Click one of the buttons above, or cut and paste the following link to share this page with your network.
This link will automatically track your referrals to Joyful Belly:
Recipes with Avocado: Avocado & Coconut Milk Ice Cream
Few foods from the plant kingdom echo the heavy richness of fine cheeses, creams and butter as does the avocado. Avocado melts in your mouth like brie or ice cream, and provides the creaminess that most associate exclusively with dairy, but is actually an oily berry.
Healthy Fats to Keep You Slim
Although Avocado is unusually high in fats, it has no cholesterol and is an excellent choice for those wanting to lose weight. Officially it's on the list of foods for kapha types to avoid. However, avocado can be a very satisfying replacement for butter, cheese, and even creamy desserts, moderating your appetite for these less-healthy foods. Plus, it provides the healthy fats your body needs, essential Omega 3's and 6's which are necessary for a healthy metabolism. This buttery green fruit is also packed with vitamins, minerals and even complete proteins.
Grounding & Nourishing
Avocado grounds while it nourishes. It's heaviness is comforting and calming, redirecting attention inward. Avocado can be compared to mushrooms for the earthy qualities it can impart; however, adding a wedge of lime, a pinch of salt, or cilantro will help lighten up avocado, and assist your digestion of this heavy fruit. It combines well with any foods (bitters and sours) that improve fat digestion and metabolism.
The avocado's heavy, oily, and cool qualities lubricate the intestines and moisten dry lungs. Eating this nourishing food helps soothe the joints, moisturize dry hair, skin and nails, and enhance libido. Avocado strongly builds ojas, and is an excellent baby food.
Some people are allergic to the flesh as an overripe avocado turns black.
The avocado fruit grows on trees, but does not ripen until after it has been picked. It has a pear shape, and a rough, dark green to black skin with tiny bumps, which earned it the name "alligator pear". Unlike other fruits, avocado isn't sweet at all, and is rarely referred to as a berry. It is the "meat or flesh of the avocado" that is cut from the large brown seed inside. It has also been called "butter fruit" because of its creamy, buttery texture.
Did you know that guacamole hails from ancient Aztec culture? The Aztecs traditionally made guacamole by mashing fresh avocado with sea salt, onions, and tomatoes in a molcajete (mortar and pestle). This satisfying, oily dish was relatively low in fat. Avocado was a staple in Latin America, in part because it is a great source of heart-healthy fats and is a rich source of many vitamins. Avocado trees are currently growing in tropical and Mediterranean climates around the world.
Recipes with Avocado: Egg Baked in Avocado
Cooking Avocado
Avocado is a delicious food all by itself. Simply slice a ripe avocado in half, add a sprinkle of salt, and scoop out the flesh with a spoon.
Avocado creaminess makes a great spread superior to mayonnaise. It's hard to imagine nachos without dipping them in guacamole, a famous Latino recipe including avocado, garlic, cilantro, and lemon juice and occaisonally tomato form. Guacamole dip may be served alongside raw veggies, as a topping for burritos, tacos, and even beans and rice. In general, avocado also combines well with corn, chicken, and fresh greens. California rolls have popularized avocado's use in sushi. Eating avocado with greens adds a bitter taste, which may help you digest some of the fats.
Although it is not sweet in itself, its rich and smooth texture make avocado a common addition to smoothies, puddings, and other desserts. For example, try avocado smoothies mixed with milk, avocado ice-cream, or banana avocado chocolate pudding. It combines well with chocolate, and for the lactose intolerant or vegan, it can be used as an alternative to milk or cream in smoothies and desserts.
Buying & Preparation
When choosing an avocado, give it a gentle squeeze; ripe yields to pressure and is a little soft. Too soft to the touch means it is overripe, and will probably be brown or stringy when you cut it. Avocadoes usually only take a few days to ripen, and will ripen faster if stored with other fruit. Once cut, the flesh turns brown quickly after exposure to air, so it's important to eat the whole avocado within a day or two. Squeezing a bit of lime or lemon juice over the exposed part helps to preserve color and taste after it is peeled.
Another trick for extending the life of opened avocadoes and avocado preparations, such as guacamole, is to place the avocado seed in the dish (or leave it in half the fruit). This is commonly done in Mexico, and helps maintain the color and flavor of the dish.
Avocados may become inedible when cooked, although Hass varieties (the most common) can be lightly cooked. In general, there are few recipes that call for heating avocadoes. It is more common and tasty to add avocado to a raw salad or as a topping with a cooked dish.
Learn about the health benefits of avocado for FREE
You'll receive free access to our entire website including
healthy recipes,
nutritional diet plans,
medicinal uses of ingredients,
& ayurvedic health tips.
Sign in once and you can use our website indefinitely..
Find out by taking this free, easy quiz.
You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Avocado' is a good fit.
Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes
at your own leisure to learn more about your body.
Constitutional nutrition is tailored to the individual.
In the kitchen, especially during your family’s formative years,
you shape your family's lifelong health.
Rooted in the insights curated from Ayurveda and Greek medicine,
constitutional medicine teaches you which foods match your body,
so you and your family have true vitality, strength, and balance.
See How it Works.
Medicinal Effects of Avocado
Constitutional nutrition systems use biocharacteristics to classify the metabolic nature of food, herbs, lifestyle choices, your body, and disease.
METABOLIC NATURE / BIOCHARACTERISTICS
Metabolic Nature / Biocharacteristics
Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics
(vital qualtiies).
Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance.
By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick.
Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold).
You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.
In Ayurveda, oily refers to anything moistening. More specifically, oily refers to building substances that increases fat, or are themselves fatty. For example, sugar is Oily.
Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food.
Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body.
Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food.
Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods.
Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion.
Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste.
One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes.
The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent.
Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?
Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.
Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.
Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.
Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.
The 3 metabolic body types
(doshas),
are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).
Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.
Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.
Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia.
They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature.
Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.
Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.
Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.
A Phlegmatic has a cold and wet metabolic nature. The coldness implies a slow metabolism, the moisture that you are well-nourished. Phlegmatics tend towards sluggishness and thickened fluids, including mucus.
A hot and oily nature with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body makes Sanguine individuals vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.
Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Avocado
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary.
The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.
Encourages feelings of stability and heaviness. Makes you feel settled, mentally relaxed. Mildly sedates the nervous system to ease stress. Can bring a spacey or anxious person back to earth. Reduces agitation, irritation, stress and racing thoughts.
MILD DIURETIC
Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.
An herb that strengthens the liver. It is helpful for people with a history of substance abuse, chronic liver issues from hepatitis and hemolytic anemias. Generally, liver tonics are oily, cool, sweet, mildly sour, or contain beta-carotene.
The reports shared below are part of an educational assignment completed by students at
the Joyful Belly College of Natural Health Sciences.
These represent subjective experiences intended to help students explore principles of Ayurveda through personal observation.
In each report below, students ate the selected food for 3 days and self-reported these effects.
See other food & herb reports at Joyful Belly.
TEMPERATURE/CIRCULATION
How did Avocado affect your temperature?
20
16
12
8
4
0
1
10
14
8
0
Much colder
Slightly colder
Same
Slightly warmer
Much warmer
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect your sweat quantity?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
3
25
4
1
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect the color of your tongue body?
30
24
18
12
6
0
5
5
0
23
Paler
Redder
Bluer
No Change
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect your appetite/hunger?
20
16
12
8
4
0
10
14
6
2
1
Much less hungry
Slightly less hungry
Same
Slightly hungrier
Much hungrier
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect your digestion speed?
15
12
9
6
3
0
0
12
12
9
0
Much faster
Slightly faster
Same
Slightly slower
Much slower
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
TOXINS
How did Avocado affect the amount of gas & bloating?
25
20
15
10
5
0
1
5
22
5
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect your stool smell?
30
24
18
12
6
0
1
6
23
3
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
Tongue: How did Avocado affect the thickness & size of your tongue coating?
20
16
12
8
4
0
1
2
15
15
0
Much smaller
Slightly less
Same
Slightly larger coating
Much larger
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect the color of your tongue coating?
25
20
15
10
5
0
3
1
1
6
22
Yellower
Browner
Grayer
Whiter
No Change
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect your urine smell?
35
28
21
14
7
0
1
1
28
3
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?
35
28
21
14
7
0
0
2
29
2
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Many more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect your sweat smell?
35
28
21
14
7
0
0
2
30
1
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
HYDRATION
How did Avocado affect your urine frequency/quantity?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
3
26
3
1
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect the cracks on your tongue?
20
16
12
8
4
0
1
4
16
11
1
Larger/longer/more cracks
Slightly more
Same
Slightly less/smaller/shorter
Much less
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
NERVOUS-SYSTEM
How did Avocado affect your energy levels?
20
16
12
8
4
0
1
7
17
8
0
Much less energy
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more energy
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect your muscle tension?
20
16
12
8
4
0
2
12
16
2
1
Much less tension
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more tension
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect your anxiety?
20
16
12
8
4
0
3
17
11
2
0
Much less anxiety
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more anxiety
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect the stillness of your tongue?
22
18
14
10
6
2
11
19
3
More still
No Change
More Trembling / Jittery
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
DIGESTION
How did Avocado affect your appetite/hunger?
20
16
12
8
4
0
10
14
6
2
1
Much less hungry
Slightly less hungry
Same
Slightly hungrier
Much hungrier
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect the amount of gas & bloating?
25
20
15
10
5
0
1
5
22
5
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect your digestion speed?
15
12
9
6
3
0
0
12
12
9
0
Much faster
Slightly faster
Same
Slightly slower
Much slower
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
TONGUE
How did Avocado affect the color of your tongue body?
30
24
18
12
6
0
5
5
0
23
Paler
Redder
Bluer
No Change
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect the color of your tongue coating?
25
20
15
10
5
0
3
1
1
6
22
Yellower
Browner
Grayer
Whiter
No Change
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
Tongue: How did Avocado affect the thickness & size of your tongue coating?
20
16
12
8
4
0
1
2
15
15
0
Much smaller
Slightly less
Same
Slightly larger coating
Much larger
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect the cracks on your tongue?
20
16
12
8
4
0
1
4
16
11
1
Larger/longer/more cracks
Slightly more
Same
Slightly less/smaller/shorter
Much less
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect the stillness of your tongue?
22
18
14
10
6
2
11
19
3
More still
No Change
More Trembling / Jittery
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
STOOL
How did Avocado affect your stool color?
30
24
18
12
6
0
6
0
1
3
23
More yellow
More gray
More green
More orange
Same
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect your stool consistency?
20
16
12
8
4
0
4
14
13
2
0
Much softer
Slightly softer
Same
Slightly harder
Much harder
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect your stool lightness?
25
20
15
10
5
0
1
13
19
0
0
Much lighter
Slightly lighter
Same
Slightly darker
Much darker
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect your stool frequency/quantity?
20
16
12
8
4
0
0
4
13
16
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect your stool smell?
30
24
18
12
6
0
1
6
23
3
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
URINE
How did Avocado affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?
35
28
21
14
7
0
0
2
29
2
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Many more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect your urine lightness?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
4
25
4
0
Much lighter
Slightly lighter
Same
Slightly Darker
Much Darker
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect your urine clarity?
31
25
19
13
7
1
2
27
4
More cloudy
Same
More clear
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect your urine frequency/quantity?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
3
26
3
1
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect your urine smell?
35
28
21
14
7
0
1
1
28
3
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
SWEAT
How did Avocado affect your sweat quantity?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
3
25
4
1
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect your sweat smell?
35
28
21
14
7
0
0
2
30
1
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
SYSTEMIC
How did Avocado affect your anxiety?
20
16
12
8
4
0
3
17
11
2
0
Much less anxiety
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more anxiety
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect your energy levels?
20
16
12
8
4
0
1
7
17
8
0
Much less energy
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more energy
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect your temperature?
20
16
12
8
4
0
1
10
14
8
0
Much colder
Slightly colder
Same
Slightly warmer
Much warmer
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
How did Avocado affect your muscle tension?
20
16
12
8
4
0
2
12
16
2
1
Much less tension
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more tension
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:3 (2021-01-05 - 2021-02-21)
Note: These exercises are not part of an FDA-regulated study,
and were not designed or conducted under a clinical research protocol.
They are neither investigational in nature nor scientific findings.
They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
They are experiential assignments rooted in traditional Ayurvedic education, intended solely for instructional use.
No conclusions should be drawn regarding the therapeutic effects of any food, herb, or dietary substance based on these student reflections.
Avocado may temper these symptoms.
The suitability of any food for a condition is highly dependent on the individual and constitution.
Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.
We will use this information to better predict food that helps you.
CONTRAINDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS
Avocado may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms.
Note this is not a complete list of all possible contraindications.
Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.
Herb Drug Interaction Risk
Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Avocado. Please see your health care provider for more information.
Antidepressant: Do not combine with antihistamines.
Diuretic: Diuretics may clear pharmaceutical drugs more quickly, lowering the effect. Avoid if taking water pills or pharmaceutical diuretics.
Livotonic: Anything that strengthens or cleanses the liver can clear drugs more quickly, requiring a higher dose.
View other ingredients for Autumn-Winter
Avocado is recommended for Autumn-Winter. Check out these other Autumn-Winter foods here.
Constitutional Nutrition: Strengthen Your Health Naturally
When your dietary choices align with your individual nature (constitution), it supports your metabolism, energy, and health naturally.
A personalized diet, fitting to your constitution, leverages your natural strengths while gently supporting your body where it's vulnerable.
Constitutional nutrition is especially beneficial for digestion, a foundational pillar of health influencing your entire well-being.
Balanced digestion fortifies your body's natural defenses against illness and enhances your resilience when illness does arise.
A healthy digestive fire (*agni*) eases discomfort, speeds recovery, and naturally uplifts your mood.
By embracing constitutional nutrition, you will soon experience a profound sense of renewal, vitality, and inner strength.
John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a
healthy diet and lifestyle through constitutional nutrition (Ayurveda & Greek Medicine).
His approach is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful.
John also directs the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda,
offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.
John's hobbies & specialties include advanced digestive disorders, medieval Catholic philosophy,
& botany. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.
John, his wife Natalie and their 8 kids live in Asheville, NC
“Thank you John for the great article on the amazing avocado!
It also makes a great moisturizing facial ~ 1 tsp. massaged in wait 15 min. then rinse off =soft skin.
It takes 9 months for an avocado to ripen on the tree ~ like a baby!
Ciao,
Emily"
Want our top Ayurvedic recipes and health tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter!
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
The information and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any
disease.
On MeWe
On Pinterest
On Facebook
On Twitter
On WhatsApp
On Email
Create a recipe with it
Compare with other vegetables
Constitutional Medicine Insights
Indications & Uses: What it Improves
Metabolic Effects & Herbal Actions
Contraindications / Aggravates
Similar foods and herbs
Comments and reviews
Impact Report: On tongue, nerves, elimination, etc.
