9 REASONS AVOCADOS ARE THE COOLEST FRUIT
Avocado: The Coolest Fruit
Avocados are a pretty versatile little fruit. And yes they are a fruit, even though you might not think of them as one. They are actually considered a single seeded berry. Not only are they super yummy to eat, they can also be used for a variety of other things. So today we’re breaking down why the avocado is the coolest fruit on earth.
According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, one serving (one-fifth of an avocado, approximately 40 grams) contains:
64 calories
almost 6 grams of fat
3.4 grams of carbohydrate
less than a gram of sugar
almost 3 grams of fiber
Avocados are a great source of vitamins C, E, K, and B-6, as well as riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium, and potassium. They also provide lutein, beta-carotene, and omega-3 fatty acids.
1. They can make a great Foot Scrub
Get rid of rough and callused feet with an avocado foot scrub. Take out the pit and let it dry for a couple of days. Once dry, grind it up until it is small and gritty. Scoop out half the avocado and mash it with a little cornmeal. Then add the pit powder and sea salt as an exfoliator. Use a foot basin to massage the mixture on your feet and toes, and rinse with warm water when you are done.
2. They can make Paleo and Vegan Frosting
You can use avocados to jazz up your favorite desserts. In a food processor, mix together a ripe avocado, cocoa powder, and some maple syrup. If you’d like, stir in some chocolate chips for an extra dose of chocolate. Spread the frosting on cakes or brownies for a creamy finish.
3. They can make Eye and Facial Skin Therapy
Avocados are packed with nutrients, such as vitamin E and A, B-vitamins, folic acid, and potassium, which are enriching to the sensitive area surrounding your eyes and face. Vitamin A helps to remove dead skin cells from the body and the amino acid glutamine helps to clean and protect the skin from environmental damage. Mash an avocado until smooth and apply it around your eyes and face. Allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes. Rinse with warm water and pat dry with a towel.
4. They can be a Butter Substitute
Replace ½ the butter in any baked recipe with the same measurement of avocado. The result will be lower in calories and yield a softer and chewier result. If you want to replace all the butter in a baked recipe, the ration of avocado to butter is 1:1, but you have to reduce the oven temperature by 25 percent and increase baking time — this prevents the baked good from rising in the middle and then sinking after it’s removed from the oven.
You can make your own natural soaps at home without leaving your skin covered in residue. Melt avocado purée, water, coconut oil, olive oil, and lye (be careful while handling lye, otherwise known as sodium hydroxide) in a slow cooker or on the stovetop. Add a couple drops of essential oil such as lavender or peppermint oil. Pour into a mold and let the soap harden for a few weeks. The soap creates a creamy lather that is safe for sensitive skin.
6. They Makes Avocado Toast
Maybe the simplest, yet greatest invention ever is avocado toast. You can spruce it up by adding hummus, cream cheese or nuts on top. There has been a lot of hype about millennials claiming the high priced avocado toasts as theirs. But, even if you’re not a hipster in your 20’s you can still enjoy the health and taste benefits of avocado toast.
7. You can try Avocado Ice Cream
Super healthy and tastes amazing! If you like avocados, this is a must try recipe! All you need to make it is 2 avocados, honey, milk, sea salt, and lime.
8. They Make Creative Alcoholic Drinks
Unwind with a couple friends on a sunny day with a fun avocado daiquiri. In a blender, combine fresh lemon juice, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, puréed avocado and ice. For a kick, add as much of your favorite rum as you’d like (just don’t go overboard). Sit back, relax, and enjoy!
9. You can Improve your mane with a Hair Mask
To treat dry or lifeless hair, mash 1 avocado with 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Massage into your scalp and hair, making sure the use your fingers to brush through hair strands, from the scalp to the ends. Tuck hair into a shower cap and allow to sit for 20 minutes. Rinse and then shampoo and condition hair as usual.
So, now that you’ve learned a few things. How do you use your avocados?