I get asked this question a lot, “Why the avocado?”
Avocados are just ONE of the many foods that we call super. It contains all the essential amino acids required for protein synthesis in the body and does so with an abundance of oleic acid. Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fat that is wonderful for your health.
Yes, I know it’s fat. But remember when I said we need fat to sustain life? We need it in our diets to help absorb some other vitamins like vitamins A, D, E & K. Without good sources of fat- our hair, skin, and nails would succumb to their brittle end. That means no shiny hair, no strong nails, and no glowing skin. Girls.. we all know the trouble. This type of healthy fat can also help lower blood pressure and ease the pain of joint stiffness.
So how does this little fruit, also known as the “Alligator Pear” do so much? The trick is in the green flesh and oil. These together contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents that help to reduce inflammation in the body. We could have inflammation in our bodies without even realizing any discomfort. The problem is when our bodies undergo inflammation for long periods of time without cleansing our system, the cells become irritated and disease starts to plague the whole system. It is so important to keep our bodies neutral, with no inflammation.
The state of disease is ultimately the opposite of the state of health.
Think about it in terms of a broken ankle. When we break an ankle or arm or even a leg, what immediately happens?
…1. The area swells, 2. The body produces heat and 3. We experience pain.
It’s like clock work. Without you even realizing it, our bodies have the natural tendency and ability to heal itself. The swelling happens because antibodies and other blood cells race to the infected area, causing an increase in blood circulation. Our body produces heat because it is undergoing stress, hormones such as glucocorticoids are released and our body is using up the extra energy it is producing to begin the healing process. We experience pain because our brain is signaling messages through our neurotransmitters so that we do not continue to walk on that broken ankle. It says, “sit down, relax, we are going to fix this broken ankle.”
-it’s just amazing what the human body can do.
So … going back to the state of inflammation, if our bodies are in constant inflammatory mode, our cells get overwhelmed and begin to shut down. When inflammation is not treated, disease begins to override. This is why it is so important to incorporate antioxidants and anti-inflammatory foods in our daily diet.
Creative Ways To Incorporate Avocados
-“Avocado Lime Rice”
Cook rice traditionally in a pot until it is fully cooked. In a small bowl mash up an avocado, lime zest and lime juice from 1 lime. Season the paste with salt, pepper, paprika and a hint of cayenne. Fold the rice into the avocado paste and serve warm.
-“Traditional Guacamole”
Mash up 3 avocados in a medium sized bowl. Add chopped tomatoes (1 large size), red onion (1/2 cup), cilantro (1/4 cup), serano pepper (2 without the seeds for mild, 2 with the seeds for spicy), lime zest & juice (1 medium sized). Season with salt, pepper, and a hint of cayenne pepper.
-“Avocado Toast”
Toast 2 pieces of whole wheat bread. Mash up the avocado into a chunky paste. Spread the paste on both pieces of the toast and layer with smoked salmon. Season with salt & pepper.
-“Avocado & Bean Salsa”
Combine 1 large diced avocado (1 can) black beans, (1 can) sweet corn, (1/4 cup) chopped cilantro, (1/2 cup) chopped red bell pepper, olive oil together. Season with Salt & pepper, cayenne and paprika. Pairs perfectly with fish tacos.
Also try..
- Avocado mayonaise
- Avocado salad dressing
- Face, skin and hair mask
- Throw it on the grill whole
- freeze it into ice cream
- Use it as a soup base
- Puree it into frosting
All photos used in this article were taken by Stephanie Rackley for The Healthy Chew
-All Rights Reserved
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email me at StephanieRackley@thehealthychew.org
