Avocado Health and treat

CEBU, Philippines - In the Philippines, avocados are almost as common as bananas. Only that avocados are seasonal and bananas are there all year round. With avocados, the edge for consumers is that in its season, avocados come aplenty – and so the fruit are priced rather cheap.

While it’s true that, among fruits, avocados are higher in calories, it is significantly lower in sugar. And avocados contain mostly monounsaturated fatty acids – about 20 grams per avocado – which are known to help reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering the “bad” cholesterol and raising the “good” cholesterol. Another heart health benefit of avocado is its high potassium content. Potassium may help lower blood pressure, which in turn may help reduce the risk for hypertension-related diseases such as stroke and heart disease.

There’s more yet: Avocados are very high in fiber, with 14 grams in one avocado. Fiber aids in appetite control and, thus, helps in weight management. And fiber can help protect against certain cancers as well as inflammation.

A 2013 study found that avocado eaters had a higher diet quality and a lower risk for metabolic syndrome than non-avocado eaters.

To get a good ripe avocado, one would have to look and feel the fruit. If the avocado gives subtly to a gentle squeeze – it means the fruit is perfectly ripe. If there’s no give to it at all, it’s not ripe, meaning it may need a couple more days before it can be used. The avocado that maintains one’s finger imprints when squeezed is over-ripe.

Avocado Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 pc Avocado, peeled and pitted

½ cup Milk

¼ cup Refined Sugar

½ teaspoon Vanilla extract

Directions:

? Mash the avocado meat with an electric mixer, or use a food processor.

? Blend in the milk, sugar and vanilla until smooth.

? Chill for about 20 minutes before serving. (FREEMAN)