Avocados can be found nearly everywhere! Once considered a luxury, this fruit is now featured on menus all over the world. And for a good reason: it's delicious! From fresh salads to the main ingredient in a chocolate mousse, avocados can be used in just about any dish. Their delicious taste and creamy texture complement both sweet and savory meals. And to top it off, they're fantastic for you! It's no wonder why our love for avocados has grown in recent years.
Now, all this talk about avocados may have you wondering if you should add this fruit to your weekly menu. Our answer? Yes! The benefits of this superfood are genuinely incredible. If our love for avocados hasn't prompted you to begin eating them just yet, then we encourage you to keep scrolling to find out more about this superfood and all the health benefits of avocados.
What Is an Avocado
Before we dive into why this superfood is so great for you, let's first discuss what it is and where it comes from. The avocado (a.k.a. Alligator Pear) is a pear-shaped fruit that grows on the avocado tree. Its dark green outer shell that resembles alligator skin is used to protect the green flesh that surrounds the avocado seed. This green flesh gradually gets softer as the avocado ripens and is the main part of the avocado that is commonly eaten. While the look and color of the skin of avocado can vary by variety, the taste remains the same. Most commonly used in Latin American dishes like guacamole, avocado can be added to a variety of meals ranging from salads to smoothies.
Where Do Avocados Grow?
Avocado trees grow best in tropical climates. While most avocados come from Mexico, avocado trees also thrive in regions like California, Florida and Hawaii. During the peak season of late winter into early spring, avocados will generally be better priced than other times of the year, where there may be a lack of avocados.
What Does an Avocado Taste Like?
While the taste of avocado can vary based on its ripeness and the variety, in general, an avocado has a rich, buttery flavor that is not overbearing in the slightest. Its creamy texture and mellow taste make it easy to use in both sweet and savory recipes.
What Are the Health Benefits of Avocado?
Great Source of Potassium
Avocados are a great source of potassium! Potassium-rich foods are an essential part of a healthy, balanced diet. The mineral, potassium, works to help your body manage fluid levels, improve muscular function, and can even help keep your nervous system running correctly.
When people think of foods high in potassium, bananas are often the first fruit that comes to mind. While bananas are a great source of potassium, they're not always the most versatile. If you're looking for a way to sneak more potassium into your diet, try adding avocado to your favorite recipe. If it isn't already, avocado is a food that you'll want to add to your grocery list. Naturally rich in vitamins and minerals, just one avocado has about 975 mg of potassium! Plus, because it's so versatile it can be used to enhance both sweet and savory recipes.
Want to make a potassium boosting recipe? Try starting your morning with this Green Machine Booster Smoothie. Natural superfoods like spinach, avocado and apple are used in the smoothing to create a genuinely nutritious treat. It's the perfect smoothie to make pre/post-workout, or to get your day started, and it uses our Protein and Fiber Nutritional Booster so that you can get your fiber and probiotics on the go!
High in Antioxidants
"Antioxidants" is a buzzword that gets used quite often in the health industry. But what exactly are antioxidants, and how can they help you on your health journey? Antioxidants are compounds found in food that can help stop or delay cell damage. They help our bodies work to remove waste products in our cells (free radicals) before they can do any harm. By eating food high in antioxidants, we can help ensure that our bodies stay healthy and happy. Avocados are a great source of antioxidants! They also contain vitamin C and E, both of which may help enhance the effectiveness of the antioxidants.
Make this Roasted Rainbow Vegetable Buckwheat Grain Bowl for a meal that is chock-full of antioxidants! A delicious blend of Buckwheat Groats, potato, pumpkin seeds and wild salmon is used to create a superfood dish that will leave you feeling full and energized. Top it off with lemon juice and tahini for a truly refreshing treat your taste buds and body will love!
Loaded With Healthy Fats
Whether you're a long-time fan of avocados or just beginning your avocado journey, you've likely heard about the fat associated with this delicious fruit. While it's true that avocados are high in fats, it's not the bad kind. Nearly 77% of the calories in avocados come from fat. This means that it's one of the fattiest foods on the planet! So, what kind of fat is found in an avocado? The majority of the fat in avocado comes from a monounsaturated fat known as oleic acid. This monounsaturated fat can also be found in olive oil and is believed to have fantastic health benefits. Incorporating heart-healthy fats into your meals can be a crucial part of a well-balanced diet.
Interested in adding this high-fat fruit to your next meal? It's simple! By choosing a recipe that you can easily customize, like this Breakfast Bulgur and Millet Grain Bowl, it's easy to add in your favorite ingredients, including avocado. A savory breakfast, this bowl is packed with nutrient-rich ingredients like bulgur, millet, veggies and eggs.
Great for Energy
While avocados are delicious, that's not the only reason you should add them to your meals. These green superfoods are packed with a variety of B vitamins like thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2) and niacin (B3). B vitamins work to help your body convert the food you eat every day into long-lasting energy. The perfect fruit for a pre or post-workout snack, adding avocado to your diet, is a great way to guarantee that your body stays fueled through even the toughest workouts. Stay healthy and boost your energy levels by incorporating avocado into your balanced diet.
Searching for a meal to enjoy after you hit the gym? Treat your body with this Avocado Lime Smoothie. The perfect blend of creamy avocado and fresh lime is the perfect pick me up after a long workout. Plus, your body will love all of the vitamins and nutrients you're replenishing it with.
They're Incredibly Versatile
And, in case you need even more reasons to eat avocado, think of the endless dishes you can use them in. Whether sliced on toast, mashed into a dip, chopped into a salad, or eaten with a sprinkle of salt, this nutrient-rich fruit is genuinely all it's made up to be! Not only are avocados great for you, but they also work well with several different types of food. Their creamy, rich and fatty texture works well when mixed with other ingredients, and they're easy to incorporate into both sweet and savory dishes.
Now, no article about avocados would be complete without mentioning a delicious tex-mex recipe. This savory Tex-Mex Quinoa and Bulgur Grain Bowl combine powerful superfoods like quinoa, bulgur and avocado to create a truly satisfying dish. As more individuals switch to a plant-based diet, grain bowls and healthy fat-filled fruits like avocado have increased in popularity. Adding avocados to grain bowls like this one offers a fantastic way to eat fruits and vegetables accompanied by ancient grains like farro, quinoa and freekeh. Enjoy this bowl as a hearty lunch or serve it up as a nutrient-packed dinner.
Now that you're well versed in many of the health benefits of avocado, we encourage you to start adding this superfood to your diet! If you eat this delicious fruit regularly, you're bound to notice the incredible impact it will have on your health. Whether you enjoy the green-skinned Fuerte or the dark-skinned Hass variety, this creamy fruit is an essential part of a healthy, balanced diet. To start incorporating more avocados into your diet, check out our blog for more delicious recipes.
Are you an avid avocado lover? We'd love to hear about the recipes you add avocado to. Let us know in the comments below!
