My Favorite FAT to eat is Avocado
Avocados use to be so foreign to me. Although it looks like a pear, it has leather-like skin making it less desirable to eat. While avocados are technically fruits, they are categorized as vegetables since this is how they are usually considered from a culinary perspective. Avocado has sometimes received a “bad rap” as a vegetable too high in fat. It is true that avocado is a high-fat food (about 85% of its calories come from fat). Over half of the total fat in avocado is in the form of oleic acid. Oleic acid helps our digestive tract form transport molecules for fat that can increase our absorption of fat-soluble nutrients. They have also been shown to help lower our risk of cancer, protect the skin from visible signs of aging, reduces the risk of diabetes, arthritis and coronary heart disease.
Avocados provide all 18 essential amino acids necessary for the body to form a complete protein. An average avocado contains around 4 grams of protein, which is much more than most other fruits. Avocado protein is readily absorbed by the body because avocados also contain fiber. A medium avocado contains 11 grams of fiber, which is close to half of the daily recommended minimum intake. There are dozens of varieties of avocados. The rich and creamy Hass variety is the most popular type which is grown in the United States. 95% of all avocados grown in the United States are produced in California. An avocado’s sugar content is low compared to other fruits.
A ripe, ready-to-eat avocado is slightly soft but should have no dark sunken spots or cracks. A firm avocado will ripen at room temperature within a few days. As the fruit ripens, the skin will turn darker. Avocados should not be refrigerated until they are ripe. Once ripe, they can be kept refrigerated for up to a week. If you are refrigerating a whole avocado, it is best to keep it whole and not slice it in order to avoid browning that occurs when the flesh is exposed to air. If you have used a portion of a ripe avocado, it is best to store the remainder in the refrigerator in a plastic bag. Sprinkling the exposed surface(s) with lemon juice will help to prevent the browning that can occur when the flesh comes in contact with oxygen in the air.
Wait!!!!!!!!! Don’t throw away the avocado pit. From the pit to the avocado itself, the benefits are truly amazing. Blend it in your smoothie. It has a long history of medicinal use. The compounds in the avocado seed have anti-tumor properties. It boosts your immune system keeping you from coming down with debilitating diseases. It is quite bitter tasting. This is because of the tannins in the pit. Mixing them in smoothies is one of the most popular ways to eat avocado pits. Avocados are considered as one of the healthiest foods on the planet and truly have become my best friend!
