ABOUT AVOCADO

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.

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.

COOKING AVOCADO

Browse Recipes 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.

WHY EAT AN AYURVEDIC DIET?

Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. An Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body type and the specific imbalances you are working with at any given time. Ayurveda shows you your specific body type’s needs and what should be favored in your Ayurvedic menu. Watch as you eat less but feel more satisfied because what you are eating truly nourishes you. Since Ayurveda believes all disease begins in the digestive tract, food is your first medicine. By eating a healthy diet that’s ideal for your body, you experience optimal health.

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When I Eat Avocado:

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I FEEL BETTER I FEEL WORSE I FEEL THE SAME

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Is Avocado Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether Avocado is a good fit for your body type. Time to complete: approximately 1 minute.

SERVING SIZE: 1/4 c

SPECIES: Persea americana

FAMILY: Lauraceae

STYLE: LATIN-AMERICAN

PREPARATION: DIP, RAW, SALAD, SMOOTHIE

EAT IN: SPRING, SUMMER, AUTUMN-WINTER

FOR OCCASION: BACKYARD-PICNIC-BBQ, BRUNCH, BUSY-DAY, KID-FRIENDLY, ON-THE-MEND, TRAVEL-FRIENDLY

AYURVEDIC MEDICINAL BIOCHARACTERISTICS

What is the biocharacteristic theory of medicine?

INCREASES Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas) Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic. Learn More	HEAVY ABOUT HEAVY BIOCHARACTERISTIC Heavy is identified by sedation, sluggishness, or increased weight. LEARN MORE ABOUT HEAVY OILY ABOUT OILY 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. LEARN MORE ABOUT OILY EASY ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly. LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY GOOEY ABOUT GOOEY BIOCHARACTERISTIC Gooey is identified by anything gelatinous (such as oatmeal), or by mucus congestion. LEARN MORE ABOUT GOOEY COLD ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow. LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD LIQUEFIED ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs. LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUEFIED
TASTES The 6 Tastes 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? Learn More	SWEET ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats. LEARN MORE ABOUT SWEET
DOSHAS The Three Doshas / Body Types According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history. The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. Catabolic people tend to be easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic people tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic people are heavy, stable and grounded, but if they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Learn More	PACIFIES AGGRAVATES
HAS THE FOLLOWING	Moves Energy: Downward DOWNWARD Downward-moving (Adho Gati Marga) substances move food downward in the GI tract, settle the nervous system, and relax muscles. SEE ALL 'DOWNWARD' FOODS / HERBS , Inward INWARD Inward moving substances promote introspection, self reflection, stillness, or slow the system down. SEE ALL 'INWARD' FOODS / HERBS Tissue (dhatu): Fat STRONG FAT Fat tissue (Meda Dhatu) includes adipose tissue and sebum (skin oil). SEE ALL 'FAT' FOODS / HERBS Affinity: Liver Gallbladder, Respiratory Health, Skin Care SKIN-CARE Includes skin care, and anything that nourishes epithelial membranes (of digestive, respiratory, urinary tract, blood vessels, etc). SEE ALL 'SKIN-CARE' FOODS / HERBS , Weight Loss Family: Lauraceae

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

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.

Here are the herbal actions of Avocado:

Bowel Health:

Stool Softener

STOOL-SOFTENER

An herb that softens stool that is hard and difficult to pass. They are the safest and most gentle type of laxative. Some foods are even stool softeners, such as warm milk with ghee.

SEE ALL 'STOOL-SOFTENER' FOODS / HERBS

Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Grounding

GROUNDING

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.

SEE ALL 'GROUNDING' FOODS / HERBS

Energy Vitality:

Satisfies Stomach

SATISFIES-STOMACH

Provides a sense of gratification and fullness in the stomach.

SEE ALL 'SATISFIES-STOMACH' FOODS / HERBS

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Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Skin Care & Beauty:

Refreshes Skin

REFRESHES-SKIN

Flushes the lymphatic system to cool, awaken, and revive the skin.

SEE ALL 'REFRESHES-SKIN' FOODS / HERBS

,

Demulcent

DEMULCENT

Herbs that coat or form a soothing film over a mucous membrane, relieving minor pain and inflammation of the membrane.

SEE ALL 'DEMULCENT' FOODS / HERBS

,

Emollient

EMOLLIENT

Soothes & softens the skin. Often a topical demulcent or oil.

SEE ALL 'EMOLLIENT' FOODS / HERBS

,

Skin Tonic

SKIN-TONIC

An herb that strengthens and nourishes skin, improving tone, color, moisture and complexion.

SEE ALL 'SKIN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Liver & Gallbladder:

Livotonic

LIVOTONIC

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.

SEE ALL 'LIVOTONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:

Alpha Linolenic Acid, Fats, Essential Fatty Acids, Folate, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Potassium, Vitamin E

Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.

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