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Avocados should be part of your anti-aging diet
May 19, 2007
Did you know that an avocado is a fruit and not a vegetable?
In Canada and in America, we can buy a few different types of avocados. The Fuerte variety of avocados produces larger, smooth, pear-shaped, glossy green fruits with a skin that remains green even when ripped. You cannot find the Fuerte type year round, but you’ll have most chances of finding it in West Indian markets, Brazilian and Latino markets in major cities. The Haas is the type of avocado most commonly found in North America. The Haas is easily recognized by its small to medium pear-shaped, pebbled green fruits that turn blackish-green when ripe.
Avocados are bursting with Anti-Aging Power!
Avocadoes are high in monosaturates (good fats!). The oil content of avocados is second only to olives among fruits, and sometimes greater. A number of clinical studies in humans have shown that avocado oil can reduce blood cholesterol.
A few other reasons to make avocado part of your diet: This rich and tasty fruit provides more than 25 essential nutrients such as protein, potassium (in fact avocados contain 60 per cent more potassium per ounce than bananas), vitamin E, C, B-vitamins, folic acid, iron, copper, phosphorus and magnesium, just to name a few. Avocados also provide calories for energy and beneficial phytochemicals such as beta-sitosterol, glutathione and lutein.
The best way to eat an avocado in my opinion is to slice it, sprinkle salt, pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. If you pair that with a nice baguette…it makes for an enjoyable and light lunch. You can also add avocados to your mesclun mix salads.
Guacamole (Mexican avocado dip) is surely the most popular way to eat avocadoes in Canada and in America. For a more adventurous take on the avocado, I’ll borrow a recipe from a Moroccan friend of Muslim faith. He would always break his Ramadan fast with a fruity shake to prepare his stomach for his first meal of the day, which usually came after sunset. I have to confess, the first time he presented me with a glass of avocado shake, I was almost insulted by the idea of pureeing and adding milk to such a noble fruit, but one sip and I was sold. The avocado shake is a rich, creamy, sugary and delicious way of including avocados to your anti-aging regime. If you’re interested in trying an avocado shake, simply choose your favourite shake recipe and substitute the banana for an avocado!
Click here to find out more information on the health benefits of the avocado fruit.
Click here to read more on the nutritional breakdown of the avocado.
Read more on the different varieties of avocado.
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