Avocado - beneficial properties, contraindications, recipes. Avocado salad with cheese and garlic

What is avocado and what do you eat it with? Well, first of all, avocados are, from a biological point of view, a fruit. Although many people have been wondering for a long time whether avocado is a fruit or vegetable...

Avocado is a fruit or vegetable, how and where it grows

Its fruit pedigree is evidenced by its birth on a tree, the presence of one large seed... But, from another point of view, the taste of the fruit is not as rich as we usually expect from a fruit, which means that an avocado is a vegetable?

The taste also hints at this - the fruit is somewhat reminiscent of an unripe or even pumpkin that is not very saturated with juice. Its neutral, not very pronounced taste allows it to be combined with other ingredients in salads and appetizers. Mexican avocado puree is especially popular - guacamole. The recipe for making it is given below in the comments.

The fruit is available on store shelves all year round. True, this does not prevent him from remaining exotic for some. It’s not for nothing that it grows in Mexico, South America, Africa, Indonesia and Israel.

It does not grow in Russia, but recently the fruit has begun to gain incredible popularity among lovers of healthy eating. It is included in detox programs and diets; there are establishments where there are up to 20 assorted dishes with avocado.

The same trend is gaining momentum all over the world; “green gold,” as it began to be called for its extraordinary benefits for the body several years ago, has become more profitable than marijuana. It is adored in the USA, Japan, China; in the latter country, the “alligator pear” is a symbol of prestige; those who can afford to buy an avocado boldly consider themselves to be in the middle class.

The No. 1 country for growing avocados is Mexico, but it consumes 4/5 of the harvest itself, and exports are only enough to meet the growing needs of America. Other countries are also trying to grow it, but not everyone can do it; it takes one evergreen tree of the Laurel family per year to grow it. almost 300 liters of water. Although the harvest can be excellent - up to 200 kg is harvested from an adult plant.

Let's talk about the avocado fruit

Avocado grows on a tree of the same name, although botanists will more precisely call it Perseus americana. The birthplace of the fruit is Mexico. Literally its name is translated from English as alligator pear. And, indeed, the fruits of the avocado tree are pear-shaped, but can also be similar to a ball or oval from 6 to 20 cm in length. The peel of the fruit is green or dark green. Regular fruits weigh around 300 grams, and “champions” reach up to 1.5 kg.

And its flesh is yellow-green, although green is also often found. The fruit is very oily, it is not for nothing that oil is squeezed out of it. It is also very useful.

But let's talk directly about the benefits and harms of avocados...

The benefits of avocado or 18 reasons to choose it for lunch

So, what are the benefits of avocado?

Let's start with the fact that avocado is the record holder of a fruit in terms of calorie content (212 kcal per 100 grams of product). Yes, you won’t lose weight with this! But you will get the benefit.

True, only the pulp of the avocado is useful; its seed, on the contrary, contains many harmful substances, and therefore it is not suitable for consumption.

It is also worth noting that there is practically no sugar in avocados, which means that everyone can consume it, including diabetics.

Then the product contains an incredible amount of potassium, there is so much of it that the fruit has surpassed even well-known, less exotic fruits in terms of potassium content. In addition, due to the high potassium content in the pulp of the avocado fruit, it is able to normalize the water-salt balance of the body and increase overall stress resistance.

The pulp of this fruit can cleanse our blood. Oleic acid, which the green fruit is so generous in, prevents the formation of cholesterol plaques.

And how much vitamin E there is in our fruit! Well, just a fairy tale! But it fights tissue aging and helps the body resist viruses.

Want to improve your memory? Eat avocado. It will not only help you improve it, but also reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The fruit contains polyunsaturated acids, an insufficient amount of which leads to atherosclerosis.

When consumed regularly, the fruit can normalize your blood pressure. It lowers it naturally, so its benefits for hypertensive patients are invaluable.

Among other things, the product improves blood circulation and reduces the risk.

Manoheptoulose, which avocados are rich in, helps improve performance, relieve drowsiness, restore the nervous system, and reduce irritability.

The global benefits of avocado for our body are: It is especially useful for diseases caused by viruses and during the active flu season.

Avocado is also good for the digestive system in general, and for constipation in particular.

It is worth noting that “our hero” prevents the proliferation of cancer cells, which is good news. And some types of tumors are generally inhibited in their development.

We also know that avocado is a powerful aphrodisiac. It can arouse passion. The ancients used it to increase fertility and restore potency.

It also, along with potassium, contains phosphorus, which promotes mental activity. It also helps strengthen teeth and bones.

The product contains a lot of protein, which is good for those who want to build muscle mass. It is also worth noting that avocado pulp is a good replacement for animal fats. Very useful for vegetarians!

The fruit, although in reality it looks more like a vegetable, is rich in antioxidants. Scientists even believe that it can help with cancer.

The beneficial properties of avocado do not end there; it also has a very beneficial effect on the skin and hair, which is the reason for its widespread use in cosmetology.

Avocado in cosmetology

Do not forget about the benefits of avocado for women in the cosmetic use of this fruit. Oils, as well as masks made from its pulp, remarkably prevent aging. This is especially noticeable during menopause in women.

Moisturizing the skin with pulp or oil based on the pulp of this fruit is so deep that it can provide protection against fungus or viral skin diseases.

You can also eat avocados during pregnancy. The pulp of its fruit will have a good effect on both mother and child. Although it is better not to consume the fruit in large quantities for those who are breastfeeding, the baby may pass diarrhea.

The fruit can also help those whose work is physical. It will help them stay productive all day long.

TOP diseases for which avocado is necessary

Harm to avocados or looking for contraindications to exotics

Avocados should not be consumed by those who are allergic to latex. And, of course, for people with individual intolerance.

This is about the fruit itself... But there is also its seed. Let's talk about it separately.

It contains a considerable amount of toxic substances, which can adversely affect human health. The most useful thing that can be done with an avocado seed is to plant it in a pot and grow it as a house plant, although not an ornamental one. It cannot be called pleasing to the eye; it constantly loses leaves, and even for domestic animals, accidental consumption of leaves, bark, and seeds can be fatal - cardiac activity and respiration are inhibited, and edema develops.

The wood and leaves of the tree are also poisonous to humans. However, we would have difficulty finding this mature plant in Russia. And start gnawing on it...

It is better not to boil, fry, or, in general, treat the described exotics with heat in any way. In this case, the beneficial properties of the fruit will decrease. It is actively added to cold dishes - snacks, sandwiches, salads. In addition, heat treatment adds a noticeable bitterness to the taste of the prepared dish.

How to eat avocado correctly

It doesn't take much intelligence to eat an avocado. You just need to cut through the fruit with a knife and separate the pulp from the stone. If the fruit is ripe, you won’t have to put in much effort. It is easy to separate from the large bone.

In order to choose a ripe avocado you need to listen to the following advice.

First of all, you should pay attention to its appearance. There should be no spots on it that indicate its overripeness, scratches, or cracks. It is better if the fruit is clean and soft. With just one light touch, it should squash a little.

Peeled fruit should not be kept outdoors. It, like apples and potatoes, contains a lot of iron, which will lead to oxidation.

***** *****
To summarize, despite its exotic nature, the range of medicinal benefits of avocado is beyond praise, so it is very advisable to at least occasionally treat yourself to such a wonderful fruit.

Many people are accustomed to considering fruits as products whose calorie content directly depends on their sugar content. However, this is not quite true. A number of tropical fruits can compete in fat content even with cheeses, oils and meat. Avocado is one of these amazing foods. It contains a record amount of fat - up to 20-30% of the total mass! When you first try an avocado, it can be difficult to believe that it is really a fruit and not a vegetable. Due to its high fat content, its taste has a pronounced creamy or nutty hue. They enjoy complementing appetizers, salads and main courses.

What are the benefits of fatty acids in avocados?

Don’t rush to give up avocado after learning about its high fat content. The lion's share of fetal fat (up to 80%) is oleic acid. It belongs to the group of omega-9 unsaturated fatty acids, which are highly digestible. The beneficial properties of omega-9 include effective regulation of cholesterol and blood glucose levels, strengthening the immune system and reducing the risk of malignant tumors.

In addition to oleic acid, avocados contain palmitic, linoleic, linolenic and stearic acids. Such a wide composition of fatty acids has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular, digestive, nervous, immune and reproductive systems of the body. Regular consumption of small portions of avocados (1-3 fruits per week) contributes to:

normalization of sleep,
relieve migraine attacks,
improving psychological well-being,
restoration of metabolism,
relieves constipation,
increased brain activity,
improving memory and vision,
normalizing hormonal levels,
reducing the frequency of colds,
reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes,
restoration of the menstrual cycle in women,
increasing potency in men.

As you can see, the role of fatty acids in the human body is very great. And those contained in avocados are beneficial, not harmful.

What else does avocado contain?

In addition to fatty acids, avocados contain a significant amount of potassium. Its presence does the body a good service, especially if a person likes to abuse salty foods, thereby constantly increasing sodium levels.

The benefit of avocado is to equalize the proportion of potassium and sodium. This is extremely important for maintaining acid-base balance. Its violation threatens the destruction of individual cells, malfunctions of various systems, and even the death of the entire organism. Also, potassium (together with sodium) is responsible for water balance and proper muscle function.

Good absorption of potassium is possible only in the presence of vitamin B6, which is also found in the fruit. This is another proof that avocado is amazing not only in the amount of nutrients, but also in their balance.

Avocados are also valued for the presence of folic acid, which is responsible for normal blood composition and proper fat and carbohydrate metabolism. Folic acid is useful for low acidity of gastric juice, neurosis, depression, and also for maintaining reproductive function in men and women. The role of folic acid in the development of the fetus during pregnancy is high. Pregnant women should definitely monitor the level of folic acid intake, as its deficiency leads to unpleasant consequences.

Avocado is also beneficial due to the vitamin K it contains. This vitamin is primarily responsible for the normal absorption of calcium. With its deficiency, the bone and cartilage systems suffer. Vitamin K also has a beneficial effect on kidney function, preventing the development of pathologies.

Vitamin C is another beneficial element found in avocados. It is involved in many vital processes: tissue regeneration, redox reactions, carbohydrate metabolism, blood clotting and maintaining immunity. Vitamin C can replace other organic compounds if their intake is insufficient (folic acid, vitamins B1, B2, A, E).

It must be borne in mind that avocado exhibits health-promoting properties only when consumed in moderation. And this is only 1-3 medium fruits per week. Also, do not forget that the benefits of avocado decrease when it is cooked (cooking, frying, stewing, etc.). Like other fruits, it is best eaten raw or added to prepared dishes.

Avocado is very good as a quick and tasty salad dressing. Simply grind it into a puree, add a couple of drops of lemon juice/apple cider vinegar, and the dressing is ready. It is noteworthy that avocado can replace salt. Its taste is so bright and rich that you don’t want to add salt to your food.

In addition to salads, avocados are used to make cold sandwiches and soups. In tropical countries they like to add it to smoothies and even make ice cream with it. If you like the taste of avocado and are ready to experiment, then the list of healthy dishes on your table will inevitably expand with its help.

Direct contraindications No to avocado, of course, except for individual intolerance. Nursing mothers should take note that after eating avocado, the baby may have loose stools.

Photo pixabay.com

29 Oct 2015 1719

Discussion: 2 comments

I, of course, heard about the benefits of avocados, but I learned a lot from your article. Thank you! I once decided to try avocado for the first time - I bought it, tried it, then spat for a long time and swore off ever eating it at all. However, it’s not for nothing that the expression “Don’t promise!” was coined. or “Never say never!” And so it happened: my sister’s husband is a chef, he always surprises him with something new and incredibly tasty; Imagine my surprise when I knew that the salad I liked contained that same avocado! Now this product is often a welcome guest on our table.

Answer

I constantly add avocados to salads (2-3 a week) and after a month I almost stopped feeling the burning and aching pain in the heart area. The doctor advised me to eat avocados more often.

Answer

It is valued all over the world for its miraculous properties. This fruit can have a positive effect on a person of any gender and age category. But avocados have a particularly beneficial effect on representatives of the fair half of humanity. The benefits of this fruit for women are simply invaluable. It improves memory and may also reduce the risk of heart and vascular diseases. But these are not all the advantages of this exotic fruit.

What kind of plant is this?

Mexico and Central America introduced the avocado to the world. The benefits of this fruit for women were known back in Indian times. Back then it was also used as an aphrodisiac, as it has an aphrodisiac effect.

These fruits of evergreen trees have another name, which sounds like alligator pear. For a long time, due to its not too sweet taste, avocado was considered a vegetable and then a nut, but it is still a fruit.

Now it is grown in Brazil, America, Africa and Israel. One tree can produce from 150 to 250 kilograms of fruit per year.

Compound

Avocados can be of different shapes - pear-shaped, oval or spherical, reaching a length of up to 22 cm. These fruits have a dark green peel and yellow oily pulp. In the very center of the fruit there is a seed that should not be eaten, as it contains many harmful substances.

These exotic fruits contain a large amount of various fats and virtually no sugar. Thus, one hundred grams of fruit contains about 160 calories. In addition, avocado is rich in vitamins such as A, C, B, E, K and folic acid. This fruit also contains sodium, iron, calcium, copper, phosphorus, magnesium and a lot of potassium.

Properties

The benefits of avocado for a woman’s body are invaluable due to its rich vitamin composition. This exotic fruit is able to clean cells from various destructive viruses and fight age-related changes. Thanks to the fruit, it cleanses the blood of cholesterol.

In addition, avocado normalizes heart function and significantly improves memory. The benefit for women of this fruit also lies in the fact that it is simply irreplaceable during pregnancy, as it contains monounsaturated fats that promote the development of the child’s brain and other important organs.

Alligator pear will also be useful for people suffering from hypertension, due to the fact that it can lower blood pressure. Among other things, this fruit can increase performance, have a beneficial effect on the nervous system, relieve irritability and stress, relieve drowsiness and fatigue, and also help improve immunity. Therefore, avocados will be especially useful in winter, when epidemics of various colds begin.

But the beneficial properties of this exotic fruit do not end there. This fruit can prevent the appearance of cancer cells, makes bones and teeth stronger, and also acts as a plant analogue of animal protein.

What effect does the fetus have on girls?

However, this fruit has a beneficial effect not only on health. The benefit of avocado for a woman may also lie in the fact that it can make the skin more elastic and smooth. With constant consumption of alligator pear, fine wrinkles can be smoothed out.

In addition, with the help of oil obtained from this fruit, many girls relieve inflammation on the face, and it can also fight diseases such as dermatitis, acne and eczema.

Despite the fact that it has such a high value, the benefits for women of this fruit during diets are invaluable. Due to the fact that its fat does not turn into deposits, those ladies who watch their figure can safely include it in their diet.

Many experts have come to the conclusion that this fruit is indispensable for women aged forty years and older. for women of this age, it became known not so long ago. It turns out that it contains biologically active substances similar to hormones that can combat the decrease in estrogen production, thereby delaying menopause.

Alligator pear will also be useful for nursing mothers, as it contains vegetable proteins that infants need.

Application in cosmetology

But these are not all the areas where avocados can be used. The benefits for women (reviews from many ladies are direct proof of this) may also lie in its use as anti-aging masks for the face, décolleté and neck. To do this, you need to take one tablespoon of fruit pulp and grind it thoroughly. Then add five milliliters of cream, two yolks and mix all the ingredients thoroughly. Gently apply the resulting mass to the face, neck and rinse after fifteen minutes. This mask will be especially useful for those with irritated or dry skin.

You can make a cleanser by mixing honey, mayonnaise, flour, alligator pear pulp and a raw egg in equal proportions. For those ladies who suffer from excessive oiliness of the epidermis, a mixture of avocado with kefir or yogurt is suitable.

In addition, these fruits produce valuable oil, which can be used as an additive to various cosmetic creams, and also used for massage. It is ideal for caring for nails, face and body skin and actively helps fight the aging process.

Among other things, cosmetic products that contain avocado can have a protective effect on the skin, protecting it from all kinds of fungal diseases.

Curl care

From all of the above, it becomes clear how avocado affects the health and beauty. The benefits for women (the properties of this fruit are simply priceless) do not end there. This exotic fruit is also capable of restoring hair and combating its fragility. To do this, you can use a mixture of alligator pear with olive oil and beaten egg.

Girls who want to grow long curls can try using a mask made from avocado pulp and mayonnaise. This fruit can also be used as additional hair care during the summer.

Contraindications

But like any exotic fruit, avocados also need to be used carefully. The benefits and harms to women from exposure will depend on whether all precautions were followed before using this product.

Under no circumstances should it be used by those people who have fruit, latex, or an individual intolerance to avocados. In addition, the seed and leaves of this fruit plant contain various toxic substances that can cause digestive tract upset and have a detrimental effect on human health.

It is also necessary to take into account that this fruit retains its entire extensive range of beneficial properties exclusively in its raw form, since after heat treatment there are much fewer of them.

Helpful information

Before buying a fruit, you need to examine it for various stains; it is also important that it is soft to the touch. You should not purchase fruits that have blackened skin or cracks.

If the avocado is unripe, it can be kept for some time in a room at room temperature, but not in the refrigerator, as it may spoil there.

It is usually consumed raw, as well as in combination with other products. This will preserve all its wonderful properties and pleasant nutty smell. This fruit is widely used in various salads or cold appetizers. Also, the taste of the fruit can be perfectly complemented by either spicy or sweet seasonings.

A fruit such as avocado has become a very popular product in the diet of people who adhere to proper nutrition, but not everyone knows exactly how this exotic fruit is useful, what vitamins and minerals it contains. The product appeared on the market relatively recently, so many buyers are faced with various questions that cannot be left unanswered.

What is an avocado?

Exotic fruits and vegetables have begun to actively fill store shelves, but not everyone knows what they are and what positive properties are provided by consuming them in the diet.

Avocado is a fruit-bearing evergreen tree that is not only beautiful to look at, but also produces aromatic fruits of the same name. Avocados have a dense structure and relatively thick skin, which protects the pulp from negative external influences during storage or transportation. Inside the oily and aromatic pulp there is a large seed, which makes the fruit not only tasty, but also presentable in appearance.

Avocado has gained popularity due to the high concentration of nutrients in its composition, since it is the only fruit that combines so many useful trace elements and minerals. Natural fats and amino acids are indispensable aids in losing weight, as the functioning of the digestive system is improved, and fat deposits are gradually dissolved.

The product was able to conquer not only vegetarians, but also people who adhere to a healthy diet, since it is possible to prepare balanced and nutritious meals with a high concentration of beneficial enzymes.

Avocado contains the following vitamins and minerals:

Vitamins A, C, B1, B6, B9 and E.
Macro- and microelements: potassium, magnesium, sodium, iron, copper and similar substances.

The composition does not contain sugar or cholesterol, which makes it possible to eliminate negative effects on the body. In the process of losing weight and maintaining a balanced diet, such a product can be considered indispensable.

The calorie content of an avocado per 100 grams is 160 kcal. If you calculate the calorie content of the entire product without the pit, then on average the product weighs 180 grams (not counting the pit), so one fruit is no more than 300 kcal. But there is no need to be afraid of such calorie content, since the product is saturated only with useful substances; calories have a positive effect on the condition of the body.

Medicinal properties of avocado

Avocado is distinguished not only by its nutritional value and beneficial substances in its composition, but also by its medicinal properties, which together have a positive effect on the body. The following medicinal qualities are distinguished:

The immune system is strengthened, making it easier for the body to cope with infections. This is excellent protection during an epidemic of colds.
Due to the high concentration of potassium, a positive effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system is ensured. Blood vessels are strengthened, and the heart receives oxygen for proper blood circulation. The ability to lower blood pressure has an excellent effect on the human body, so hypertensive patients are advised to consume avocado daily in their diet.
Excess cholesterol is removed from the body due to the presence of oleic acid in the composition, so there is no need to be afraid of the formation of blood plaques in the circulatory system.
Avocado has a positive effect on the functioning of the digestive system, due to which all waste and toxins are eliminated, which can be considered an important advantage when losing weight.
Thanks to vitamin B6, the composition provides a positive effect on the liver. This element is easy to obtain from foods, so it is important to include avocados in the diet of those people who have liver diseases.
Avocado provides excellent prevention of vision problems, making it possible to prevent cataracts and ensure proper functioning of the visual system.
For women, the fruit is especially useful for its vitamin E content, which has a positive effect on the condition of the skin.
Excess moisture is removed from the body, therefore swelling is prevented.
The product contains a large amount of natural protein, so it is especially useful for those people who adhere to vegetarianism.

But remember that avocado contains beneficial enzymes only if it is consumed raw, since during heat treatment all substances important to the body are completely washed out of the fruit.

Avocado can also be consumed in the form of oil, since its oiliness creates all the conditions for obtaining a large amount of a natural product.

Most often, avocado oil is used in cosmetology, since its natural nutrition and moisture make it possible to restore the structure of the hair, increasing its thickness, and the condition of the skin improves, as it is saturated with useful substances. The oil is also suitable for aromatherapy, since the essential oils released into the space help strengthen the immune system and have a preventive effect.

It is recommended to use avocado oil for dry skin that is easily irritated and becomes covered with red spots. Due to the softening properties, high-quality restoration of the skin and its nutrition with useful substances is ensured. Gradually, the skin takes on a healthier appearance and gets rid of excessive dryness.

You can create masks based on avocado oil to strengthen your nails. If you regularly use the oil to wipe your nails or prepare baths, you can get rid of brittleness and dryness by strengthening the plate.

Can I eat an avocado seed?

Many people are interested in the question of why the avocado seed is thrown away and is it possible to somehow use it in the diet? The seed is strictly forbidden to be used in food, as it contains high concentrations of persin, which is a toxic substance. When it enters the body, it quickly poisons it and can cause a lot of problems with well-being. In addition, persin has a cumulative effect, which gradually poisons the body and causes the development of chronic diseases of the digestive system.

Persin is also found in large quantities in the peel and leaves of avocados, so only the pulp can be added to food, as it is protected from toxins and filled with beneficial minerals and vitamins for the human body.

Women are more likely than men to try to adhere to proper nutrition, since both external and internal beauty depends on it. But not everyone is familiar with the positive properties of avocados, so it is important to carefully consider them:

It is not for nothing that there are significant benefits for women's health. Their bodies need vitamins and minerals to maintain comfort and proper functioning of their organs. Doctors note that using avocados reduces the likelihood of breast cancer.
Benefits for facial skin. The skin of a woman’s face is subject to heavy stress due to the constant use of cosmetics, since not all decorative cosmetics position themselves as high-quality and safe materials. If you use avocado pulp in food or create masks based on oil or the fruit itself, you can slow down the process of wrinkles and give your skin freshness and beauty.
Benefits for hair. If you add natural avocado oil to hair care products: shampoos, various balms and masks, you can strengthen the hair follicle and the hair structure itself, filling it with useful substances for active growth.
The benefits of avocado for weight loss. Thanks to the minimal calorie content in combination with various beneficial microelements in the composition, it provides benefits for the digestive system, and special enzymes contribute to the active dissolution of fat deposits. In addition, the product satisfies hunger for a long time, which is important for meeting the daily calorie intake without overeating.
The benefits of avocado during pregnancy. During the period of bearing a child, the expectant mother should consume only fortified and beneficial substances in her diet, thanks to which the fetus develops properly. Avocado is a storehouse of vitamins and minerals, so it’s not just possible, but necessary to include the product in your diet during pregnancy. The only exception would be individual intolerance to the fruit.
The female body will function properly if it constantly replenishes the balance of vitamins and minerals. You can eat avocado in different forms: make salads, soups and even smoothies. And if you don’t want to complicate things, you can make sandwiches from avocado and whole grain bread.

The most important benefit of avocado for men's health is its positive effect on men's health. It is recommended to eat avocados to prevent impotence. It has also been scientifically proven that the fruit contains microelements that prevent the development of prostate cancer.

Avocado has a beneficial effect on brain function, physical endurance and strength, so if you have an active lifestyle, it is recommended to use the fruit as the basis of your diet.

Contraindications

There are no harmful properties as such when consuming avocado, but there are some contraindications that need to be carefully considered to prevent problems with well-being:

It is important to adhere to the norm of avocado in your diet, as excessive consumption of the product can cause stomach upset.
If you are allergic to citrus fruits, then avocado can cause an aggravation, so you need to consume the exotic product in a minimal amount to prevent the occurrence of allergic manifestations.
It is not recommended to give avocado to children, as an unprepared body can result in an allergic reaction.
During lactation, the consumption of avocados is prohibited, as the saturation with essential oils can harm the baby.

Avocado is a healthy product, but it is important to use it wisely, as there are many features that are important to consider to prevent health problems. A source of vitamins and minerals with a reasonable approach will prevent various diseases and strengthen the body.

Video: avocado - benefits and harm

Every year, exotic fruits increasingly fill store shelves. The fruit called “avocado” was no exception. It quickly became part of our diet. In today's article we will discuss in detail the benefits and harms of avocados in human life.

This fruit grows on a tree of the same name. Europeans also call it “alligator pear.” The plant itself comes from Mexico.

General characteristics of the fetus

The fruit is oval, round or pear-shaped. They can grow up to 20 cm in length. The weight of one fruit can reach two kilograms. I have thick black or green skin.

Inside there is yellow flesh with a green tint with a rather massive stone, which, depending on the plant variety, can capture different volumes. In general, there are more than 350 types of avocado varieties. Quite an oily fruit. No wonder the taste of avocado is reminiscent of butter with a hint of greens and nuts.

Harm and benefits of avocado

The beneficial and harmful properties of avocados are often of interest to fans of this fruit. Avocado is one of the most unusual and nutritious fruits, thanks to the wide range of beneficial minerals it contains. For example, phosphorus, zinc, iron and manganese, as well as sodium and potassium. And, of course, avocados contain many vitamins (C, E, B, A, D, PP).

Interesting fact! On September 25, 1998, avocado was officially included in the Guinness Book of Records as the healthiest fruit.

There is a particularly large amount of vitamins C and E. These vitamins help enrich cells with oxygen and slow down the aging process of the body.

Useful properties of avocado:

Very low sugar content.
A strong aphrodisiac that increases potency.
Avocado prevents the appearance of cholesterol plaques.
Useful for gaining body muscles.
A large amount of Ca and P content strengthens teeth and bones.
Phosphorus also helps to activate mental activity and improve performance.
Avocado resists the spread of cancer cells.
Folic acid helps protect the unborn baby by reducing the risk of birth defects.
Oleic acid activates the part of the brain that makes you feel full for a long time.
Avocado fiber (3.4 grams) helps normalize the digestive system.
Improves blood circulation throughout the body (B12, iron and copper).
Prevents vision problems thanks to carotenoids and lutein.
Glutathione - promotes oxygen saturation of cells.

Harmful properties of avocado:

Possible allergies.
It is also not recommended for people with allergies to latex and citrus. The seed contains a large amount of toxic substances, which is why it should not be eaten.
This fruit should not be consumed by women who are breastfeeding. Avocado enzymes actively penetrate into mother's milk, so the baby may experience diarrhea.
People with chronic diseases of the pancreas or stomach should take it with caution.

As you can see, the harm of avocado is incomparably small, but its beneficial properties cannot be counted. This makes it possible to use avocado and its oil not only in cooking, but also in cosmetics or medicine.

Tips for buying ripe avocados

Avocados are often delivered unripe so that they do not spoil during transportation. But no need to be upset, just put the avocado in a dark place for a couple of days. A ripened fruit at home will acquire the required ripeness in 2-4 days.
Avocado can be selected and purchased in any season, as it is a tropical fruit and grows on the tree all year round. Buy soft and clean fruit. When pressed lightly, the avocado should spring back slightly.

Do not purchase avocados if:

The fruit is too soft and wrinkled. Overripe fruit will taste bitter and have almost no trace elements left.
Expired fruit has rusty orange or white spots.
You find cracks or scratches on the peel.

Also, when choosing an avocado, you first need to determine the variety, because each variety has a number of its own characteristics. Some people believe that the color of the peel plays an important role. However, this is a wrong conclusion. After all, the color of an avocado depends on the variety.

The varieties most often imported into our department stores are Californian, Pinkerton and Florida avocados. Each variety has its own differences.

Pinkerton

Dense dark green peel with visible pimples. The fruit contains a lot of pulp, because the seed inside is small.

Florida variety

The peel is thin and has a light green tint. Contains a rather sweaty pulp inside. Avocados of this variety can most often be seen in stores in winter or spring. Ideal for use in rolls or various salads.

Californian avocado

The peel color is brownish. The pulp is soft and very tender. With this avocado you can make wonderful puree soup or cocktails. Can be seen on store shelves at any time of the year.

It’s also worth remembering that 5 days is the maximum shelf life for avocados in the refrigerator.

Using avocado in cooking

The taste of the fleshy and juicy avocado fruit has long been popular among the people of our continent. Various avocado dishes can often be seen in modern restaurants. It is worth noting that avocado often replaces many products in a raw food diet or vegetarian cuisine.

Thanks to its neutral taste, avocado is used in dishes where other components have a pronounced taste and smell. Avocado is a great addition, making the dish more tender and juicy.

Don't forget that avocado pulp oxidizes when exposed to air and darkens. To preserve the avocado after cutting, sprinkle a little lemon juice on it.

The easiest way to make an avocado salad.
A very large number of such recipes have already accumulated. Avocados should be added to the salad last so that they don’t darken before they should. During heat treatment, fruit can lose many beneficial properties (tinin).

Mexican guacamole is the most common avocado sauce.
It includes avocado pulp, other vegetables, seasonings, salt and lime juice. This sauce goes perfectly with any second dish. Various recipes with seafood are also very popular. For example, avocado with red fish and shrimp.

Avocado oil is also often used to season salads.
When fried, it does not become bitter or lose its taste, so you can safely use it when cooking meat or fish.

Using avocado in cosmetology

Cosmetologists actively use various masks made from avocado pulp and oil. Its substances soothe and rejuvenate the skin. Nourishes hair and gives it strength. In general, this fruit can be characterized by the following beneficial properties:

The complexion becomes even, without redness and dark circles under the eyes.
Smoothing out fine wrinkles on the face. This is facilitated by phytohormones contained in avocados.
Avocado does not dry out the skin or make it oily.
Restoration of skin cells.

It is worth noting that avocado oil is often used in massage.

So, we will give you several recipes for caring for hair and facial skin using avocados.

Face masks

If your skin is oily:

Crush the avocado pulp into a paste (1-2 tbsp).
Add one egg white.
Lemon juice (1 tbsp).

Leave for 10-2 minutes. Then cleanse your skin with cool water.

If your skin is dry:

Prepare puree from 1/2 avocado.
Olive (vegetable) oil (1 tbsp)

Leave the mask on the skin for fifteen to twenty minutes. Remove with warm water.

Hair masks

If your hair is dry or dull:

Avocado pulp (150 grams).
Crush banana (1 pc.).
Honey (1 tbsp.)

Mix the ingredients and apply along the entire length of the hair. Leave for 20-30 minutes. Then rinse with shampoo and water. This mask is a real vitamin bomb, many have been convinced of the effectiveness of its use.

For oily hair:

The pulp of half an avocado.
Honey or kefir (1 tbsp.).
Apple cider vinegar (1 tbsp).

Apply the mask to damp hair for up to 30 minutes. Then remove it with warm water and shampoo.

To make the mask as effective as possible, after applying the mixture, cover your head with polyethylene and wrap it in a terry towel. This will keep you warm.

How often should I apply a mask to my hair?

It's worth determining your hair type. For dry hair – 2 times a week, for normal hair – 1 time per week, and for oily hair – 1 time every two weeks.

Remember! Only a systematic approach and regular use of avocado masks will lead you to silky and healthy hair.

Use of avocado in medicine

Despite the fact that avocados are widely used in cooking, this fruit has also found its place in medicine. Both the avocado pulp itself and its leaves, seeds and peel are used.

Medicines made from avocado leaves exhibit disinfectant properties. Thanks to them, wounds and diarrhea can be treated.

Avocado seeds are natural antibiotics.
Medicines based on avocado seeds are used in the fight against pathogenic bacteria or various types of fungi.

Avocado oil has a particularly large number of medicinal properties:

immunostimulating;
anti-inflammatory;
regenerating;
antiviral;
antioxidant.

And the avocado pulp doesn’t even need to be processed. You just need to include it in your diet.
Especially for those people who suffer from hypertension, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, and vitamin deficiency. For preventive purposes, avocados are used to strengthen the immune system and the walls of blood vessels.

Even the avocado mold itself has healing properties. Thanks to a medicine based on this mold, scientists were able to cope with diseases such as arthrosis, scleroderma, eczema and many others.

The benefits of avocado for weight loss

Despite the fact that avocado is a very nutritious fruit and contains up to 150 kcal per 100 g, it can be used to intensively lose weight.

Today, avocado is one of the most fashionable and popular products in weight loss. Avocado fats are easily absorbed by the body, and there is almost no sugar. Avocado also cleanses the body of toxins.

Consider a three-day diet. During this diet, the stomach is the first to go, and there is no feeling of hunger. You can lose weight from 1.5 to 2 kg.

Daily diet menu

Breakfast: half an avocado stuffed with low-fat cottage cheese. To do this, place the curd mass on the inside of the avocado.

Dinner: A cup of green tea. Avocado salad: grate 1 avocado on a medium grater, chop 1-2 medium tomatoes and hard cheese into cubes, pour in olive or vegetable oil, add a little salt. Mashed potatoes cooked in water and adding a little milk.

Dinner: 100 grams of chicken or fish + 1⁄2 avocado stuffed with cottage cheese inside.

Follow this diet every three or four months. But after completion, never stop at the achieved result. Gradually include other healthy and low-calorie foods in your diet.

Growing avocados at home

The most important thing is to choose a good seed. To do this, you need to take it from a ripe fruit. It will be difficult to grow a tree from the seed of an unripe or overripe fruit, especially at home.

So, we buy ripe fruit in the store and carefully remove the seed without damaging it. We rinse and let it dry.

There are two ways to plant the seed itself: in water or in soil. The first method gives results much faster, although the second method is simpler and would be suitable for beginners in gardening.

Method 1 - germination in water

Fire holes in the pit and pierce them shallowly with three toothpicks. Using these toothpicks, hang the bone above the water in a glass as shown in the picture below.

The water in the camp must first be boiled and cooled to room temperature. Do not completely submerge the bone in water. Only its lower thick part. Add water if it has evaporated. After the roots have sprouted up to 3 cm, plant the seed in the ground.

Method 2 – germination in soil

For this method, you need to plant half of the seed with its blunt end in the soil, which contains crushed expanded clay and peat. Cover the soil with a thick film. Do not forget to moisten the soil, because the seed will sprout only in a humid environment.

It is impossible to overestimate the benefits of avocados in human life. This is truly a wonderful fruit!