Why Should I Eat Avocado?

(See below for my favorite desert: Vegan Avocado Chocolate Mousse Recipe)

There are so many reasons – and so many ways – to love avocado. A culinary delight, avocados provide up to 20 nutrients including fiber, vitamins K, C and E, as well as folate, magnesium, zinc, and potassium. In fact, they actually have four times more potassium than bananas!

Unlike most fruits, avocado is low in carbohydrates and high in a healthy plant fat called oleic acid. Like olive oil, oleic acid has been linked to health benefits such as reducing inflammation, protecting cells against cancer, and reducing cholesterol. This amazing fruit also improves digestive health and helps your body absorb other nutrients.

There are limitless ways to add avocado to snacks or meals!

• Healthy spread on toast
• Blend it into scrambled eggs
• Add it to dips, salsa, or soup
• Slice or dice for a salad topping
• Just add salt and lime and eat with a spoon!

Avocado is optimally ripe when the fruit is mildly soft to touch.  Its flesh should be creamy and green-gold in color. Do not eat any brown spots in the flesh, those are mold, not good!  If you don’t use the whole fruit at one time, keep leftover avocado fresh by leaving the pit in the unused portion and allow it to sit, uncovered, on a counter for a few hours before placing it in the fridge (still uncovered) for up to two days. You can also squeeze some lemon or lime onto the unused portion to keep it fresh. When you want to use the other half, simply peel off the brown crust to reveal a soft and deliciously ripe avocado beneath.

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