Healthy Avocados & You

WRITTEN BY LISA BORG-ANDERSON

Avocados is one of the most popular foods out there right now. Boasting over 20 vitamins and minerals as well as the versatility of no other it is a powerhouse ingredient. Whether you add it to your toast in the morning, pesto sauce for noodles, or add it to your smoothies-or like me, all the above. I am a Californian at heart and could eat these amazing fruits every day and not grow tired of them.

So what's so yummy about them?

An average avocado serving of 3.5 ounces contains about 2 grams of protein and 15 grams of healthy fats as well as vitamin K, folate, vitamin C and E and B 5 & B 6. They have heart-healthy properties bosting a high-fat percentage of calories of monounsaturated oleic acid with anti-inflammatory properties and contain more potassium than a banana.

They contain high levels of copper and are important for blood formation. Avocado oil is fantastic to use for high heat cooking and stable.

Many combinations of avocado/olive oil are now available for use.

What does traditional Chinese medicine think of Avocados?

In Chinese medicine, avocados are cool in nature and are especially important to nourish yin, building blood, moisten the intestines, and creating healthy cervical mucus while also supporting breast milk in nursing mothers.

Let’s not forget the beauty benefits to both hair and skin as avocados support the appearance of our outer beauty as well as inner. They also contain lecithin, a brain food and more than 80% of the avocado's calories are easy to digest fat. So, for those of you who are sensitive to fatty foods-give the avocado a try as it is easily tolerated by most digestive systems.

And it’s super yummy too.

Here is a great recipe to try:

California Guacamole

• 4 ripe avocados
• ½ small diced red onion
• 2-4 cloves of garlic crushed
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Lemon/lime juice
• 1 diced tomato
• ½ cup cilantro chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ½ tsp to desired cayenne pepper
• 1 bag blue corn tortilla chips

Mash avocados and add extra virgin olive oil maybe 3 tsps until combined.

Season with salt, pepper and add garlic to taste, combine the rest of the ingredients and sample. 

You can increase the citrus juice, spice, and heat then, dig in and enjoy!

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