Avocado: health benefits and contraindications

The flesh of the avocado is surprisingly rich and oily, and has become a favorite of many people outside of its native Mexico and the United States. Its delicate grassy-nutty flavor, high nutritional value and a variety of useful properties make it a welcome guest on our table. Let's take a closer look at its merits, possible contraindications and cooking methods.

Composition and Calories

The avocado is a unique plant, unlike anything else. Large perennial trees produce pear-shaped fruit with a large stone and oily flesh. They have no distinctive taste or smell, so from a culinary point of view, avocados are very difficult to categorize in any food class. It is most often used in salads, cream soups, appetizers and sauces, and a little less commonly as a base for dessert pastes.

The rare vegetable fat in avocados is cholesterol-free and can help break up those extra pounds if eaten correctly. In addition, avocados contain many vitamins and trace elements, leading among them vitamin E, which is essential for maintaining metabolic processes and healthy skin.

Avocados also contain about 10% monounsaturated and 2% each of polyunsaturated and saturated fats, which completely provide the body with the necessary reserves. As little as 50 g of fruit a day covers the need for carotenoids, which are useful for vision and tissue healing.

For all its nutritional value, avocados have a low glycemic index, making the fruit useful for diabetics. All components of the fruit, including its fiber, are easily absorbed by the body.

Among the minerals, the avocado is rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, selenium, zinc, phosphorus, sodium, and it also contains almost all the vitamins - A, E, C, PP, K, B group and even D. It contains oleic and pantothenic acids, which are necessary for the proper functioning of the nervous and immune systems.

The caloric value of avocados, depending on the variety, is from 160 to 240 kcal per 100 grams, with about 50 grams per day to maintain the balance of nutrients in the body.

Useful properties of avocados

General benefits

One of the main benefits of the avocado is considered its nutritional value, the fruit is highly valued among vegans, as it can fill a weighty part of the diet with its "healthy calories". Among other things, it helps the gastrointestinal tract, soothing even mucosal irritations and clearing the intestines.

It also has a strengthening effect on the heart and normalizes blood pressure, helps the kidneys because of the high potassium content.

Another valuable property is the positive effect on the reproductive system. Here the avocado carries out a "complex work":

1. Folate prepares a woman's body to carry a baby and strengthens the immune system, while in men it improves the quality of semen.
2. Vitamins E and C cleanse the body of toxins.
3. Anti-inflammatory substances strengthen the immune system and protect against diseases.
4. Minerals stabilize blood composition and normal hemoglobin levels.
5. At the same time, avocado is considered one of the aphrodisiacs, which is often in recipes supplemented with red pepper, seafood, bananas - components that increase potency, support a strong libido and stamina.
6. Anti-inflammatory substances support local genital health.

Avocado consumption has a positive effect on nervous activity, nourishing the brain and relieving symptoms of nervous diseases such as depression and fatigue. Therefore, the fruit is good for all those who are engaged in mental work.

In addition, avocados are believed to be good for the teeth, strengthening their enamel, normalizing the acid-alkaline balance in the mouth, as well as killing bacteria that lead to tooth decay and bad odor.

How is avocado good for women

General benefits

The fair sex most appreciates the caring properties of the avocado. It is used in cosmetology to cleanse the skin of age spots, to protect against the sun, to fight aging, to actively moisturize and to increase elasticity. Moreover, avocados are ideal for use at any age and with any type of skin "problems": for young beauties, it helps to get rid of acne and to control oiliness, mature ladies - to smooth wrinkles and nourish the skin.

Avocados are also useful for maintaining slimness. If the fruit replaces some of the animal fats in the diet, the body will be easier to cope with the incoming calories, the body will be cleaned, the metabolism will improve. Avocados make diets easier to tolerate, because they fill the need for fats necessary for normal brain function and other systems. The above properties are also relevant for men who want to fight weight loss, get rid of skin problems or improve their hair.

Avocado properties help to balance hormones and strengthen nerves, which can be useful for women during menopause. The fruit helps regulate blood pressure and eliminate unpleasant odors.

When pregnant.

The complex of vitamins contained in avocados helps to strengthen a woman's body and ensure the proper development of the fetus. The product is hypoallergenic and easy to digest, it will give all the necessary fats without unnecessary load on the liver, will help avoid constipation and eliminate swelling during pregnancy.

Also, avocado supports normal blood composition, ensuring proper nutrition of the fetus, regulating sugar, cholesterol and the nervous and hormonal system. The rich vitamin composition allows the baby's body to fully form, including normal nutrition, build a healthy nervous system and develop immunity.

In addition to all the other properties, avocados in the heat will help avoid dehydration, which occurs in pregnant women after frequent visits to the toilet.

When breastfeeding.

During lactation, it is important to make sure that neither the mother nor the baby have allergies, and it should be taken into account that the hormonal changes taking place can shift the body's tolerance. If no intolerance is detected, avocados will be a valuable component in the diet, will provide milk with light, highly digestible fats and vitamins necessary for the healthy growth of the baby.

Benefits of avocados for men's health

The maximum benefits to the male body from avocados are:

1. Cardiovascular system. The fruit helps fight cholesterol plaques and protects against heart attacks and other diseases.
2. Muscle Health. The fruit helps build developed muscles, eliminate excess salts and fluids during exercise, and maintain calcium balance so the body stays flexible.
3. Sexual Power. Avocado stimulates healthy potency, supports good vascular flow, provides high quality sperm.

Also, the fruit helps to eliminate toxins and bacteria and purify the body at the cellular level, so you can get rid of unpleasant body odor.

Avocados in children's diets

It is better not to give babies avocados, so as not to cause rejection in the body. You can try the product after 2-3 years or under the supervision of a pediatrician. You can start with half a spoon and gradually increase the portion to 40 g. Teenagers can eat half an avocado - it will not harm the growing body.

Avocado stimulates normal heart function, calms the hypersensitive nervous system, promotes normal growth, muscle and internal organ development, and smoothes hormonal surges in the young body and gets rid of rashes, pimples and irritations.

Avocado oil: properties and uses

Avocado oil is widely used, but most often it is used in cosmetology, home medicine and cooking.

1. A small drop of the product can relieve skin irritations, accelerate the healing of burns and insect bites, soften rough skin of elbows and heels, provide hygiene in the intimate area.
2. Avocado oil is used in children's creams, delicate healing ointments, vaginal suppositories, face creams and hair balms. The product helps to relieve inflammation, gets rid of fungi, restores a healthy pH of the skin and increases its elasticity.
3. Several masks can restore the health of the curls, seal the split ends and saturate the follicles with moisture, which provides a revitalizing effect and healthy hair growth.
4. In massage mixtures the oil becomes an excellent base for anti-cellulite massages with grapefruit oil and honey. In addition, avocado oil is actively used in SPF products to moisturize the skin and protect it from free radicals.
5. Interestingly, persea oil is useful at any time of year: in summer it perfectly moisturizes and cools the skin, soothing irritations, in windy weather it gets rid of peeling, and in winter it nourishes and tones the epidermis.
6. The oil is also used in gastritis to heal sensitive mucosa. And in women's vitamin complexes it is used for the prevention of early menopause and aging.

The benefits of avocado kernels

Persea kernels are a treasure trove of tannins and antifungal substances. They act as natural preservatives, protecting other foods from premature spoilage and preventing the breakdown of proteins and fats. Today this raw material is used in the creation of many dietary supplements. In this case we should take into account that such a product is useful only in minuscule doses, otherwise it can provoke poisoning.

The avocado seed is considered a natural antibiotic and is used as an anticancer agent. It can eliminate food poisoning and lower blood cholesterol levels. Lotions with powder of this product are made to get rid of fungal skin and nail diseases and to heal the affected areas.

To add kernels in food, you must first prepare them properly:

• peel off the tough layer and grind into crumbs;
• dry them in the oven;
• Grind in a coffee grinder.

Contraindications, the potential threat of allergies should be taken into account and the product should be used in the minimum amount.

How to eat avocados correctly for weight loss

The benefits of the alligator pear in a diet aimed at weight loss are as follows:

1. Normalization of metabolism and control of hormonal background, thanks to which the body more easily "loses" excess weight and more quickly adjusts to new norms of body parameters.
2. Antioxidant effect, ensuring cleansing of the body of toxins, rejuvenation and "tightening" of the contours. It also stimulates collagen production to increase skin elasticity.
3. Regulation of cholesterol levels and reducing its negative impact on the body.
4. Control of normal kidney function, normalization of pH levels, protection of the stomach from irritation during dietary changes.
5. Stimulation of healthy brain function, maintaining a normal mood, increasing physical and psychological stamina due to healthy fats.
6. Providing a sense of satiety and support in giving up sweets. After avocados, there is less craving for high-sugar snacks.

Due to the use of avocados, the diet is easier for the body to tolerate. To get the best effect, it is desirable to observe the correct proportions of consumption of the product and to combine it with other useful components.

For weight loss in the diet include no more than 100 g of avocado a day, combining it with grapefruit, red peppers, zucchini, celery, lean meat, legumes and useful for the intestines pumpkin dishes.

Avocado in medicine

For medical purposes, the oil and kernels of the product are most often used to treat fungal and bacterial diseases, and also use the healing effect of the raw material. In certain health conditions, the introduction of avocados in the diet is recommended, and sometimes - undesirable.

In case of diabetes

Given its low glycemic index (10) and high nutritional value, it is useful for diabetics. Avocados provide cholesterol control, so they can replace meat products, and their direct effect on the metabolism helps fight excess weight, a frequent accompanying problem with diabetes. Avocados also help heal skin problems and restore vision.

For pancreatitis.

In the acute stages of pancreatic disease, it is advisable to avoid any fatty foods. This also applies to avocado pulp. In the chronic course of pancreatitis, it is possible to introduce the product into the diet. The use of its bone powder can help to fight inflammation, but before using such a treatment, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

When Gastritis.

Since avocados are excellent at equalizing the acidity of the stomach, they can be useful for gastritis. The delicate pulp will have an anti-inflammatory effect on the mucosa and help normalize the gastrointestinal tract with hypersensitivity. Unlike heavy meat proteins and fats, avocados will not burden the stomach, but will energize the body.

For the gut

Avocados contain a small percentage of valuable dietary fiber, so that the product, on the one hand, is not heavy on the body as fruits with coarse fiber, on the other hand, helps to cleanse from toxins and excrete toxins, improving the absorption process.

For constipation

In cases of chronically hard stools and constipation, the introduction of avocado in the diet will normalize regular defecation, soften the released masses and relieve the symptoms of hemorrhoids.

In case of gout

One special case is gout, as well as failures in the body related to the excretion of uric acid and solid deposits. Because of its high purine content, avocados are undesirable for gout sufferers, so as not to provoke exacerbations. Small doses of the fruit can be eaten occasionally in quiet periods for general recovery. But it is better to consult a doctor.

In colitis

Infusions of avocado leaves and seeds are used for intestinal diseases, including bacterial ones. Such a potion helps to kill pathogenic organisms, relieve fever, soothe irritation and heal the mucosa. At the same time, the avocado itself will be a valuable nutrient component, supporting the body's strength in the fight against such a delicate disease.

For the liver

The delicate fats and antioxidants in avocados help cleanse the blood of toxins and cleanse the liver, and in addition, restore its tissues. Avocado is easily absorbed without overloading the body and the liver in particular, stabilizes the concentration of bile and maintains an optimal balance of blood components.

For hemorrhoids

Anti-inflammatory and healing properties of avocado can accelerate the healing of swollen hemorrhoids. That said, if the cause of hemorrhoids is a parasitic infestation, you can introduce an avocado bone supplement into your diet - it will help kill worms and bacteria. And if the cause is a sedentary lifestyle and constipation - the fruit will contribute to the normalization of stool and remove poisons from the blood.

In cholecystitis

In the acute course of the disease, it is better to refuse from the avocado, but 6 weeks after recovery from the acute phase, you can include the product in your diet, but in small portions. Avocado will help to reduce acidity and relieve inflammation. But the main thing is not to overeat, since the product is quite fatty.

Avocado in cosmetology

Due to its high vitamin E and carotenoid content, avocados are very useful for nourishing and moisturizing skin, hair, and nails. Its pulp makes an excellent base for masks and wraps, and in addition, its pomace is added to creams, serums and shampoos.

Interestingly, this product can very rarely cause allergies, it does not burn, dry or irritate the skin and is ideal for all skin and hair types, but is especially useful for dry and sensitive types.

Avocado allows beneficial moisture to penetrate deep into the cell structure and cuticle and stay inside, making your skin smooth and soft and your hair silky and manageable. It protects against drying and breakage, stimulates the production of collagen and increases the elasticity of tissues.

Avocado oil also normalizes metabolic processes in the cells and triggers rejuvenation, protecting tissues from the negative effects of the sun and environmental factors.

Hair Masks

Avocados are added to hair masks for softness, elasticity, hydration and strength. Avocado oil is used to quickly revitalize the roots and restore the ends, as well as to give a glossy shine. But for general hydration for any type of hair, it is recommended once a week to make refreshing masks with pulp.

One classic recipe is to mix one egg and half an avocado, add 1 tbsp. each of wheat and burdock oils. The thoroughly mixed mixture can be kept on the hair for 20-40 minutes. This will ensure healthy hair growth, their comfortable combing and protect the scalp from dandruff, burning and fungal diseases.

Facial Masks

1. Masks with avocado are made to increase skin elasticity, relieve irritation and protect against the negative effects of the sun. To soften the skin, you can mix a couple of spoonfuls of avocado puree with 4-5 drops of rose oil and apply the mask twice a week to a cleansed face and décolleté area for 10-15 minutes.
2. A mixture of avocado and tea tree can help relieve irritation without drying out the epidermis, and is suitable for oily, combination and problematic skin.
3. If you add a couple of drops of grapefruit and calendula oil to the avocado puree base, you can get an excellent mask to control oiliness and fight acne.

For eyebrows and eyelashes

To improve the growth of your eyelashes and eyebrows, all you need to do is rub a drop of oil into the desired area regularly. You can add it to your moisturizing gel. Deep nourishment will ensure enhanced growth of thick bristles.

Hazards and contraindications

Like other rather caloric foods, avocados are good in moderation. Excessive consumption threatens weight gain, so it is recommended only on specialized diets after debilitating illnesses.

Caution should be exercised when introducing the product into children's diets. For children under 3 years of age it is advisable not to give oily fruit at all, but you can get more detailed advice from your pediatrician. Particular attention should be paid to carriers of allergies to latex or citrus fruits - these people constitute a risk group because of the phenomenon of cross-reaction.

Also, people with severe GI diseases, pancreatic, liver and gallbladder, as well as gout should not be fond of this fatty fruit.

Excessive doses of avocado kernel powder threaten persin poisoning. Among other things, you need to wash the exotic fruit carefully, since it is not the avocado itself that can be dangerous, but the chemicals used to treat the product before transportation.

Avocado allergy symptoms
Avocado allergy can occur if you consume an immature fruit because of the fungicidal toxins it contains. The reaction may be expressed by nausea, vomiting, dehydration, and stomach cramps. Avocados do not usually cause itching or rash.

How to choose a ripe avocado in the store

Many have already faced the problem of choosing a good product: the avocado is a tricky fruit, so you can often take a greenish or overripe fruit. In order not to make a wrong choice, pay attention to several criteria:

1. Color. Varieties vary from light to black, but the average ripe avocado has a dark green hue and a slightly scalloped rind. It is acceptable if it looks rough and dry, but not wrinkled.
2. Texture. A mature avocado is resilient to squeeze; it yields when squeezed with the fingers, but it comes off quickly. A fruit that is too soft may be overripe or even rotten, while a hard avocado is still unripe. But you can take it if you buy it for future use: it will be ripe by the time you cook it.
3. The sound. It is believed that a good ripe fruit has a seed inside the pit, so you can hear a dull clattering when you shake it. If there is no such sound, the fruit is either long ago spoiled or not yet ripe.
4. Special signs. You can pay attention to the color at the base, where the stalk was. White or beige is ideal, green indicates the appropriate status of the fruit, but black should definitely be rejected. In addition, the fruit should be free of cuts, dents and signs of mold, as well as it should not exude an unpleasant rotten smell. A slight herbaceous or iodine aroma is acceptable.

If the fruit is green, you can buy it, but you will need 2-3 days to let it age. Another interesting point: avocados are brought from far away and sold 1-2 days in advance. Normally, the store should not have an uninterrupted sale of this exotic fruit. It can be brought in, for example, once a week. If there is always an avocado in the window, its freshness is worth questioning.

How and where to store avocados.

At home, the avocado must be kept in the refrigerator, where it will keep from 3-5 days to 2 weeks. At the same time it is undesirable to keep it next to the fruit, otherwise it will quickly spoil. The optimal temperature is 2-4 degrees.

The cut avocado should be sprinkled with lemon juice, otherwise it will instantly oxidize and begin to rot. Such a product is stored in an airtight container or, at most, under foil for no more than 12 hours, but better 4-6. Sliced avocados can stand in the cold for 2-4 hours.

How to make an avocado ripen.

If you've shopped for a week and picked up a green avocado, don't put it in the fridge for the next couple of days, but leave it at room temperature. The fruit will ripen naturally and become softer.

When you need urgent preparation of the fruit for the table, there is an extra method: put the avocado in a paper or plastic bag along with apples or bananas. The gas released by the sweet fruit will bring the avocado to ripeness in 10-12 hours. Nevertheless, it is advisable to check the softness of the fruit in the process, and if it quickly gets the right condition, send it in the cold separately from the fruit.

Can I Freeze

Avocado flesh is sometimes frozen to preserve its freshness. For this purpose, the fruit is cut into cubes, put in an open container for freezing in the chamber, and after icing hermetically closed and stored for several weeks. You can also make avocado paste or sauce and freeze it in ice molds or other convenient way.

How to Eat Avocados Properly

The alligator pear combines with many foods, taking on a savory flavor note. That said, at times it can also present itself as a stand-alone snack. It can be eaten simply with a spoon from the rind, adding honey or spices if desired.

It is important to keep in mind that the avocado is most useful in the first hours of its processing, while the pulp is fresh. Foods based on the fruit are not stored even in the refrigerator for more than 4 hours. It is practically unheated and served slightly chilled.

What do you eat it with?

Avocados are usually combined with vegetables and spices, made into pasta and served with traditional corn chip nachos or tortillas and breads. Another option is cold appetizers. Avocados are often combined with seafood, sour fruits and vegetables on sandwiches. A third popular option is cream soups. Avocados make the consistency of puree soups tender and add a nice hearty note, making the product loved by vegans and dieters.

Ideal combinations:

• With tomatoes, hot sauce, paprika;
• Salads, oregano and other greens;
• garlic;
• citrus fruits - lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit;
• boiled or fried eggs;
• corn, rice;
• fish fillets, shrimp, squid, mussels;
• cheese, cream sauce;
• green vegetables;
• delicate fruits - strawberries, bananas, pears;
• nuts.

Avocados are not combined with marinades and pungent foods. It is also not combined with mayonnaise and fatty dairy sauces, and a minimal amount of oil is added when oil is used.

Can I Eat the Seed and Rind

It is dangerous to eat avocado peels, since they, like the pit, contain protective poisons. Decoctions are usually made from avocado peels, and powder of calcined kernels is added to food only by pinches to normalize cholesterol and to fight GI disorders. In case of accidental consumption, it is advisable to wash the stomach, drink an adsorbent and monitor your well-being. If you show signs of poisoning, you need to seek medical help.

How much can I eat per day?

The avocado is a nourishing and nutritious food, so it is enough to eat 1 half to saturate the body with necessary components. 100-150 grams a day for an adult is the norm.

It is recommended that children be given a little less of the exotic fruit to accustom their digestive system to unfamiliar foods a little at a time. People of age may find avocados hard to digest, so it is also advisable to reduce their intake rate.

At the same time, nutritionists do not recommend reducing your diet to dishes with avocados, it should be varied with other nourishing components. The fruit is optimal to eat twice a week.

Is it possible to eat at night and on an empty stomach?

Avocado on an empty stomach is a good option, if we are not talking about spicy or sour recipes. The fact is that the avocado vegetable oil pleasantly envelops the gastrointestinal tract, normalizing the acidity of the body and stimulating the launch of metabolic processes.

In this case, vegetable fats are digested moderately fast, which prevents spikes in blood sugar levels. Thanks to the lightness of the product, it is safe to include it in the breakfast menu - it will energize the body without burdening the gastrointestinal tract.

It is undesirable to eat avocado at night, so as not to stimulate the pancreas and bile outflow before going to bed. The optimal time - 6 hours before going to bed, then the fruit has time to digest.

Can I eat a blackened avocado?

Eating a bad fruit can be dangerous to your health. The flesh begins to rot, and harmful substances form in it, so it is forbidden to eat a rotten fruit.

If the avocado has darkened by oxidizing in the open air, it should be treated with lemon juice before consumption. Along with it, it is advisable to add spicy herbs and hot spices, which contain antibacterial substances that prevent poisoning.

Can I fry avocados?

Processing oily flesh by heat is not accepted, then it loses its useful properties and texture. In addition, the product gets a strange taste with a bitterness. However, there is no ban on such processing.

What to make with avocados: Recipes

Most often, avocados are chopped into paste or cut into cubes and slices, then used in fresh dishes. Here are some useful recipes that can be implemented even in a hurry.

Salads

1. A delicious light appetizer can be made with spinach leaves, halves of cherry tomatoes, avocado slices and squeezed garlic. Dress the salad with lemon juice and olive oil.
2. Another option is a diet crab salad, where boiled eggs, cucumber, corn, avocado and a favorite seafood: shrimp, squid or crab sticks are mixed in equal proportions. The salad should be salted and dressed with citrus juice.
3. You can mix steamed zucchini, bell peppers, avocados, leeks and any greens like arugula or lettuce. Cut everything into small cubes, salt and season with olive oil and lime juice if necessary.

Avocado Soup

A light exotic soup can be made with shrimp. To do this, you need to boil and peel them, leaving the broth. Whip 1 avocado with a couple of spoonfuls of cream, add half a spoonful of dry white wine and introduce the broth (about 1 cup) into the mixture.

Garnish the soup with green onions and a few shrimp, it turns out very unusual.

Another option is to heat a little olive oil and poach canned tomatoes in their own juice at the rate of 2 tomatoes per half an avocado fruit. Next you need to add dried basil, salt and pepper to taste. Then peel the avocado and whip in a blender to puree the roasted tomatoes and green pulp. You can also add some grated parmesan to this recipe for a sprinkle.

Smoothie

You can make hearty diet smoothies with avocados, such as blending strawberries, banana, avocado and some cashews in a blender.

A variation of one-third of a cucumber and half an avocado with the addition of a few mint leaves and the right amount of mineral water is delicious. Such a drink is very refreshing in the heat and saves you from dehydration.

You can make a mousse with almonds, honey, orange and avocado. Take half a fruit each, mix it with 5-6 nuts and a spoonful of honey, pour juice or water.

Sandwiches

Prepare a hearty breakfast or snack in a couple of minutes with avocados. Replacing butter or cheese in sandwiches with a slice of fruit will reduce the calories of breakfast without losing valuable nutrients and enrich it with vitamins.

Just slice the avocado thinly and prepare a few additional ingredients of your choice:

1. Favorite bread, a couple of avocado slices, red fish, salt to taste, lemon juice.
2. Wheat or rye bread, avocado, lettuce leaf, tomato slices, basil, salt to taste.
3. Corn tortilla, avocado, crushed peanuts, salt or honey to taste.
4. Oatmeal bread, main ingredient, oregano, chicken fillet slice.
5. Wheat tortilla, avocado, garlic paste (pass through a crusher), 2 slices each of boiled egg and cucumber. You can crush the egg and avocado with a fork and mix with the garlic.

Because of its neutral flavor, the fruit can be combined with almost any food.

Guacamole Sauce

To make a Mexican traditional sauce for fish, beans and nachos bread, mash 1 avocado with a fork, add some olive oil and lime juice, then add chopped chili peppers, coriander or parsley herbs to taste, half a clove of garlic and a shallot if desired. Choose the proportions at your discretion, but the avocado should make up about 2/3 of the mixture. Allow the pasta to infuse for about half an hour and serve.

How to peel an avocado correctly

Avocados are not peeled like potatoes and other fruits, their flesh is too soft for this method of processing. To extract it from the peel, you need to:

1. Wash the avocado in warm water.
2. Incise it lengthwise until it stops - there will be a pit inside. Make a full circle with a knife.
3. Then squeeze the halves in the palms of your hands and twist slightly in opposite directions. In a ripe fruit, the pulp is easily separated from the pit. The latter is taken out to the side.
4. Take a tablespoon and insert it along the peel. Go around the outline, detaching the flesh from the "boat" rind. Beforehand, you can use a spoon or knife to cut the avocado into lines or bars to make slices or cubes. In the latter case, remove the flesh in layers, rather than going straight to the bottom.

Turning the avocado into cream can be done in a blender, but most often it is enough to mash it with a fork.

Can I give avocados to pets?

The poisonous substance persin, which is a preservative and protector against bacteria, is safe for the human body in small quantities. However, veterinarians warn that animals cannot digest this component, so avocados should never be given to cats, dogs and birds.

How to grow an avocado from a seed

You can grow your own tree at home, it takes root well in the apartment. To do this, you need to leave a healthy whole seed and dry it. The seed should be planted in enriched soil with claydite drainage at 25 mm with the sharp end upwards and abundantly watered.

Another method is to make 3-4 holes in the pit, insert toothpicks and place it on such supports on a glass with water, constantly keeping its level high. In 2-6 weeks there should appear roots of about 30 mm, then the seed should be transferred into the soil.

Then you need to follow an 8-10-day watering regimen, spray the leaves and maintain a temperature of about 15-20 degrees.

Why avocado leaves turn black and dry

Several factors can be the reasons for the stoppage of development and the emergence of diseases:

• problems with the root system;
• Improper microclimate;
• cramped pot;
• the presence of plant infections.

To eliminate the problem, you need to transplant the avocado and ensure proper care.

The plant does not like drought and flooding of the soil, so before each new watering, you need to let the soil dry out and moisten the crown more often, not the roots. Another reason can be sloppy transplanting with a change of soil. You need to gently clean the root system from lumps of soil and trim away rotten roots if necessary. It is better to use soil enriched with minerals, and choose a new pot 2-3 cm freer than the previous one, not forgetting about drainage.

If the leaves have darkened, you need to make a greenhouse, spray the foliage, but stop watering the plant often. It is helpful to add epin once a week. It is also possible that the plant needs more light for normal leaf development.

Interesting facts about the avocado

1. The avocado is called an alligator pear because of its lumpy, crocodile-like rind. However, the fruit has nothing in common with the pear tree.
2. Archaeologists in America have found lithographs (rock art) depicting the Persea fruit, which are over 12,000 years old.
3. Most avocados are grown in Mexico, but Brazil and other countries in South and North America also supply the fruit.
4. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the avocado is the most nutritious fruit in the world. The value of its oil on menus has been compared to the nutritional value of chicken fillets.
5. Unexpectedly, the avocado is a "cousin" of the common laurel, but they grow in different parts of the world.
6. The fruit becomes unpleasantly bitter after heat treatment, so it should only be eaten raw.

If you have not yet introduced this amazing fruit in your diet - be sure to indulge yourself. It will give the body strength and bring new great experiences.

Avocado photo