Content
- 1 The chemical composition of avocado
- 2 Calorie content of avocado
- 3 The benefits and harms of avocado for the body
- 4 Benefits of avocado oil
- 5 The benefits of avocado seeds
- 6 Avocado recipes with photos
- 7 Application in cosmetology
- 8 Growing an avocado from a seed at home
- 9 Harm and contraindications of avocado
- 10 Conclusion
- 11 Reviews
More recently, avocado was exotic, not available to the majority, but today this healthy fruit is increasingly appearing in the diet of Russians. And the most important questions when getting to know him, among others, are the benefits and harms of avocados for the body, contraindications and benefits of daily use.
The birthplace of the avocado, or American Perseus, is Central and South America. The Aztecs, Incas and Mayans mainly used it as food, but also as an analogue of modern face and hair masks. In the 1830s, avocados were introduced to Hawaii and Florida, and then to California in the 1850s. However, it was not until the 20th century that varieties for large-scale commercial cultivation were developed in the United States. Today, California is the main supplier of these healthy fruits, and Spain is the only European country to grow avocados.
Common names for the fruit are also "alligator pear" and "oily fruit".
The chemical composition of avocado
For 20 years now, avocado has had the status of the most nutritious fruit, as evidenced by the entry in the Guinness Book of Records. Vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, fiber ... And this is not the whole list of useful nutrients contained in an alligator pear.
- Monounsaturated fat, or "healthy fats", have the ability to lower bad cholesterol levels, and therefore reduce the risk of stroke.
- Polyunsaturated fats are also useful: they tend to improve brain activity and accelerate cell growth.
- Cellulose Benefits by strengthening the cardiovascular system, reducing the risk of obesity and diabetes. It helps control weight, speeds up metabolism and prevents constipation. Fiber helps eliminate toxic substances without harming the body.
- Pantothenic acid speeds up the metabolic process.
- Folates are beneficial for the healthy development of cells and tissues, which is especially important during infancy and pregnancy.
- Vitamin K has a positive effect on the work of the circulatory system. It has the ability to increase blood clotting, reduces the risk of bleeding and hemorrhage, is directly involved in the growth and restoration of bone tissue, neutralizes harmful substances when they enter the body.
- Copper promotes the production of red blood cells in the blood, is directly involved in the growth and development of cells and tissues.
- Riboflavin tends to speed up metabolism, helps to get rid of stress, is good for vision. Also Riboflavin is a beauty vitamin, because it improves the condition of the skin and hair.
- Potassium useful for brain activity, has the ability to lower blood pressure, blunting the harmful properties of sodium.
- Vitamin E - An antioxidant that protects tissues and cells from the harmful effects of free radicals.
- Vitamin B6 helps the immune system produce the antibodies needed to fight harmful agents and diseases.
- Vitamin C tends to accelerate the process of cell growth and regeneration, promotes the production of collagen.
- Magnesium useful for the work of all systems: from strengthening immunity and mental health to strengthening the heart and blood vessels.
- Thiamine plays an important role in metabolic processes in the body, helping to get the most out of the food you eat.
- Iron directly involved in the process of hematopoiesis, immunobiological and redox processes.
- Lutein and Zeaxanthin Are pigments found in the macula of the eye. Studies have shown that lutein has the ability to maintain healthy vision as we age and reduces the potential for eye disease.
Calorie content of avocado
A huge amount of beneficial nutrients is combined with a low calorie content of avocados, which depends on the variety and geography of growth.
The average calorie content is 160 kcal per 100 g.
The benefits and harms of avocado for the body
The valuable properties and great benefits of avocado for the body are explained by its extremely rich chemical composition, but among the many useful substances there are those that can harm the body.
The fruit is useful for strengthening the cardiovascular and nervous systems, the proper functioning of the digestive system, it stabilizes the level of blood pressure, cleanses the blood of harmful cholesterol and reduces the risk of cancer. Research shows that the first stage of cancer is inflammation, which is why the alligator pear has the beneficial ability to prevent the appearance of harmful cells.
The chemical composition of the fruit contains lutein, which can reduce inflammation, which is the body's response to harmful substances.
The fruit is also used to treat various diseases: arthritis, anemia, varicose veins and angina pectoris.
Avocado is also a powerful antioxidant: it has the ability to neutralize harm from the effects of carcinogens and strengthens the immune system.
With diabetes
Avocados also benefit diabetics, and research has not proven the harm to the fetus in this disease. The fruit has properties to stabilize blood sugar levels, lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels, and reduce blood sugar spikes. This is one of the best ways to keep diabetes under control while reducing the possible risks associated with the disease.
Avocado not only does not harm the health of diabetics, it is excellent for the daily diet, because half of the fruit contains huge benefits for the body and only 0.5 g of sugar.
For pregnant
The nutrients contained in the fruit will provide tremendous benefits to the mother's body and positively affect the development of the fetus, reducing the possible risk of abnormalities in the formation of the organs of vision, nervous system and adipose tissue.
The property of strengthening the immune system is also extremely useful during this important period: thanks to it, both mother and child will be protected from possible diseases.
Research has shown that avocados will not harm pregnant women or babies in any way.
By the way, the size of the fruit is identical to the size of a baby in the womb at 16 weeks.
For men
The benefits of avocado for men are related to its positive effects on reproductive function. The fruit increases libido, helps with problems with potency and infertility, reduces the risk of prostatitis.Its extract is often used in medicine to treat these diseases.
In addition to the direct positive effect on sexual function, the fetus is a powerful antidepressant, and getting rid of stress will also help improve the quality of sexual life.
The benefits and harms of avocado for women
Avocado is a real find for female beauty. The fruit gives not only an external effect, improving the condition of the skin and hair, it acts from the inside, having regenerating properties. Its regular use will slow down the aging process and improve skin turgor due to the production of collagen. And the ability to remove toxins from the body that harm all systems will improve overall health.
The alligator pear contains tryptophan, which is converted into serotonin, the hormone of happiness. So if cats are scratching their souls, a slice of avocado will help improve your mood.
The harm of the alligator pear to the female body has not been recorded.
When losing weight
The fruit is simply ideal for weight loss, because it tends to reduce the concentration of bad cholesterol in the blood, suppress hunger and even reduce body fat.
Avocados are both fiber and healthy fats. The high concentration of beneficial nutrients leads to the fact that the brain gives a signal of saturation with them, a feeling of satiety comes, and it does not come to desserts.
One of the functions of fats, among others, is to combat stress, which is why the body tends to form a fat layer “in reserve”. Polyunsaturated fats are great for this, so the need for unhealthy fats disappears. So the healthy fats found in avocados can help remove unhealthy fats from the body.
To combat obesity, you can add fruit to your daily diet as an independent product or as part of various dishes. If there is a need for emergency weight loss, the avocado diet will help you say goodbye to 1.5 kg in 3 days, and in 7 days lose up to 4 kg without harming the body.
You can also make many different healthy desserts from avocados that will replace the usual ones that are harmful to your figure.
Nutritionist Lydia Ionova on the beneficial properties of the fetus:
Benefits of avocado oil
Avocado oil is used in cooking, cosmetology, for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, because it has the same beneficial properties as the fruit itself.
In cooking, oil can be used both raw for making snacks, salads and pastes, and as an ingredient in boiled, fried, stewed dishes.
The "smoke point" of an alligator pear (the temperature at which the oil burns and loses its beneficial properties) is 271 ° C, therefore, during the cooking process, the taste will not be lost and the dishes will be saturated with useful substances, and heat treatment will not make food harmful to the body.
There is also experience with the use of oil orally, but to obtain benefits, and not harm, its amount should not exceed 1-1.5 tbsp. spoons a day.
The most common way to benefit from avocado oil is to improve skin and hair condition.
For hair
The oil will moisturize, restore, strengthen the hair and prevent hair loss, and the invisible film that forms on the hair will protect it from various harmful external factors. The oil is applied neat, added to shampoos or conditioners, or incorporated into masks.
Nourishing hair mask:
For skin and nails
The most valuable property of avocado oil is its regenerative ability. Its regular application on the face will increase the elasticity of the skin, saturate it with useful nutrients, improve the complexion and slow down the process of the appearance of wrinkles, including mimic ones. Oil applied in pure form to the skin of the face will protect it from the harm of ultraviolet radiation and other harmful external factors.
Avocado is one of the most effective natural remedies for skin aging! With all its beneficial nutrients, healthy fats and vitamins, the American Perseus can claim to be the tree of youth.
Face mask recipes:
Oil will be useful for nourishing and protecting the nail plate and cuticle from harmful external influences. To do this, you need to apply it with massage movements in its pure form or by mixing it with other essential oils.
The benefits of avocado seeds
Even people who regularly consume the fruit, in most cases, the bone is thrown away and considered harmful. And in vain, because it also has beneficial properties.
Only the brown peel on the bone can cause harm to the body, which is why it must be thoroughly cleaned. After that, the bone must be dried in the oven and cut into slices, chopped in a blender.
The resulting powder is used as a seasoning or a useful broth is prepared for daily use.
Avocado recipes with photos
Alligator pear can be used as an independent product, however, the taste characteristics and beneficial properties of the fruit are more advantageous in the composition of the dishes. The already huge benefits of avocados are increased when combined with certain other foods.
The extraordinary benefits of avocado are appreciated in many national cuisines.
- In the Philippines, Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam and India, avocados are used in milkshakes and added to ice cream and other desserts.
- In Brazil, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia, a drink made from sugar, milk and avocado puree, sometimes with the addition of chocolate syrup, is common.
- In Australia and New Zealand, it is commonly served with sandwiches, sushi, toast, or with chicken.
- In Ghana, it is consumed simply by placing it on a slice of bread.
- In Sri Lanka, the pulp is ground with sugar and milk and is a popular dessert.
- In Mexico and Central America, the fruit is served with rice, soups, salads, or chicken and meat.
- In Peru, avocado puree is consumed as a salad dressing.
- In Chile, it is used as a sauce for chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs. The Chilean version of Caesar salad contains large slices of avocado.
- In Kenya and Nigeria, it is included in healthy vegetable and fruit salads.
There are many different recipes, but even the simplest avocado dish will help diversify your daily diet and bring tremendous benefits to the body.
Avocado salad recipe
Ingredients:
- 3 tbsp. tablespoons of olive oil;
- juice of 1 lime;
- a quarter teaspoon of anise;
- salt pepper;
- 3 avocados;
- 150 g cherry tomatoes;
- 1 small cucumber;
- 1/3 cans of corn;
- cilantro greens.
Preparation:
- Cut avocados, cucumbers and tomatoes into slices.
- Mix avocado, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, corn, cilantro.
- Prepare the sauce: mix olive oil, lime juice and anise, season with salt and pepper.
- Add the sauce to the salad.
Avocado guacamole recipe
Ingredients:
- 4-5 avocados;
- half an onion;
- 2-3 tomatoes;
- 1 lime;
- green chili (quarter or half);
- parsley, cilantro;
- salt pepper.
Cut the avocado into slices and mash to a puree consistency. Chop the rest of the ingredients and add to the avocado, season with salt and pepper.
Serve on flat cakes or with chips.
Application in cosmetology
For cosmetic purposes, not only avocado oil is used, but also the pulp of the fruit. This method is more expensive, but what cannot be done for beauty.
Avocado face mask
- For all skin types. Mix fruit puree with 1 tbsp. a spoonful of honey. Apply to clean skin and wash off after 15 minutes. The result is a healthy complexion and a radiant glow.
- For oily skin. Mix equal proportions of mashed avocado and banana, add egg yolk. Apply to clean skin for 10-15 minutes.
Hair anti-pollution agent
The shampoo does not completely wash away particles of varnish and mousse, and traces of other daily harmful effects on the hair. But a mask with avocado and cognac will cope with this.
Recipe:
- Grind 2 egg yolks with 2 teaspoons of brandy, add 2 tbsp. tablespoons of water and mashed avocado, stir until the consistency of sour cream.
- Apply the mask with massage movements over the entire length of the hair, leave for 5-7 minutes and rinse with shampoo.
Growing an avocado from a seed at home
Alligator pear can not only bring great benefits to health and appearance, but also please the eye by settling in an apartment. True, you should not wait for the fruits, but a note of exoticism will appear on the windowsill.
Detailed instructions will help you grow a decorative tree from a bone:
Harm and contraindications of avocado
With many useful properties and benefits of avocado, its harm is minimal and is mainly associated with individual intolerance.
- Avocados contain short-chain carbohydrates that some people cannot digest, so it is contraindicated in people with irritable bowel syndrome.
- You should not eat the fruit while breastfeeding, as it can disrupt the functioning of the mammary glands, as well as harm, provoking an upset stomach in the child.
- The benefits and harms of the fetus are due to the high oil content, which is why it is contraindicated for people with liver problems.
- Excessive consumption of avocado will also bring harm, like any other product, so you should not eat more than half of the fruit per day.
Conclusion
Having studied the question of the benefits and dangers of avocado, we can come to the conclusion that the number of useful properties of this exotic fruit many times exceeds the number of existing disadvantages. That is why this healthy fruit was in the top of the most fashionable products of the decade, and its production volumes are constantly growing, and now exceed 5.6 million tons per year.
