I love avocados! I probably eat them every other day. Here in California, June is considered Avocado month since they are at peak availability. This little super fruit is also known as the alligator pear, due to its leathery outer skin and its pear shape. Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fats, packed with vitamins, they raise good cholesterol levels while lowering the bad, help with inflammation and last but not least – they taste fabulous!
There are many reasons to eat avocados. The list can go on and on, really!
I wanted to share with you a few health benefits of Avocados and some of my favorite ways to eat them.
- – Avocados have more potassium than bananas. Many of us are not getting enough of potassium (a macro mineral) that helps maintain proper nerve conduction in the body. Our bodies don’t produce minerals, which is why it’s important to get them from our food.
- – When you think of good foods for the eyes, most of us think of carrots, right? Well, avocados contain lutein – a carotenoid that helps protect against eye disease, preserves healthy skin and hair!
- – Avocados are loaded with healthy fats. They contain oleic acid, a fat that activates the part of your brain that makes you feel full, contain a good source of pantothenic acid, monounsaturated fats, and alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid). All these fats are key for our health. Healthy fats keep you feeling satiated, help with your mood as they impact our hormones. Our bodies can’t make hormones without fats.
Believe it or not, Avocados can actually help you lose weight. Contrary to popular belief, fat doesn’t make you fat. Sugar and processed foods cause weight gain. Due to avocados high fat content, it helps regulate blood sugar, provides a source of energy and keeps you feeling full longer, preventing a sugar crash from eating processed, carb-infused food. Instead of being a sugar burner, which delivers a quick surge of energy and then a crash, try being a fat burner – fats are slow burning, help to maintain insulin levels and keep you full. This prevents overeating, bad snacking, and feeling tired. AMAZING health benefits!
- – Better digestion – If you’ve ever heard me speak, you know that I’m all about healthy fats and digestion. Digestion plays a huge role in our health! Healthy gut, healthy body. Fats play a role in digestion because it nourishes our intestines and colon and is needed to absorb fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. One cup of avocado contains about 10 grams of fiber. It can potentially have more fiber than vegetables, beans or any other fruit depending on the size of it. When you’re taking in good quality fiber, your body will release toxins and waste naturally.
To make a long story short there are numerous health benefits from avocados!! This is why they’re considered one of the healthiest fruits you can eat.
Here are a few of my favorite ways to eat Avocados:
Avocado Smoothie
This is loaded with healthy fats!
Serves 2
Ingredients:
- – 1 avocado
- – 1 banana
- – 1-2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- – 2 cups almond or full fat coconut milk
- – 2 teaspoons of raw organic honey
Instructions:
– Place all the ingredients into a blender and blend well.
– Feel free to add some of your favorite berries: raspberries, blueberries, strawberries. The great thing about smoothies is you can create all sorts of flavors using ingredient that you love. Experiment and have fun with it.
Avocado Snack
Easy on the road and it’s one of my favorite snacks!
Serves 2
Ingredients:
- – 1 avocado
Instructions:
- – Cut Avocado in half and remove pit
- – Squeeze fresh lime juice to taste – as much as you’d like
- – Add a dash of Himalayan sea salt (benefits of sea salt: it contains roughly 84 natural minerals in its natural form, it promotes healthy pH balance in our cells, especially in the brain and regulates the water content throughout our body.)
Nori Wrap
Serves 1
Ingredients:
- – ½ avocado
- – 1 sheet of Nori seaweed wrap
- – 1 tablespoon of hummus
- – 1 Persian cucumber cut into thin slices
- – 1 small carrot cut into thin slices
- – Small handful of sprouts
Instructions:
– Place the seaweed wrap on a solid surface
– Arrange all ingredients onto the nori wrap and roll it up like a burrito
– Tip – for extra flavor add a squeeze of lemon juice and sea salt
References:
Dr. Weston Price
Dr. Mary Enig – Know Your Fats
Dr. Mark Hyman
Nutritional Therapy Association
