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Are avocados one of the best foods to eat?

Hello-

One food that I have not written about on Best Foods to Eat is avocados.  Are they one of the best foods to eat?  This article will talk more about the tasty avocado and let you know if you should be adding this fruit to your diet.  Yes, it is a fruit and not a vegetable.  )

What is the nutritional value of the avocado?

Here’s what Wikipedia says:

“A whole medium avocado contains approximately 21 grams of fat, though most of it is monounsaturated fat. Avocados also have 60% more potassium than bananas. They are rich in B vitamins, as well as vitamin E and vitamin K. They have the highest fiber content of any fruit – including 75% insoluble and 25% soluble fiber.” Source

Here’s how avocados are good for your health:

Avocados and Heart Disease:

* Avocados can help consumers meet the dietary guidelines of the American Heart Association, which are to eat a diet that is low to moderate in fat. The fats should be primarily unsaturated and low in saturated fat and cholesterol. The avocado is virtually the only fruit that has monounsaturated fat.
* Avocados help assist consumers in meeting a major dietary goal of reducing saturated fat in the diet, when they are consumed in place of saturated-fat containing foods.

Avocado and Weight Loss/Maintenance:

* When used instead of other fats, avocados contribute nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients and can be part of a calorie-reduced diet.
* Avocados can be a satisfying addition to a calorie-reduced diet, when they are eaten in lieu of other fats.

* When enjoyed in place of other fats, avocados can be a satisfying addition to a calorie-controlled diet. Source

How to pick an avocado:

“A ripe, ready to eat avocado is slightly soft but should have no dark sunken spots or cracks. If the avocado has a slight neck, rather than being rounded on top, it was probably tree ripened and will have better flavor. A firmer, less mature fruit can be ripened at home and will be less likely to have bruises. The Hass avocado weighs about 8 ounces on average and has a pebbled dark green or black skin, while the Fuerte avocado has smoother, brighter green skin. Avoid Fuertes with skin that is too light and bright. Florida avocados, which can be as large as 5 pounds, have less fat and calories, but their taste is not as rich as California varieties.

A firm avocado will ripen in a paper bag or in a fruit basket at room temperature within a few days. As the fruit ripens, the skin will turn darker. Avocados should not be refrigerated until they are ripe. Once ripe, they can be kept refrigerated for up to a week. If you are refrigerating a whole avocado, it is best to keep it whole and not slice it in order to avoid browning that occurs when the flesh is exposed to air.

If you have used a portion of a ripe avocado, it is best to store the remainder in the refrigerator. Store in a plastic bag, wrap with plastic wrap, or place on a plate and cover with plastic wrap. Sprinkling the exposed surface(s) with lemon juice will help to prevent the browning that can occur when the flesh comes in contact with oxygen in the air. ” Source

All that being said, I would rate the avocado as one of the better foods to eat but would hesitate to call it one of the best foods to eat.  When you compare it to the goji berry or the acai berry, the avocado would not be considered one of the best.  But it does have its place in your diet.

It can help you meet your good fats requirement.

It can also help you with your heart as noted above.

I really like adding some to my burger and in a spicy guacamole dip.  )

So enjoy yourself a nice avocado when you get the chance.

Thanks for reading.

Have a great day!

-Adam

Best foods to eat to detox your body

Hello-

If you are concerned about all the processed foods you are putting in your body and what all those toxins are doing to you, this post is for you.

I’m going to give you some tips on the best foods to eat to detox your body and what foods to avoid when going through a detox program.

If you are new to the whole idea of detoxifying your body, then you will want to start off small and manipulate your diet by adding essential body detox foods. Of course, any time you go forth with a home detox program, you do not want to shock your system by jumping in with radical food changes but rather slowly eliminate processed foods or those with refined sugars and add those with natural, organic ingredients.

Foods To Avoid When Detoxing Your Body

Basically, your diet should consist of foods that can be found in an organic form when possible or found in nature without any preservatives or processing. The processed foods with additives such as dyes, sugar, salt and extra fat are what turn your body temple into a place of mass destruction.

There are a number of dietary choices that you will need to eliminate from your life and it may take some time as you fight your addictions before your body stops craving them.

Anything with sugar should be shunned in your diet and this includes products with dextrose, sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, turbinado, brown sugar and regular refined cane sugar. Artificial sugars are also considered taboo and you should instead turn to natural sweeteners such as raw honey or molasses.

Dairy and wheat products are not the best foods and should be avoided whenever possible as they can pollute the body when consumed in high quantities. There are acceptable substitutes that can provide the vitamins and minerals your body needs such as gluten-free grains and almond, soy or rice milk. Caffeine, alcohol, yeast, anything high in fat and (gasp) chocolate are also not on the list of approved body detox foods.

Best foods to eat to detox your body

Anything that can be found in nature such as nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, beans and grains such as rice or anything else that is gluten free. Of course, some of these foods are better than others so search for those with antioxidant properties and those with anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, body detox foods that will help you from the inside out with things such as common illnesses and free radicals.

Onions, garlic, colorful peppers, watermelon, pomegranate, blueberries, carrots, watermelon, broccoli, cauliflower and beets are just a sample of detoxifying vegetables and fruits. Really, virtually all fruits and vegetables are great foods but those full of color such as dark leafy spinach or bright red tomatoes are optimal.

The bottom line, when it comes to appropriate body detox foods, is that if a food product is made in a factory and processed in some way (besides simple flash freezing or canning of vegetables and fruits with water only), then it is not the right thing for your detoxifying diet. And don’t forget – drink plenty of water each day, as it is the ultimate fighter in the cleansing process.

Thanks for reading.

Have a great day!

-Adam

Best foods to eat to detox your body