Did you know that the Aztec word for avocado was
ahuacatl, which means
"testicle tree"? Nope. Neither did I.
But I did know about the
nutritional benefits of avocados and as I was able to get
2 organic avo's for $2 at
Taste Organics the other day (of course walking out with 6 for $6), I've been indulging and thought I'd share some known (but sometimes forgotten) facts with you.
- Avocados are a
fruit, not a vegetable, and have the
highest protein content of any fruit and contain
more potassium than bananas.
- Avocados contain oleic acid, which is a monounsaturated fat (a
GOOD FAT) that may help to lower cholesterol.
- One cup of avocado has 23% of the Daily Value for
folate, a nutrient important for
heart health. Folate is also very important for
pregnant women. Just think; the shape of an avocado is the shape of a womans womb is it not? How long does it take for an avo to grow from seed to fruit? 9 months. How long does it take for a baby to grow? ... Interesting hey...
- Avocados have significant quantities of
tocopherols - which most of you would know as - vitamin E. Whenever I hear
"vitamin E" I automatically think
"beautiful skin". So mush one up and apply it to your skin. Absolute
baby soft skin bliss will soon follow :)
- Blissing out on some avo in your salad will greatly increase your body's ability to absorb the
health-promoting carotenoids that vegetables provide.
Um.. haha ok... What the hell are carotenoids? Simply put; they're pigments. And they are largely responsible for the
red, yellow, and orange color of fruits and vegetables, but are also found in many
dark green vegetables. They are known to protect your cells from the damaging effects of free radicals, provide a source of
vitamin A (needed for clear skin), enhance the functioning of your immune system, and help your reproductive system to function properly.
Since carotenoids are
lipophilic (literally, fat-loving, which means they are soluble in fat, not water), consuming carotenoid-rich foods (
think carrots, apricots, mangoes, squash, and sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, and collard greens, tomatoes, guava, and pink grapefruit) along with monounsaturated-fat-rich avocado might enhance their bioavailability.
But enough with the facts, here's my
RECIPE!!Silky Lemon Mousse
I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to name this creation as nothing sounded very appealing. So here we have
"Silky Lemon Mousse" and you'll just have to take my word for it. It's quick. It's super easy. It tastes so good and it a
guilt-free delicious, decadent, eye-candy of a dessert.
You'll need:1 avocado (cut into chunks)
1 lemon (juice only)*
6 medjool dates (soaked)*
5 tbsp date water (that is the water you soaked your dates in)
BLEND until smooth and creamy! Set in the fridge to thicken a little until ready to serve - or if you cant wait, dig in straight away like I did! Dish it into pretty little dishes or bowls and garnish with a small date and some sliced lemon rind!INDULGE IN A LITTLE BLISS ;)
* Try lime juice in place of lemon for a tangy lime mousse.
* If you dont want to use dates or have none, try 1/4 cup agave syrup or even honey... or if you want something with less sugar, feel free to try Stevia or Yacon Syrup.
