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Avocados      

Avocado is considered an almost complete food.  The avocado is native to Central America and has been cultivated for thousands of years.  In certain parts of the world babies are weaned using mashed avocado.  Avocados are rich in potassium and vitamin A.

Avocados are high in fat, one reason they've called "butter pear." A medium-sized avocado contains 30 grams of fat, as much as a quarter-pound burger. The fat in an avocado is monounsaturated; the "good" kind that actually lowers cholesterol levels. Researchers discovered that avocados are rich in a natural substance shown to significantly lower blood cholesterol levels

Caution: Do not eat avocados or take any products containing avocados if you are using the antidepressant monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI).

Research from Ohio State University shows that avocados significantly boost absorption of carotenoids from other foods.  Adding a bit of avocado to your salads will increase absorption of the carotenoids in other foods. 

Consider avocados in place of less-healthful toppings.

Avocado is a great antioxidant and can be beneficial for skin disorders and is used to heal skin problems. The pulp is believed to be both anti-bacterial and anti-fungal.  Avocado paste can be applied to rashes and rough skin to make it smoother.

Some people use avocado to help people with sexual problems.

Avocados aid healing for people suffering from digestive and circulatory problems
201 calories - 1 medium avocado
146 calories - 1 cup sliced avocado
150 calories - 1 cup cubed avocado
230 calories - 1 cup pureed

One medium avocado contains:

4 grams of protein
10 grams of fiber.
Potassium - 1204 mg
Phosphorus - 82.4 mg
Magnesium - 78.4 mg
Calcium - 22 mg
Sodium - 20 mg
Iron - 2 mg
Also contains small amounts of selenium, manganese, copper and zinc
Vitamin A - 1230 IU
Vitamin C - 15.9 mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - .2 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - .25 mg
Niacin - 3.9 mg
Folate - 124.6 mg
Pantothenic Acid - 1.95 mg
Vitamin B6 - .56 mg
Contains some other vitamins in small amounts
The brighter the fruit, the more beta-carotene (the substance that helps to prevent cancer) your avocado contains. Select heavy, unblemished fruit. Most market sell unripe hard avocados. So after you buy one, allow it to ripen between 3 to 6 days. If avocado yield slightly to gentle pressure, it’s ready to be eaten. If you need to speed up the ripening process, place avocados in a paper bag with apple or banana. Never put avocado in a fridge since it makes the ripening process significantly slower.