Avocados are a versatile, nutritiously-
concentrated raw superfood
I've always regarded avocados as this kind of magical food. I may not be a nutritionist, but I enjoy foods that come in natural containers, rinds, peels, etc. Like many vegans, I also enjoy the tastiness and high polyunsaturated fat content of this berry fruit.
Avocado Recipes for Diabetes
Couple this with the magical benefits of the dietary component of veganism for diabetes. According to this article in the New York Times, several experts will be meeting in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City to show how a vegan diet can actually reverse diabetes.
Among the invited speakers is vegan chef Jason Wyrick who was diagnosed with Type II diabetes not ten years ago. Check out the article to find Wyrick's diabetic-friendly avocado recipes.
While veganism is an inherently ethical way of living, we can show our peers the overflowing list of benefits to our health and the environment. However, I encourage vegan educators to resist using these factors to cover up the core issue of animal rights. "Selling principles" are often used as excuses to completely avoid having a dialogue about animals. Unfortunately, the fundamental concept of human-nonhuman relations is completely avoided as well in each such instance.
Go vegan. It's easy and better for your health and for the planet. But, most importantly, it's the morally right thing to do.
-Gary L. Francione
Twitter 
Facebook
Comments
Perfect timing, Adam. I just heard from a friend with diabetes who thought he could not go vegan!
Living in Florida, one of the first things I had to plant in my yard was an avacado tree. It's over 20 foot tall now and yields far more than any one person could ever eat. Nice to know when I share with neighbors and friends I can tell them of the benefits of fighting diabetes as well. :)
Oh! And a fun way to encourage kids to eat avocoados - Have them grow a tree from the pit. Very easy - with just a few toothpicks and a jar of water...
I think I read somewhere that an Avocado is one of the most perfect foods you can give to a young child. Sounds like they are good for the rest of us as well.
Cheers!
'Polyunsaturated'? Yes, you are no nutritionist, you've proved it. _Monounsaturated_.
Yes - I've got a Diabetes II spouse, (we're both vegan) and I'd love to hear more from this conference. You can't imagine the rubbish i have to listen ot on this head.........
Alvin, Adam was correct in mentioning polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Yes, they exist: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyunsaturated_fat
You may be more familiar with specific kinds of PUFAs such as the omega-3 essential fatty acids: ALA, EPA, and DHA. Anyway, Adam was correct.
Adam, thanks for pointing out the importance of maintaining the animal rights message rather than masking the ethical issues behind more mainstream dressings.
~Tim
(2) Based on USDA SR22, you can check the relative amount of various fats (as well as other nutrients) in avocados, either by using the freely downloadable CHRON-O-meter, or on www.nutritiondata.com ; or, more tediously, directly at www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search . For the entry 'Avocados, raw, all commercial varieties', we see:
Monounsaturated Fat :14.7g
Saturated Fat: 3.2g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.7g
of which latter --
Total Omega-3 fatty acids:165mg
Total Omega-6 fatty acids: 2534mg
You -- perhaps Adam as well -- need a reliable, vegan-written book about nutrition. 'Plant Based Nutrition and Health' by Stephen Walsh (Vegan Society / UK) would do well.
(1) Tim -- Rather surprised to find your 'correction' of my correction, and not quite sure what your point could be. The Wikipedia article you mention makes no mention whatsoever of avocados. Now, the facts of the matter are these: yes, avocados contain PUFAs, both omega-3 and omega-6, but in very small amounts; in fact they have more saturated fat than they do PUFAs. So far as their fat composition is concerned, the reason why avacodos are often recommended is for the same reason as is olive oil -- they are high in monounsaturated fat, which on the one hand is held to be beneficial in its own right (disputed by Esselstyn - Novick - McDougall), and on the other hand is a counterweight to vegans getting -- from most oils, from most seeds and nuts, and from grains -- too much omega-6.
It's spelled 'CRON-o-meter', not 'CHRON-o-meter', no 'h'.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!