Benefits of Avocado

Avocado is considered an almost complete food -- to the extent that in some parts of the world, babies are weaned using mashed avocado. Native to Central America, avocado has been cultivated for thousands of years. The fruit is rich in potassium and Vitamin A. Avocado is used traditionally to heal skin problems. The pulp is believed to be both anti-bacterial and anti-fungal.

Benefits of Avocado

• Avocado has been used traditionally to help people with sexual problems.
  
  
• It is a great antioxidant and can be used for treating skin disorders.
  
  
• Avocado aids healing in people suffering from digestive and circulatory problems.
  
  
• Avocado paste can be applied topically to rashes and rough skin to make it smoother.
  
  
• The brighter the fruit, the more beta-carotene (the substance that helps prevent cancer) it contains.

Uses of Avocado

• The flesh of a ripe avocado soothes sunburnt skin. Simply cut the fruit in half and rub it gently over the affected areas.
  
  
• Eat an avocado everyday if you are recuperating from sickness and are trying to regain your strength.

Tips

• Select heavy, unblemished fruit. Most markets sell unripe and hard avocados. After you buy one, allow it to ripen for three to six days.
  
  
• If an avocado yields slightly to gentle pressure, it is ready to be eaten.
  
  
• If you need to speed up the ripening process, place avocados in a paper bag with apples or bananas. Never place avocados in the fridge as it will retard the ripening process.

Caution

Do not eat avocados or take any products containing avocado if you are using antidepressant monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI). Avoid eating large amounts of avocado if you are trying to lose weight, because the fruit is high in calories.

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