AVOCADO

Lately, I have been struggling with where to go with this blog… in blog life I am a relative newbie, and therefore was a bit reassured when two wonderful women… experience bloggers and writers (Baxtron Life and City Corporate to Suburb Mama ), told me to do whatever I want with my blog, it’s mine… so I guess I will.

Today, let talk about AVOCADO!

The avocado (Persea gratissima or P. americana) gets its name from the Latin American Nahuatl word ahuacatl meaning "testicle," a reference to the shape of the fruit. It was discovered in Mexico approximately 291 B.C. The more easily-pronounced name of avocado was created by Sir Henry Sloane in 1669. The word itself first appeared in American print in 1697.

Early Spanish explorers discovered the Aztecs enjoying avocados, but it was long considered a tasteless food.  It was the Spanish explorers who brought the avocado to the English.

Avocado is widely considered a vegetable, since it is commonly used in salads. However, it is actually a fruit that tastes like a vegetable, and most markets display it with other typical fruits.

Eating nutrient dense foods is one of the healthiest ways to eat.  Nutrient density is a measure of the amount of nutrients a food contains in comparison to the number of calories. Avocados are naturally nutrient dense containing the following key nutrients:

There are 13 vitamins that the body absolutely needs: vitamins A, C, D, E, K and the B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folate). Avocados naturally contain many of these vitamins.

MONOUNSATURATED FATS – Helps to lower blood cholesterol if used in place of saturated fats.

VITAMIN K – Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in blood clotting. It is known as the clotting vitamin, because without it blood would not clot. Some studies indicate that it helps in maintaining strong bones in the elderly.

FOLATE – Promotes healthy cell and tissue development.  This is especially important during periods of rapid cell division and growth such as infancy and pregnancy.  Folate is also essential for metabolism of homocysteine and helps maintain normal levels of this amino acid.

POTASSIUM – In the body, potassium is classified as an electrolyte.  Potassium is a very important mineral to the human body.  It has various roles in metabolism and body functions and is essential for the proper function of all cells, tissues, and organs:  It assists in the regulation of the acid-base balance; assists in protein synthesis from amino acids and in carbohydrate metabolism; and, it is necessary for the building of muscle and for normal body growth.

VITAMIN E – A fat-soluble vitamin that acts as an antioxidant that protects the body tissue from damage caused by unstable substances called free radicals.  Free radicals can harm cells, tissues, and organs. Vitamin E is important in the formation of red blood cells and helps the body use vitamin K.  At lower levels, vitamin E may help protect the heart.  Vitamin E also plays a role in healthy skin and hair.

LUTEIN -- A carotenoid (a natural pigment) that may be associated with a lower risk of eye diseases. Lutein is an important antioxidant that may help your eyes stay healthy while maintaining the health of your skin. It provides nutritional support to your eyes and skin and has been linked to promoting healthy eyes through reducing the risk of macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in adults 65 years of age and older.

MAGNESIUM –An essential mineral for human nutrition.  Magnesium in the body serves several important functions:  Contraction and relaxation of muscles; Function of certain enzymes in the body; Production and transport of energy; and Production of Protein.

VITAMIN C –A water-soluble vitamin that is necessary for normal growth and development.  Vitamin C is one of many antioxidants.  Antioxidants are nutrients that block some of the damage caused by free radicals, which are by-products that result when our bodies transform food into energy. Vitamin C is required for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body.  It is necessary to form collagen, an important protein used to make skin, scar tissue, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels.

VITAMIN B6 –A water-soluble vitamin.  Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water.  The body cannot store them.  That means you need a continuous supply of such vitamins in your diet.  Vitamin B6 helps the immune system produce antibodies.  Antibodies are needed to fight many diseases.  Vitamin B6 helps maintain normal nerve function and form red blood cells.  The body uses it to help break down proteins.  The more protein you eat, the more vitamin B6 you need.

Source: Home Cooking, California Avocado

So at the suggestion of my Grandma (Mammy) I decided to create something fun for Little Aiden to eat while he’s sick with a cold. Let’s see how it goes…