AVOCADO

1. Health Benefits of Avocado

1. Eating avocados may help reduce the risk of macular degeneration.

Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of vision loss.

Doctors haven't figures out exactly what causes this breakdown in the eye, but they have identified a number of factors that affect the speed at which the condition progresses. This breakdown affects millions of older people.

It is incurable.

Once the macula degenerates (breaks down) it cannot be fixed. In the early stages of this disease, vision is not affected (which is why it's important to get your eyes checked every year so that if you have it, it can be caught early).

The macula lies in the center of the retina.

The retina is where light is focused so that you can see.

It allows us to see fine details.

The macula is what gives us the ability to see details, such as people's faces, letters on a page, etc. When the macula is destroyed, vision reaches the point of being legally blind. Peripheral vision is not affected.

Macular degeneration can be slowed down.

If this macular degeneration is caught early enough, it can be slowed down to the point where it probably will never become a problem.

EAT SMARTER TAKE AWAY: Macular degeneration can cause you to become legally blind. Avocados may help prevent this from happening.

2. Disadvantages of Avocado

1. Avocados can be cross-reactive.

You can suffer an allergic reaction if your allergic to other fruits.

If you are allergic to kiwi, tomatoes, or bananas, your chances of having an allergic reaction to avocados goes way up. This can happen if your allergic to chestnuts as well.

An allergy to latex can cause you to have an anaphylactic reaction.

If you have an allergy to latex, you can have a severe reaction to avocados which can result in anaphylactic shock – which can cause you breathing problems.

Get immediate medical help.

If you start having a severe reaction to avocados, get immediate attention as anaphylactic shock can kill you.

EAT SMARTER TAKE AWAY: If you suspect you might be allergic to avocados, get tested or avoid them.

3. Top 100 Avocado Recipes

Cookbook

Avocado Recipes

To the cookbook

4. Avocado Recipes in Video

n/a

5. About Avocados

How many varieties of avocado are there?

There are more than 1,000 different varieties found throughout the world.

Where do avocados grow?

Most avocado trees can't survive freezing temperatures, although several cold-resistant varieties have been bred. These avocados can tolerate temperatures down to 20o F and suffer only minor damage to their leaves.

How warm does it need to be to grow avocados?

Avocados do best with moderately warm temperatures (between 60o F and 85o F). Once they are established, they can tolerate colder temperatures, right around 30o F is the lower limit for most trees.

What kind of climate do avocados grow in?

Avocados generally do well in either a tropical or subtropical region, depending on the species.

How long can avocados live?

They will live until something kills it. Some trees in Mexico are over 400 years old, and they are still producing fruit.

6. Avocado vs. Almonds

Everyone knows that avocados are rich in heart-healthy fats (and calories), but you may not appreciate how they stack up against almonds, another highly touted source. They both take the prize for being rich in monounsaturated fats (MUFAs). (Note: Botanically, avocados and almonds grown on fruit trees, with almonds being the seed of the fruit of the almond tree.) A serving of avocado (1 cup sliced) has about 234 calories, 21 grams of fat, 10 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein, while a serving of almonds (¼ cup or 22 almonds) contains around 160 calories, 14 grams of fat, 2 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. As calorie-dense sources of healthy fats, avocados and almonds have a great many health benefits, including lowering blood glucose, insulin, blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Replacing foods that are high in saturated fats with avocados and almonds has been shown to help in weight loss. Avocados have the advantage of being more versatile as an ingredient in preparing all manner of dishes, as well as having a smooth, buttery, satisfying taste and texture. But then there’s the satisfying crunch of an almond eaten out of hand. It’s a win-win proposition.

7. History of Avocado

From the ancient language of the Aztecs to interference by the US government.

This fruit has been called by many names, and during a part of its existence had no name at all. The avocado is a fruit, specifically it's classified as berry.

The avocado tree originated in South Central Mexico.

Technically speaking, each new tree is a new variety. This makes it difficult to trace where the trees is from originally, but scientists believe that the tree is native to Mexico, around the state of Puebla.

Avocados were used 10,000 BCE.

Evidence of avocados being used was found in a cave in Puebla. This evidence dates back to 10,000 BCE.

Cultivation of the tree began around 5,000 BCE.

Scientists believe that people began growing the trees at this time. Before they grew the trees, people would pick the fruit of the wild avocado tree.

8. Q&A About Avocado

Can I grow avocados in my garden?

You can grow avocados in your garden as long as you live in an area with mild winters where the temperature doesn't drop below 20o F, or if you can transport them inside during the cold months.

Can I grow avocados inside of my house?

Avocados can grow in a large pot. If you opt to use this method, keep your trees in full sunlight, and make sure that you prune them frequently as they can grow to be very large.

Will avocados grow in greenhouses?

Avocados can grow in greenhouses. Just make sure to keep them trimmed to 10 – 15 feet so that they don't out grow your green house.

Can I plant an avocado from seed?

Yes, you can bury the seed, or you can start it in a pot in your home and then transplant the fledgling tree.

If I want to plant an avocado start, where do I get one?

You can order starts online. They will come in a pot with soil and will be 3 – 4 feet tall when they arrive.

9. Nutritional Information

This is the nutritional information for one avocado (5.1 oz).

10. Research

"Avocado Varieties." Avocado Varieties. University of California, n.d. Web. 24 June 2016. http://ucavo.ucr.edu/avocadovarieties/avocadovarieties.html.

"Plants Profile for Persea Americana Americana (avocado)." Plants Profile for Persea Americana Americana (avocado). USDA.gov, n.d. Web. 24 June 2016. http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=PEAMA2.

Westover, Jessica. "What Climate Does an Avocado Tree Need to Grow?" Home Guides. Demand Media, n.d. Web. 24 June 2016. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/climate-avocado-tree-need-grow-55865.html.