Avocado is a calorie bomb, so why do so many people eat it to lose weight?

There is a kind of fruit whose reputation is very polarized. What fruit is it?

NONONO, it’s not durian.

It is this fruit, and fewer people like it than durian...

01

Avocado, does it help you gain weight or lose weight?

In fact, its scientific name is alligator pear, and it has a smell of butter, so it is also called avocado.

Image source: pexels

Compared to other fruits, avocados do contain more fat.

In terms of nutritional value, avocado fat is mainly monounsaturated oil, which is considered "good fat", but technically speaking, it is still a fruit, rich in anti-aging ingredients, antioxidants, and nearly 20 different vitamins and minerals.

An average-sized, whole Hass avocado, minus the skin and seeds, provides about 227 calories, mostly from 20 grams of healthy fat, nearly 3 grams of protein, about 12 grams of carbohydrates and 9 grams of fiber.

Avocado fat is a nutrient worth mentioning. It is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, accounting for 73.9% of the total fat. This heart-healthy fat helps reduce cardiovascular inflammation.

On the other hand, avocados are low in sugar and rich in fiber, which can keep you full for a long time after eating, helping you resist the temptation of other delicacies. In one study, people who ate avocados at lunch were less interested in eating in the next three hours than those who did not eat avocados.

In fact, avocado is equivalent to a cheat meal. Eating it can fill you up, but it is healthier than other filling foods.

So, does avocado make you fat or lose weight? As long as you eat it in moderation, it won't make you fat.

02

How to choose avocado?

Many people think there is only one kind of avocado, which is the one we often see in supermarkets. In fact, the avocado family is extremely large, with more than 900 varieties in the world. The most common varieties are HASS and FUERTE.

HASS, an oval fruit with purple-black skin, lines, thick skin, flexible and easy to peel, and light green flesh.

HASS accounts for 80% of the world's avocado cultivation. Source: Wikipedia

FUERTE has a smooth, bright green skin with a leathery texture, is thin and easy to peel, and has a yellow-green flesh.

Furt Photo source: fourwindsgrowers

However, we don’t have to worry about which one to buy, because our country only imports one variety, HASS.

Avocados usually ripen or "soften" after being harvested. Raw avocados are too unpalatable, as anyone who has eaten them knows. Therefore, we must know how to choose avocados that are just the right degree of ripeness.

The first step is to look at the color of the skin

Generally speaking, the darker the color, the more mature it is.

Avocados like the Hass variety can go from dark green to dark purple or even nearly black when ripe.

Step 2: Touch it to feel the softness and hardness

Place the avocado in the palm of your hand and squeeze it gently, but don't pinch it with your fingertips, as this might cause bruises.

If the avocado doesn't yield to the gentle pressure of your palm, it's still hard and will take a few days to ripen. If it feels mushy or very soft, it's overripe.

When you buy unripe avocados and take them home, check them every day until they feel moderately soft and turn a darker color, then you can eat them.

If you buy several avocados at once, it's best to buy a few at different levels of ripeness. The ripe ones can be eaten immediately, the almost ripe ones can be eaten the next day, and the less ripe ones can be left for a few days.

03

Avocado pits are also a treasure

The core of avocado is also edible. The active ingredients in the core of avocado can be antioxidant and play a role in fighting free radicals.

The avocado pit is very hard to eat directly. It is recommended to use a knife to remove the skin and eat the softer part of the avocado pit directly. You can also choose to squeeze the avocado pit into juice and then eat it.

Its core can also be grown at home for fun.

Image source: giphy

Rinse the avocado seeds with clean water, stand them upright with the pointed end facing upwards, insert a toothpick into the seeds, and place them in a glass filled with water. The water only needs to cover half of the seeds.

Image source: wikihow

In the next few days or weeks, change the water every day and wait for the seeds to germinate and take root. When the top of the seed breaks, it will sprout.

Image source: wikipedia

When it takes root and the root system grows to 5-7 cm, you can transplant it into the soil. After transplanting, water it frequently and place it in a place with good light conditions. The temperature should be kept at around 16-26℃. Wait quietly for the little giant to grow and feel the beauty of life~

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