Avocados. Are. The. Best. Fruit. In. The. Whole. World. Fruit, you say? Why yes... it may be hard to believe, but that tasty green thing is not a vegetable, but a fruit -- a berry, to be exact.
Honestly, there might be something slightly wrong with you if you don't like avocado. We could happily eat it everyday -- as long as it's not a hot avocado ... that's just gross. Read on to find out things about the avocado you never knew. These are the reasons why you should grab one right now, cradle it, kiss it and thank it. Then eat it -- or put it in on your face.
Avocados are really fattening, but in a very good way.
They have more fat than any other fruit, but don't let that deter you from eating them! Avocados are full of incredibly healthy mono-unsaturated fat. It's the most amazing kind of fat because it is good for your heart. Still skeptical? Allow the American Heart Association explain why mono-unsaturated fats are the bomb:
"[They] help reduce bad cholesterol levels in your blood and lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. They also provide nutrients to help develop and maintain your body’s cells. Monounsaturated fats are also typically high in vitamin E, an antioxidant vitamin most Americans need more of."
Yes, you read that right. It's full of a fat that makes your body healthy. Be still our beating hearts.
"Charred Corn and Avocado Pizza" by Two Peas And Their Pod
The avocado's nickname is the "alligator pear."
Because its wrinkled rough green skin looks like an alligator's and it's pear-shaped. When it's cut open, an avocado sort of looks like an alligator's eye, too.
Eating avocados can regulate your blood pressure.
Avocados are full of magnesium and potassium, two nutrients known to help reduce blood pressure. The avocado provides more magnesium than twenty other fruits, including the banana, kiwi and strawberry.
"Avocado Salad" by A Beautiful Mess
Avocados make the best spread for bread.
Forget butter, jam, mayonnaise or peanut butter. Have you ever heard of avocado toast? It's basically the best thing ever. You'll even be getting the benefit of over 20 nutrients when you mash it up and put it on your breakfast toast.
"Garlicky Shrimp Avocado Sandwiches" by Annie's Eats
Guacamole is the healthiest and best dip ever.
Here's a tip: Contrary to popular belief, adding the avocado's pit to a bowl of guacamole is not what keeps your dip fresh and green days after making it. The real trick is adding plenty of lime and lemon juice. It's the exposure to oxygen that turns your guac brown -- lime and lemon juice's acidity slows down the oxidation process.
"Perfect Guacamole" by Simply Recipes
There is such thing as avocado oil, and it's said to do wonders for your body.
Avocado oil, or fat pressed from the fruit, is similar in form to olive oil. However, when you cook with avocado oil, you could be fighting heart disease, cancer and signs of aging. Research in Mexico has shown that the oil has the power to combat destructive rogue oxygen molecules. These types of molecules are known to destroy cell membranes, proteins and DNA. Avocado oil to the rescue!
Avocados are a much cheaper version of Botox.
That's right, avocados are not only for eating. An avocado can serve as a wonderful moisturizer, treat sunburns by preventing chafing, and it even help reduce wrinkles. Try this easy mask to block wrinkles from forming and to seriously hydrate dry skin: Mix raw honey, yogurt and an avocado together, and then slather it on your face. Hey, Kim Kardashian seems to enjoy it.
Avocados are a great source of fiber.
If you're tired of eating beans to get your fiber fix, start eating some avocados. There are 10 grams of fiber in a medium-sized avocado, with 75 percent of that fiber being insoluble (the one that speeds up the digesting process), and the other 25 percent being soluble (responsible for making you feel "full").
"Avocado Lettuce Tomato Sandwich (ALT)" by Simply Recipes
Avocados help your body absorb the nutrients from other foods.
One study showed that when avocado is added to salad, the absorption of beta-carotene from carrots increased 13.6 times, and the absorption of alpha-carotene from lettuce increased 4.3 times compared to the same salad eaten without avocado. The reason is because the mono-saturated fat in an avocado helps the body absorb fat-soluble carotenoid phynutrients better.
"Roast Carrot, Lentil & Avocado Salad" by Verses From My Kitchen
Avocados make for a great butter substitute for healthier baked goods.
If you're trying to eat healthier, you can swap in the super-fruit for butter in most recipes for baked goods. Chocolate-chip cookies and banana bread can taste delicious when baked with avocado. Check out these awesome avocado brownies from "How Sweet Eats." There's even avocado in the frosting!
There are so many ways avocados can be eaten. Paninis, anyone?
"Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, Avocado, & Feta Sandwich" by Two Peas And Their Pod
"Cornmeal, Avocado, and Lime Pancakes" by Food 52
How about some avocado pie?
"Avocado Mambo Pie" by Food 52
Or a nice chilled soup?
"Chilled Avocado and Yogurt Soup with Melon" by Huffpost Taste
Avocados can make a mean pasta sauce...
"Avocado Pesto Pasta" by Gimme Some Oven
You definitely need to try this gelato...
"Avocado Gelato" by Food 52
It's settled: We
CORRECTION: A previous version of this post stated that avocados contain monosaturated fats; they in fact contain mono-unsaturated fats.