Chew on this: Avocados

Looking at an avocado, it doesn't seem like a very appetizing fruit .  Nicknamed the "alligator pear" for it's pear shape and rough, scaly-green exterior it doesn't look like much of a tasty treat.  However looks can be deceiving, for beneath that rough exterior lies a soft and creamy interior that offers a rich nutty flavor.  Aside from it's flavor, the avocado is packed full of vitamins and nutrients and it is for this reason that the avocado should be in every American's diet. 

Although the avocado has a high calorie count of about 300 calories for the average avocado, it is full of healthy fats vitamins and nutrients. The avocado offers:

• 30 grams of healthy polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats (good for the prevention of heart disease and stroke)
• the highest protein content of any other fruit
• more potassium than bananas
• 81 mcg of lutein (good for healthy eyes)
• 20 beneficial nutrients

Historically, the avocado is a fruit native to Central and South America and is used widely in Latin cooking.  Perhaps they are most widely known for making guacamole, but they can be used in a variety of dishes such as soups, sandwiches, and pastas.  Here are some ways to enjoy the avocado:

• Use avocado instead of mayonnaise to spread on sandwiches
• Spoon out the inside of the avocado, sprinkle with some lemon juice, salt and pepper and eat with crackers
• Avocado dips
• In green salad, fruit salad, or an omelet

Now is the time to start putting avocados into the diet as  the California growing season is April to September.  When picking an avocado:

•  check to make sure that the skin is not bruised. 
• If it has a stem, the stem will pull out easily 
• an unripened avocado will be hard like a rock, a ripened one will give slightly to pressure

Avocados offer many important vitamins and nutrients that are important for the prevention of heart disease, stroke, and research is showing that they may even be helpful in preventing certain types of cancer.  This is reason enough to get creative in adding avocados to the daily diet.  Try chewing on an avocado today.