Delicious Ways to Boost Your Health with Avocados

A favorite of the produce section, avocados are often confused as vegetables, but they’re actually pear-shaped berries. This trendy, versatile fruit is highly nutritious, offers a lengthy list of health benefits and is easy to incorporate into recipes from morning to night.

4 Ways Avocados Boost Your Health

1. Improve heart health: Avocados are sodium-free, packed with potassium and an excellent plant-based source of omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce cardiovascular inflammation and the risk of heart disease.
2. Increase overall nutrient intake: Offering nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, avocados are a great source of vitamin B6, C, E, K, riboflavin, niacin, magnesium, lutein and beta-carotene.
3. Lower risk of type 2 diabetes & support digestion: One cup of avocado is filled with 10 grams of fiber, keeping hunger and blood sugar in check while improving digestion.
4. Boost mood: Avocados are a good source of folate, reducing anxiety and depression and increasing energy.

Pick the Perfect Avocado
To check for an avocado’s ripeness, gently squeeze it in the palm of your hand; a ready-to-eat avocado will be slightly firm yet yield to gentle pressure. Avoid varieties with soft spots and dark blemishes, as these indicate over-ripeness. Use ripe avocados within one to two days. If you aren’t using them for a few days, purchase firmer avocados with darker skin – they’ll keep for up to a week when stored at room temperature.

Avocados On Your Plate
Beyond mashing them in your favorite guacamole recipe, enjoy this incredibly versatile, creamy, dreamy fruit using these delicious ideas.

Avocado Fries: Crispy on the outside and silky smooth on the inside, these are the best-tasting fruit fries you never knew you needed. Coat avocado slices with breadcrumbs and your favorite spices, dip into egg whites, then bake in a 425° oven for 18 minutes or until golden brown.

Healthy & Creamy Condiment Swap: Boost the nutrition in a variety of dishes by swapping mayonnaise with mashed avocado in chicken or tuna salad, potato salad, egg salad and salad dressings. Or mix it with lime juice for a zesty spread on sandwiches, tacos or tostadas.

Stuffed Avocados: Use avocado as an ingredient and utensil! Cut a ripe avocado in half, remove the pit and scoop out some of the flesh to make it a vessel for delicious fillings. Try eggs and bacon or taco-inspired toppings like ground beef, beans or salsa.

Better-For-You Chocolate Mousse: Avocado’s creamy canvas makes it easy to disguise in desserts; trust us, you won’t even taste a difference! Create a rich, chocolaty mousse by puréeing avocados with bananas, nut milk, cocoa powder, honey, vanilla extract and cinnamon until smooth. Dig into this dessert for a boost of healthy fats, antioxidants and sweet tooth-satisfying flavors!