The avocado is a fruit with very high nutritional value. It contains nearly 20 minerals and vitamins. Among other nutrients, avocados are high in mono-unsaturated fatty acids. Avocados are a great source of vitamins C, E, K, and B6. They also provide riboflavin, folate, niacin, pantothenic acid, magnesium, and potassium. Avocados also contain lutein, beta-carotene, and omega-3 fatty acids.
History of the Avocado
In the early 1900s, there was a focus in America to brand avocados as a delicacy for rich people. It was branded “The Aristocrat of salad fruit”. The farmers of the California Avocado Association started mass production and the fruits became even more popular during the ’60s with the inter-American immigration when Latin Americans brought their love of avos to the USA.
There was a decline in the consumption of avocados during the ’80s. That decade was marked by a general obsession with low-fat foods. However, avocados have mono-unsaturated fat, which is good and heart-friendly.
Avocado orchards require expensive resources to maintain and flourish. They also require a lot of water. Farming avocados is rather labour-intensive and require costly methods of distribution to markets all over the world. Bear this in mind if avocados are sometimes quite expensive. It is worth your money.
Benefits of the Avocado
Avocado oil is extracted by pressing the fruit. It can be used in cooking, on its own or combined with other oils. It can also be used as a topical remedy on the skin.
Avocado oil boosts the absorption of nutrients and helps with digestion as it feeds your gut bacteria.
Avocados are great for eye health because they contain lutein which helps to filter out blue light which is associated with long term retina damage.
Avocados may help reduce halitosis (bad breath).
Avos contain biotin and vitamins such as E and C and antioxidants which are essential for radiant-looking skin that is well moisturized.
Folate and vitamin B6 support liver health. Folate deficiency is associated with an increased risk of liver cancer. Avocados are rich in these supplements.
Vitamin B6 helps relieve morning sickness in pregnant women. Folate is also attributed to prevent neural tube defects in new-born babies.
Antioxidants are necessary to fight cancer-causing agents called free radicals. Avocados in your diet provide these antioxidants.
Beta-carotene can prevent certain cancers, heart disease, cataracts, and asthma symptoms. Avos contain beta-carotene.
Potassium is abundant in avos. It helps neutralizing bone-depleting metabolic acids that may lead to osteoporosis. Sufficient potassium levels are also necessary for heart functioning.
Avocado has a texture that is pleasant to most palates. The texture also makes it suitable for a face mask to moisturize and improve skin condition.
Take Away
Avocados are extremely versatile in the human diet. They can be enjoyed as a fruit or in salads. Avos can be enjoyed on bread or toast for breakfast or teatime. They can be mashed and blended with a variety of spices and sauces into a guacamole to be enjoyed with Mexican cuisine such as nachos, tacos, salsa, and tortillas. The use of these fruits are endless – and endlessly beneficial.
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