye-related problems. Also, they help in enhancing bone strength.
- Since the fruit is rich in natural fibers, it helps in preventing constipation issues and improve for better digestion.
- Regular intake helps in better bowel movements and keeps the internal and external skin healthier.
- The fruit can be consumed by people who want to lose weight too!
Simple Yet Healthy Avocado Recipes:
Now that we’re done talking about the health benefits of avocados, we can move on to the fun stuff - all the scrumptious ways you can use them to add to your diet and spice them up!
First, we have to get the avocado ready to eat. Start by taking a knife and cutting it lengthwise, and then split it into two.
Now, you’ll notice the big pit in the middle, there are a few ways to take it out. You can either use a spoon to scoop it out or, if you’re feeling brave, use a knife to gently tap the pit until it sticks onto the blade. If you do this though, make sure you use a kitchen towel to hold the avocado while you use the knife. One thing you may notice if you store half an avocado fruit in your fridge it may turn brown. Don’t worry, it’s still just as tasty and good to eat when it’s brown! But if you want to prevent this, the trick is to leave the pit in, which naturally prevents it from browning. Now that we’ve prepared the avocado, it’s time to make it into some delicious avocado recipes!
Avocado fits great in a variety of recipes, from simple, two-minute dishes to more elaborate meals!
- If you need something quick, delicious, and easy try spreading it on your toast for a heart-healthy alternative to butter or cream cheese. Throw in some fresh leafy greens or organic tofu on top and you’ve made yourself a fast, tasty breakfast!
- Also, you can spice it up with some pepper or hot sauce if you’re feeling adventurous. For example, If you are planning for a party and don’t know what to serve as a snack? Whip up some scrumptious guacamole! Here’s how:
Smush up a few avocados, throw in some diced tomatoes, peppers, lime, salt, and onions and you’ve got yourself a delicious Mexican-inspired dip, all you need now is chips! Or, simply slice one up and throw it on a sandwich to add a nutritional, tasty kick to your lunch!
- You can also add avocados to your toast, tofu scrambles, etc. If you are a lover of a simple avocado dip. Take one-half of the pulp, add a pinch of salt and pepper, and then enjoy the healthier version of the dip! Adding avocado to salad and shakes make them even healthier and tastier. You can also use them in sandwiches, raitas, etc. If you are a lazy person and try something you can gently scoop out, sprinkle some salt on mashed avocado, and enjoy!