Let’s talk about Avocados.Hopefully, you find avocados to be a tasty treat. I eat them right out of the shell with a dash of sea salt, but you can make dishes with them and combine them in your meals. Or even make a smoothie with them. Look for a little bit of a soft touch to them in the market. You can put them in the frig to slow the ripening or on the counter if you want to speed up the ripening. I cut mine opposite of the picture and put the half with the seed back in the frig in a baggie or container.
Avocados are loaded with antioxidants and fiber, which both fight a number of health issues. Avocados also contain “good fats”. Your body uses fat just like it does proteins and carbs. As long as you eat the right foods together you are benefitting your overall health.
Avocados contain a number of nutrients. Vitamin C, E, K, and B-6. Also, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, folate, magnesium, niacin, and potassium, Avocados also provide lutein, beta-carotene, and omega-3 fatty acids. This a great reason to eat them. The other is they taste great. NOTE: the good fats in avocados help your body to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins, D, A, K, and E. These beneficial fats help to keep your healthy.
Avocados also contain dietary fiber, which helps reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. And since they contain beneficial fats they won’t make you gain weight. One half an avocado every other day or so is fine.
Avocados are an excellent source of monounsaturated fatty acids, which boost HDL (good cholesterol) and lower LDL (bad cholesterol). NOTE: Your body makes cholesterol. As long as it is the high density or HDL’s you are fine. Research also found that people who eat avocados tend to have less belly fat than those who don’t.
Here’s an easy smoothie recipe:
1. one half ripe avocado, pitted
2. one half banana
3. one cup of coconut or almond milk
4. one-half cup vanilla Greek yogurt
5. one-half cup of fresh spinach
Another benefit of avocados is anti-inflammatory properties. The phytochemicals, carotenoids, phytosterols, flavonoids, and omega-3 fatty acids make avocados one of the best foods for fighting inflammation. Joint and muscle pain are a big concern in our country. Almost always these are linked to inflammation in the gut. Drugs and surgery are not a good choice when you can reduce the effects of inflammation with whole food alternatives and whole-food supplements. How many people do you see or know that have had knee or hip replacements? Drugs and surgery are not the answer to these issues either in most cases. And surgery and drugs are not the answer to ileocecal valve syndrome or other digestive issues. Our supplements are a much better choice.
So I hope you will add the amazing avocado to your meals if you aren’t already eating them. You can eat them in so many different ways. Let me know if you find an interesting and tasty way.
Yours in health,
Keep calm and eat more avocados.
