Avocado - healthy fat closed in a small fruit

Fruit is a true source of health for every human being. In fact, from a child we hear about the fact that it is worth eating as much as possible, because the vitamins and minerals contained in them are essential to enjoy good health. There is a lot of truth in it - actually every fruit in the world has to offer a huge richness of healthy ingredients for us. In recent years, exotic fruits, which are not found in our part of the world, have become more and more popular in Poland. An excellent example of such a fruit is an avocado.

In this part of Europe it is quite exotic, but in some regions of the world it was known thousands of years ago. Today we can easily buy them even in small shops. It is worth getting to know its unique properties and composition, because it is a fruit that is extremely beneficial for our health.

Where does the avocado come from?

The avocado, also known as the tasty avocado, grows mainly in the Americas. Studies show that it originally came from the southern regions of today's Mexico, but over time it has spread to other areas as well. The plum belongs to the evergreen trees, which can only be found in tropical and subtropical climates. From southern Mexico, the plant has spread throughout the whole of Central and South America; today it can be traced back to Peru. 76% of the world's avocado production is in South America. Slightly more than 11% are in African countries. Avocados have been imported into Europe and have also been accepted in some southern countries; 2% of the world's avocado production is from countries such as Italy and Spain.

How to eat avocados?

The avocado has a shape resembling a bit of a Polish pear; underneath the skin there is a flesh with a buttery texture. Fruit is most conveniently eaten with an ordinary spoon. In the middle of it there is a thick seed. The easiest thing to do is simply to cut the fruit lengthwise up to the stone. Then divide it into two parts, remove the stone and eat the flesh with a spoon. The fruit can also be peeled and cut into slices.

Characteristics of avocados

Avocados have a lot of valuable properties for our body. It is a very rich source of monounsaturated fats, necessary for the proper functioning of our bodies. It contains B vitamins, as well as A, C, PP, K and H. It is also one of the richest sources of vitamin E. There are also minerals important for our body, especially calcium, phosphorus and potassium. One of the most important components of avocado is oleic acid. Thanks to it, the fruit is perfect for hypertension and various types of heart diseases. Prevents heart attacks and regulates blood cholesterol levels. The fruit also has a great influence on the functioning of the digestive system, cures stomach pains, constipation and diarrhea. It also has a good influence on our liver. It is worth remembering that avocados contain quite a lot of fat. It is a fat that is healthy for our body and has many important advantages, but at the same time it makes the fruit quite calorific. 100 g of avocado is about 220 calories, so people who are slimming and taking particular care of the line should be careful to include it in their diet. On the other hand, however, the fat contained in it has many important pro-health properties. Above all, it facilitates the absorption of vitamins and minerals from other foods.

Avocado oil

The avocado itself can also be used to make many other products that can be used in both the culinary arts and cosmetics. One of the most important is avocado oil, considered to be one of the healthiest oils in the world. It is characterized by excellent taste and can be very widely used in your kitchen; at the same time it contains practically no cholesterol and unhealthy fats for our body. It can be used for frying, it is also perfect as an addition to various salads. In this case, it also significantly increases the aesthetic value of the dish - because it has an interesting, greenish color.

Avocado oil is widely used in today's cosmetic industry and can be found in a wide variety of products. It is often found in soaps or skin lotions, because due to its properties it actually has a very positive effect on our appearance. Vitamins contained in it allow to maintain a young look of the skin and ensure smoothing wrinkles. The oil also improves skin hydration. It also has protective and prophylactic functions. It prevents acne and is also suitable for its treatment. It also protects the skin against the harmful effects of the sun's rays.

Avocados - recipes

Avocados have many uses in our kitchen. In Europe, it is known as an ordinary fruit, but in its regions of origin it plays an extremely important role in the traditional art of cooking. Probably the most famous dish - or rather an addition to dishes - made from this fruit is Guacamole, a famous sauce found mainly in Mexican cuisine. However, its history is much longer, as it was probably already present in the Aztec cuisine. Avocado is its main ingredient.

In addition to the fruit itself, you only need a little salt and lemon or lime juice to make Guacamole. Preparation of the basic version is very simple; remove the seeds from the fruit pulp and place in a dish, and then crush with a fork to a smooth mass. Add a little salt and juice to enrich the taste. However, this is the basis itself, as many other ingredients such as tomatoes, onions and garlic are added to Guacamole - it all depends on our appreciation and taste.

With avocados you can also prepare a lot of delicious salads. An interesting idea is to prepare cabbage and avocado salad, additionally enriched with crispy greaves or other vegetables. Based on avocado with a small amount of carrot and peas, you can also prepare a delicious soup - cream. The very consistency of this fruit makes it an ideal ingredient in such dishes.