Why You Should Eat Avocados Every Day

 

 

Why do you have to feed lawyers every day (if you're not already!)

It's no secret I adore food. Of all my favorite food? Lawyers. I am to them bananas! Avocados are truly one of the tiny miracle foods of nature and I urge you to enjoy them several times a week. These little green gems will do so much to help keep you from head to toe warm, they 're just too sweet to pass over. Here are some ideas about why you need to know them better — and eat them more frequently:

 

1. Relax and unwind. Lawyers won't make you cock!
Food-fat-phobia heyday is over. If, because of some misplaced, left-over-from-the-80s idea that avocados can make you fat, you are barking the wrong tree. You also lack an excellent source of monounsaturated fat – the healthier fat that is also present in olive oil – which helps to improve heart health.

Moreover, these healthy fat and fibre-rich avocados will help alleviate hunger as well. Studies show that meals that contain avocado tend to improve sensations of satiety for longer than those without, so try adding a few slices of avocado to your everyday diet to help curb meal munchies. 

 

 2. An avocado is a smooth, yummy, nutrient-bomb.
As with many superfoods, it's what counts inside, and avocados are a goldmine for nutrition. What lies inside? Avocados, besides "healthy" monounsaturated fat, contain plenty of health-boosting nutrients to help your body grow. Underneath the hard green exterior are more than 14 minerals; protein, total, with all 18 necessary amino acids; soluble fiber, to capture excess cholesterol and send it out of the system; phytosterols; polyphenols; carotenoids; omega 3s; vitamins B-complex, C , E and K, to name a few.

 

3. For your long-term wellbeing, they do incredible stuff.
Yeah, so avocados are filled with nutrients, but in practical terms, what does all this mean? It means a belly that feels fuller longer; a brain that is well-supplied with the nutrients required to function optimally now and down the road; and a body that receives the nutrition it requires to help defend against heart disease , diabetes , cancer, degenerative eye disease and brain disease. 

What's more, all those carbohydrates, good fats, and avocado fiber can help lower LDL naturally, increase your healthy HDL cholesterol, help control blood sugar, and reduce inflammation in your body and brain. It's easy to see why it 's called a superfood, with benefits like those.

 

4. Avocados and others play well.
Avocados play well with lots of other foods on your plate, with their distinct fresh green flavor and creamy texture (dairy-free!) What is really surprising though is that the study shows that avocados can help with carotinoid absorption, the compounds found in orange and red fruits and veggies that can help protect against cancer. So although they may seem a little indulgent, avocados may be lifesavers. Just a few places to dive in here:

• Top hot or cold soups in your bowl with avo chunks to add antioxidants and "super-size" nutrients.

• Mix in a nutritious creamy salad dressing with lemon juice, sugar, vinegar, spices and whip, or mix in a more liquid touch and drizzle the zesty sauce over chicken and fish dishes.

• Top burgers, egg dishes, avo-sliced chicken or fish, or mash into guacamole.

• Mix up your own super-nutritious home-made baby food by mixing avocado with fruits and veggies to make a balanced start for the little ones.
  

• Apply a quarter of a "avo" to your morning shake-or try my smoothie Chocolate Avocado.

• Enjoy an avocado half with your morning eggs as a nutritious side dish, instead of potatoes or toast.

• For a fast pre-workout or midday snack, spread a few avo slices on toasted paleo bread.

• Attach half an avo to your salad at lunchtime to keep you full until dinner — just save the mayo!

• Add the quinoa, beans, or wild rice as a tasty "mix-in."

  
  

5. Offer them the right care and they'll return the favor.
Often finding an avocado who is happy to eat with the dinner tonight can be difficult, so a little advance preparation is needed. True avo aficionados suggest buying a few firm ones at a time and then pacing the maturing process wisely so that the avocados are ready when you are – and at the same time don't all turn ripe.

To improve ripening, AvocadoCentral.com recommends wrapping one or two avocados at a time together with an apple or banana into a brown paper bag. The brown-bagged fruit will release gasses over the course of 2 to 3 days which will support the maturing process. Remove the ripe-and-ready-to-eat avo, swap it with an unripe firm one, reseal the bag and repeat!

 

Any hints:

• Buying Lawyers? The good news is that conventionally grown avos make the Clean 15 list for the Environmental Working Group, meaning they are relatively pesticide-free, and are Safe to eat as an alternative to organic versions.

• Root the avocado in until it's fully mature? Spritz the exposed fruit with lemon juice, cover or wrap tightly and allow to ripen for a day or two in the refrigerator. Save the mango, break into chunks and add to your next smoothie if that's not enough.
  

•  What matters more than you would think is how you cut and peel your avo. Wash the outer skin and pat dry, to get it right. Split lengthways in half. Pop the seed with a spoon, or run a knife over the top of the seed to twist it slightly (but be careful not to touch your fingers). Instead of scooping out the berries, gently peel the skin off with your fingers for your buck to get the full nutritious bang. The dark green fruit nearest to the skin is, it turns out, the most nutritious.