Day 11 – Avocados and Guacamole

I love avocado. It’s one of my favorites because of its versatility. I use it in all types of recipes, even desserts.

Avocados get a bad rep because of their high fat content. But do you really think mother nature would create an unhealthy fruit? Avocados contain monounsaturated fat, which are the healthy kind that are used for cellular energy. These are the kind of fats that the American Heart Association recommend.

Avocados do not contain cholesterol or trans fat, and they can actually lower bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Studies show that one avocado a week lowers blood cholesterol levels by 18%.

Avocados contain an overwhelming amount of vitamins and minerals and have high alkalizing properties. (Remember our bodies need to be at a slightly alkaline pH.) Avocados are full of Vitamins C and E, folate, beta-carotene, fiber, protein, iron, and even potassium than a banana.

By special request (mom!), here is my recipe for everyone’s favorite avocado dish, guacamole.

Guacamole

2 ripe avocados
2 tomatoes
1/2 onion (either white or red)
1 chili pepper (optional)
1 clove garlic
1 Tbsp fresh cilantro
1/2 lime, juiced
pinch sea salt and black pepper

• Remove the meat from the avocados and mash in a medium bowl.
• Dice tomatoes, onion, and chili if using. Add to avocado.
• Mince garlic and chop cilantro. Stir into avocado mix with remaining ingredients.
• Serve with cut vegetables such as celery, cucumber, red bell pepper, carrot, broccoli, and cauliflower.