We have all heard the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. What if it is really an AVOCADO a day? More and more research is pointing to the protective effect of avocados. Once written off as a too high in fat and calories, avocados are now understood to be a great addition to your diet.
Avocados are high in monounsaturated (good) fat. They are also very high in fiber. One avocado has around 300 calories, virtually no sodium, only 1 gram of sugar and a whopping 13 grams of fiber. While a whole avocado may not fit in your calories budget, incorporating ½ of an avocado on most days would be a great benefit to your diet and overall health. Avocados help regulate blood sugar thanks to their low sugar content. They help you feel full longer due to their healthy monounsaturated fat content. They also help with gut health with their high fiber content.
Allow avocados to ripen on the counter. Once ripe, you can store it in the refrigerator for a few days since the cold stops the ripening process. If you need it to ripen more quickly, place it in a paper bag with an apple and close tightly. If you have cut avocado that needs to be stored, leave the pit in and put a few drops of lemon juice or neutral oil on the cut flesh and store sealed in the refrigerator. When you are ready to use, cut away any discolored flesh. If you have overripe avocados, mash them and add chopped jalapenos or other pepper, salt, and lime for a quick guacamole.
Some easy ways to incorporate avocado: place slices on top of omelets or scrambled eggs, use in salads, mash and use as a spread on sandwiches.
Here are some avocado recipes that you can also try to boost your avocado intake.
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