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…
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