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Full of benefits, avocado is an ally for those who want to adopt a healthy lifestyle

An edible pseudo-fruit of the avocado tree, avocado is native to Mexico and other countries in South America. There are still many people who think that avocados are fattening and simply avoid the fruit (even more so if you are on a diet), but it is a great friend of practitioners of a healthier life. Avocados contain a high calorie content and a lot of fat, but it is a "good fat" essential for the proper functioning of the body. The moderate consumption of the fruit brings several health benefits, in addition to the possibilities of using the fruit as an ingredient in natural cosmetics.

Benefits and properties

The benefits of avocado are many. For example, when you eat avocado, the fat found in it, along with other properties, reduces “bad” cholesterol (LDL) by emulsifying the saturated fats in meat.

Also, avocado has many nutrients. About 100 grams of avocados contain 634.1 mg of potassium (more than bananas), which helps to prevent cramps and balance the level of sodium in our body. It also has vitamins A (essential for vision and growth), B1, B2, B3, B9 (folic acid - good for pregnant women), C and E.

Its fatty acids bring many benefits to the skin: they have the ability to keep it hydrated and reduce redness and irritation. That's why the cosmetic industries love avocado and you can make homemade creams with it. These same moisturizing properties can also be applied to hair, as avocado helps repair damaged hair, giving it shine and softness. Check out an avocado shampoo and conditioner recipe for dry hair.

The inclusion of avocado in the diet is also indicated for those interested in weight loss and muscle mass gain. This is due to the fats present in avocados, which promote greater satiety and also help control appetite by lowering the insulin level. The fruit contains potassium, which helps muscle recovery and also aids in the absorption of nutrients from other foods.

The variety of avocado most found in Brazil has only 5% oil content, much less than avocados, which are the types of avocados found in the northern hemisphere - they have this content between 20% and 30%.

Avocado has been studied as a potential protector for the liver. Studies carried out in rats have been very successful, but its effectiveness in humans has not yet been proven. If all goes well, avocados and blueberries could one day be a way to treat hepatitis C.

avocado oil

Avocado oil is extracted from the centrifugation of ripe fruits, which are already softer and have the highest oil contents. This oil is a great natural substitute for cosmetics and creams, which often contain harmful chemicals like parabens. Read more in the article: "Avocado vegetable oil is rich in nutrients and can serve many purposes".

Choosing your avocado and how to prepare it

If you want to prepare recipes with avocado, the ideal is to choose a fruit without cracks or spots on the skin. The pulp should be firm, with a slight softness. When it is too firm, it means the avocado is green; too soft, overdone. If you ended up buying a green avocado, you can wrap it in a sheet of newspaper or put it in a container of wheat flour. It may take a few days, but it will mature.

You can prepare sweet or savory avocado - there are recipes to suit all tastes. The most common in Brazil is to eat sweet avocado, mashed with sugar or in the form of avocado cream, or as a base for the popular Mexican guacamole. In the northern hemisphere, avocado is more present in salads and hot dishes. How about trying homemade avocado mayonnaise, a different lemon tart or stuffed avocados? You will be surprised.

• Four recipes to put avocado in your eating routine

If you want to grow avocados, it is important to ensure cross-pollination: seedlings of different cultivars should be planted close together, because the flower of the avocado tree develops the male organ first and then the female, so it cannot self-fertilize.