Now that we have gotten to know each other, I have a confession to make.  I have not been faithful. 

 I have cheated repeatedly and shamelessly on my first love, kale, with the divine, delectable Avocado.

The avocado is more than a paramour that seduced me on a lustful whim.   What we have is something much deeper and more meaningful.  My love for kale is sincere, and is based upon respect for its abundant amounts of of beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, lutein, and calcium.  However, my relationship with the avocado is not only fueled by its generous supply of vitamins and nutrients that play a crucial role to our health, but also by its irresistible taste and creamy, tantalizing  texture.

Avocado.org, the website of the California Avocado Commission, reports that an avocado (which is a fruit, by the way) contains the following vitamins and nutrients: 

• Monosaturated Fats:  Help lower blood cholesterol, if used in place of saturated fats
• Vitamin K:  Plays an important role in blood clotting
• Folate:  Promotes healthy cell and tissue development.  This is especially important during periods of rapid cell division and growth such as infancy and pregnancy 
• Potassium: Essential for the proper function of all cells, tissues, and organs and necessary for the building of muscle and for normal body growth
• Vitamin E:  Protects the body tissue from damage caused by free radicals.  Vitamin E is important in the formation of red blood cells and helps the body use vitamin K.   It may help protect the heart and also plays a role in healthy skin and hair
• Lutein:  An important antioxidant that may help your eyes stay healthy while maintaining the health of your skin
• Magnesium:  A mineral essential for the contraction and relaxation of muscles and production and transport of energy
• Vitamin C:  Required for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body.  It is necessary to form collagen, an important protein used to make skin, scar tissue, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels
• Vitamin B6:  Helps the immune system produce antibodies.  Antibodies are needed to fight many diseases.  Vitamin B6 helps maintain normal nerve function and form red blood cells

Part of living the life you love is eating the foods you love, so long as those foods are not classified as crap.  Below are a number of serving suggestions for you and the avocado.   One bite and you will be hooked.

Namaste, Divas!

• Use a ripe avocado as a topping on gazpacho or chili
• Use in place of your favorite sandwich spread
• Easy chip dip: Mix 1 avocado with the juice of half a fresh lemon and a pinch of salt
• Green goddess shake:  Combine 1 cup of vanilla almond or soy milk with 1/2 an avocado, 1 tablespoon of honey and 4 to 5 ice cubes. Mix in blender until smooth.   Outrageously  good!
• Avocado Chocolate Pudding:  Combine 2 ripe bananas, 2 ripe avocado, 1/2 cup chocolate soy or almond milk, 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder,  1 – 2 packets of Stevia for sweetness according to taste.   Combine all ingredients in a food processor.  Chill for 2 hours and serve. Yum, yum, yum!

©2012 Ilene Evans 

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