Avocados are one of the healthiest natural foods in the world, packed full of vital nutrients, vitamins and minerals as well as being a great source of protein and fibre. Although they are extremely ‘calorific’ – the avocado is full of natural, healthy fats along with having lots of other beneficial qualities.
For your face:
Avocados can be mashed together with yoghurt or honey to make a natural face-mask. It helps to lighten your skin tone for a radiant complexion, and can decrease the look of fine lines and scars. Full of amino acids, avocados are great at clearing breakouts as well as being extremely hydrating – regular applications of the mask can prove to have wonderful effects for your face.
For your skin and hair :
Avocado oil is a popular ingredient in lots of beauty products as it is easily absorbed, leaving your skin clean and nourished as well as super soft. You can also use it on your hair – by leaving it on the ends overnight and washing it out in the morning, it leaves your hair gorgeously shiny. It also repairs as it strengthens the hair fibres.
For your health: Because avocados are packed with essential vitamins and minerals – they encourage the body to absorb nutrients that are present in other foods – they help to keep your insides healthy. They are higher in potassium than any other fruit, and this has been scientifically proven to lower blood pressure.
For fighting cancer:
With its anti-cancerous properties, studies have found that regular consumption of avocado can significantly reduce the chance of breast or prostate cancer.
For morning sickness: The feeling of nausea associated with pregnancy can be reduced by eating avocados as they contain high amounts of Vitamin B.
These little super fruits can be of great benefit as well as being delicious. There are plenty of ways to enjoy avocados, by layering them with cheese in a bagel, chopping them onto your salad or pureeing them into guacamole, here’s a recipe for my favourite way to eat avocados:
INGREDIENTS
4 flour tortillas
400g can refried beans
big pinch cayenne pepper
200g can kidney beans in water, rinsed
2 handfuls cherry tomatoes, chopped
50g cheddar
1 green chilli, thinly sliced
1 avocado, halved, stoned and sliced
handful coriander leaves, to serve
METHOD
Heat grill to medium-high. Put 2 tortillas onto a large baking sheet, then grill them for 2 mins. In a bowl, mix the refried beans, cayenne pepper, kidney beans and cherry tomatoes, then divide half the mix between the tortillas. Scatter with half of the cheese and half of the sliced chilli, then grill again until the cheese melts. Lift onto plates and top with half of the avocado and coriander to serve. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
