Why and How You Should Eat Avocado

There are few things in this life that are better than slicing into a perfectly ripe avocado. Am I right avocado lovers? The honest truth is I never really liked avocados…or so I thought. They weirded me out because they were green and guacamole reminded me of nasty….poop. Ha! Little did I know that when I would actually try it, I would fall in love! I LOVE avocado. Not only does it taste good but it also provides so many health benefits. Here are a few:

1. Avocados are rich in Potassium. Why is this important? Potassium is a critical element in our bodies that help regulate and control muscle contractions, relaxation, and movement. When we don’t have enough potassium our muscles can’t function or perform properly. Hmmm…I can think of a really important muscle that needs to contract properly in order to sustain life…the HEART! Our hearts need this potassium! Yes, of course you can get potassium from other foods like bananas and leafy greens, but the avocado adds so many more benefits that it’s hard to replace! Having a sufficient and/or high potassium intake will lead to decreased blood pressure, as well as help prevent heart attacks and strokes.
2. Avocados are “healthy fats”. Did you know there was such a thing? It’s true! Healthy fats decrease inflammation in the body. So, what does this mean? This means eating avocados can help with digestive inflammation, acne, and again high blood pressure. It reduces your “bad cholesterol” (LDL) levels, decreases high triglycerides, and increases your HDL “good cholesterol”, which basically aids in getting rid of your LDL, or plaque building cholesterol on all your arteries. With a decrease in the bad and an increase in the good you’re well on your way to a healthy heart and liver! Sounds good to me!
3. Avocados are high in fiber and also helps you feel full longer! Because of the “healthy fat” property of the avocado, it is slowly released into your blood stream causing you to maintain a steady glucose level and a “I’m not actually that hungry” feeling. Because of the fiber they also aide in proper digestion. Wahoo!
4. They are so easy to incorporate into your meals! Honestly, just give them a try. Add them to your eggs in the morning as a simple side. Maybe throw half of one in your smoothie for a creamier texture. You can even make chocolate pudding with avocados!! Did you know that?! Whip up some guacamole for some extra flavor on your salad. OR just chop up a little avocado and throw it into your green salad to act as a dressing. PLUS…a little chips and guacamole never hurt anyone right?! See how to make some yummy guacamole right HERE.

What do I look for??

  
When looking for a ripe avocado look for one dark green in color that gives a little when lightly pressed. You’ll also be better off finding one with the “button” still on the fruit. It’s the little round stem at the end of the avocado that was connected to the tree.

How do I cut them??

There are lots of different ways to cut and serve an avocado, but the first slice is always the same. Hold the avocado in one hand and cut vertically around the pit. Start at the stem and make a cut completely around the avocado until you’ve reached the stem again. Now set the knife down and using both hands, twist each side of the avocado in a different direction. The pit will remain on one side and the other avocado half will be pit-less. To remove the pit press your knife into the pit, press down and turn at the same time. It should roll right out!

Serve it mashed up between a cute little sweet potato bun/egg sandwich.

Serve it sliced up and baked on top of chicken.

Serve it along side your morning eggs.

Or alongside your morning potato hash.

Really, just serve it with anything and call it good! 🙂 

How do I store them??

Avocados (if needing to ripen more) can be left on the counter top, or in your fruit bowl on the table. Once they start to ripen/soften, you might want to move them to the fridge so they stay nice and green as long as possible. Once they start to ripen you’ll need to use them soon! They like to brown up really fast! If you need them to ripen quickly, stick them in a brown paper bag with a banana. This will help them ripen quicker!

If you only end up using half of an avocado, store the side with the pit still in the fruit wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and placed in the fridge. The pit helps prevent further browning. If you smash your avocado into a guacamole, keep the pit in with the guac to prevent browning as well. 🙂 OR just throw it in a smoothie like the one below! 🙂

This is our typical chocolate, peanut butter, banana smoothie, but when you incorporate the avocado it makes it soo tasty and creamy! We love it!

Here’s what you need for the smoothie:

1 cup almond milk

1-2 frozen bananas

1 Tbsp. cacao powder

2 large pitted dates

2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter

1/2 ripe avocado

ice cubes

Put all of your ingredients into a high powered blender and blend until creamy and oh so smooooth! Enjoy!

There you have it! Now go to the grocery store and start changing your life! 😉 Who knows, maybe you’ll create a lifelong relationship with avocados you never knew you had. I sure hope so…your heart will thank you later.