The Scoop On Avocados

Slice, dice, and mash them into your meals

From the LifeMinute.TV Team

July 31, 2022

There are so many ways to enjoy avocados. Here is some scoop to celebrate the fruit on July 31st, National Avocado Day.

Fruit or Vegetable?
The USDA database classifies avocados as a vegetable based on common usage, but they are technically a fruit because they fit the botanical criteria for a single-seeded berry.

Heart-Healthy
Avocados are considered a superfood. At about 80 calories, one-third of a medium avocado contains nearly 20 vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. They are also a good source of dietary fiber and unsaturated fats.

Research published in March suggests that eating at least one avocado per week (equivalent to two servings or one cup) may lower the risk of developing heart disease.

Adding avocados to your diet can help elevate HDL (“good”) cholesterol.

Versatile
Avocados are incredibly versatile. Sprinkle them in soups or tacos. Spread them on sandwiches, toast, or crackers. Dice them in a salad, roll them into sushi, or slice one in half and drizzle it with lemon juice or olive oil. And of course you can mash them and make a mean guacamole. They’re also a healthy substitute for other baking ingredients such as butter, oil, or mayo.

Selection and Storage Tips
While shopping for avocados, avoid the ones that are with dark blemishes, that feel mushy, or have dents and dips in the skin. 

A hard green avocado should ripen in four to five days. To speed up the process, put it in a paper bag with a banana, kiwi, or apple. These fruits produce ethylene gas, a natural plant hormone that helps soften the avocado.

Once you’ve cut into an avocado, it will eventually turn brown when exposed to air. To slow down the browning, sprinkle it with lemon juice, lime juice, or white vinegar, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, then refrigerate it.