Avocados: Everything You Need to Know

Let’s talk about avocados: everything you need to know.  Avocados are one of those fruits that you tend to love or walk on past while you’re at the grocery store. If you consider yourself to be the latter type of shopper, I’d strongly suggest you stop and rethink what you and your family could be missing out on.

For starters, avocados are considered to be a superfood that’s abundant with a number of nutrients, while providing you with several important health benefits. Let’s talk about avocados: everything you need to know. 

Avocados: Everything You Need to Know 

Is it a taste or texture issue that you have with them? Maybe you just haven’t found the many ways you can enjoy avocados, and I’m here to help. Here’s more on avocados and everything you need to know about them.  

Fun Facts About Avocados 

Although avocados are not sweet, they are in fact a fruit nonetheless. Some people have even found that they can substitute avocados in place of butter for baking. 

With a year-round growing climate, Mexico is where most of our avocados come from that you find at the grocery store, though they are also grown in Florida and California. 

Bananas are one of the best sources of potassium, but avocados have them beat by a longshot. A banana typically has around 544 milligrams of potassium, while avocados can have as much as 975 milligrams.

Avocados are not only a delicious fruit, but they provide you with a healthier immune system. This is especially due to the glutathione they contain, where only eating half a fruit has as much as 19 milligrams in it. 

Varieties of Avocadoes

It may surprise you, but there are over 500 different varieties of avocados that are grown around the globe, but I’ll share with you just a few of the most popular ones that you’re far likelier to find at your local grocery store. 

Hass (Avocado Pear)  

The Hass avocado is the most popular variety and has a green bumpy skin. They also tend to be smaller than other varieties, yet creamy and intense with flavor. 

Fuerte

The fuerte avocado is larger than the hass, and is considered more of a medium-sized fruit. The shape of it resembles a pear, yet there’s also a noticeable slant towards their bottom end. The fuerte has a distinct nuttier flavor than most other avocados, making it one of the favorites among avocado-lovers.   

Bacon

Bacon avocados are also bigger than the hass, with a green oval shape to it. Some people say that they have a lighter flavor than other varieties, but that doesn’t stop them from tasting great in guacamole, smoothies, and salads. 

Gwen 

The Gwen avocado has a gold-greenish flesh and dark green skin. It has a buttery texture and a delicious nutty flavor. 

Pinkerton 

The Pinkerton avocado has a high oil content along with wonderful flavor. Their trees produce a higher yield and they’re easy to peel too! 

Nutrition Facts of Avocados

Avocados are very nutritious and good for your overall health. You’ll find large traces of potassium, along with vitamin C and K, but there’s also a decent amount of dietary fiber, folate, magnesium, vitamins B2, B3, B5, B6, E, K, copper, and beta-sitosterol. 

Most fruits contain higher amounts of carbohydrates, while avocados, on the other hand, have a higher fat content. One of those fats is called monounsaturated fat, (healthy fat) which is said to help lower the risk of heart disease. There’s also the added bonus of them containing zero cholesterol.  

Health Benefits of Avocados 

With so many vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats, it’s no wonder avocados have a long list of health benefits that they provide you. Here’s a look at what they can improve in your life.

Help with Weight Loss 

Eating avocados gives you a sense of being full sooner, which keeps you from eating so many calories. They contain very few carbs while having dietary fibers that help promote weight loss. 

Improve Symptoms of Arthritis

People that struggle with chronic problems like arthritis and osteoporosis have found avocados to be an effective treatment of their symptoms due to the vitamin E they contain.  

May Help Prevent Cancer

There still needs to be more research done on the subject, but avocado extract has shown signs of slowing the growth of prostate cancer cells. Avocados very well may be a good cancer treatment and preventive food.

Improves Your Antioxidant Absorption

Not only do avocados have important nutrients in them, but they also help to improve your antioxidant absorption from other plant foods and veggies that you eat. Without this important element, many of those nutrients will go to waste.    

Lowers Your Cholesterol Level 

Heart disease is the number one most common cause of death in our world today. Avocados have proven to lower cholesterol, triglycerides, inflammatory markers, and blood pressure, in turn, lowering your risk of heart disease immensely. This includes strokes, heart attacks, and even kidney failure. 

Improves Digestion

Avocados come with an abundance of potassium and dietary fibers. All of which promote digestion and feed the good bacteria in your stomach’s lining. They do produce bloating and gas in some people, while others don’t experience any digestion discomfort.  

Monounsaturated Fatty Acids 

I’ve already briefly mentioned monounsaturated fatty acids, which is a major component in olive oil. Avocado oil provides a number of health benefits, such as reducing inflammation, reducing heart-health risks, and may lower cancer risks, including prostate, breast, colon, stomach, pancreatic, and cervical cancer.   

You Tend to Be Healthier

There’s evidence that suggests that consumers who eat avocados tend to be healthier people. They usually have less belly fat, a lower BMI, and weigh less. There’s also a noticeably higher level of HDL cholesterol (healthy cholesterol) with certain people.  

Storing Your Avocados

If you already have ripened avocados, go ahead and place them in your refrigerator where they will last between 2 and 3 days. Avocados that aren’t fully ripened can be left sitting out on your countertop where they will ripen within the next 4 to 5 days, or keep them in your refrigerator where they will last for up to 2 weeks.  

Last Minute Tip

If you have an avocado that’s not nearly ripe enough but you’re needing to use it in a recipe pronto, there is a trick to doing so. Simply place your avocados in a  brown paper bag along with a banana or two. The bananas will release ethylene gas, which is a plant hormone that helps ripen fruit quicker. 

Final Word

Not only are avocados a fun and delicious snack, but they’re also extremely good for you. They’ll assist you on your journey of losing weight and may even help to prevent certain types of cancer.

If you’re needing other ways to enjoy avocados, make sure you check out these 54 avocado recipes that will have your mouth watering long before you take your first bite. Enjoy!   What do you think about Avocados: Everything you need to know? May God bless this world, Linda

Copyright Images: Avocado cut in half Deposit photos_33340195_s-2019, Avocado Sliced Deposit photos_13859565_s-2019