All There Is To Know About Avocados
Whether you eat them smashed up in guacamole or sliced into pieces as a salad topping, there are many good things about avocados besides the awesome taste:
Avocados are fruit
While this green darling may reside in the veggie section at the grocery store it is a fruit, technically speaking. Avocados are the matured ovary of a flower made up of a tough outer layer, a middle layer called the flesh, and the seed, which places them in the fruit category. They are a berry, to be more specific.
They’re healthy
A recent study at Pennsylvania State University found that eating one avocado a day can lower cholesterol. They also have 975 milligrams of potassium per fruit, which is almost twice as much as a large banana. A typical avocado will give the eater four grams of protein. It’s one of the highest-protein fruits out there. Looking to help your digestive system along? A medium avocado offers 10 grams of fiber.
Avocados are grown in the U.S.
The majority of the avocados eaten in the U.S. come from Florida and California. The most popular type from California is the Hass variety. Floridian avocados tend to be bigger and less oily, like the Booth, Lula and Taylor varieties.
No packaging necessary
This hardy fruit doesn’t require a box, bag or plastic wrap. It has its own packaging: skin! Avocados do well in lunch bags and for picnics because they are not easily smushed. Just keep anything with sharp corners away from this fruit, as it is susceptible to punctures which lead to bruising.
Looking to ripen an avocado?
Place your not-quite-ripe avocado in a brown paper bag with an apple or a banana and it will be ready to eat in no time. Bananas and apples release ethylene gas, which occurs in plants and will speed up the ripening process. No more picking through the unripe avocados at the store – just find one that is in good condition and you won’t have to wait long.
Practically everybody can eat them
Avocados are great for babies and people with troublesome teeth because they don’t require a lot of work to eat and aren’t a choking hazard. They are free of gluten, dairy and animal products, so people with Celiac disease or gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance, vegans and vegetarians can all enjoy them! The next time you’re heading to a gathering where you’re not sure about the attendees’ diets, grab some gluten-free crackers or chips and avocado. Almost anyone can eat them.
