Trisha's Training Tidbits: The Avocado

When I was younger, I’m pretty sure I either didn’t know what an avocado was or I thought it would be gross…because I didn’t try one til just a few years ago. And I feel like I should apologize to the avocado for not giving it a chance for so many years.

The nice thing is, avocados both taste good AND are good for you. And they are pretty dang versatile. Here are some of the impressive stats:

- Despite it’s dark green skin, avocado is known to contain a spectacular array of carotenoids. Researchers believe that avocado's amazing carotenoid diversity is a key factor in the anti-inflammatory properties of this vegetable.

- While it is true that avocado is a high-fat food (about 85% of its calories come from fat), the fat contained in avocado is unusual and provides research-based health benefits

- Some of the health benefits include: anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular health, promotes blood sugar regulation, digestive health, and anti-cancer properties

Here are some tips on how to pick an avocado and store it:

A ripe, ready-to-eat avocado is slightly soft but should have no dark sunken spots or cracks. If the avocado has a slight neck, rather than being rounded on top, it was probably tree ripened and will have better flavor. A firmer, less mature fruit can be ripened at home and will be less likely to have bruises.

A firm avocado will ripen in a paper bag or in a fruit basket at room temperature within a few days. As the fruit ripens, the skin will turn darker. Avocados should not be refrigerated until they are ripe. Once ripe, they can be kept refrigerated for up to a week. If you are refrigerating a whole avocado, it is best to keep it whole and not slice it in order to avoid browning that occurs when the flesh is exposed to air.

If you have used a portion of a ripe avocado, it is best to store the remainder in the refrigerator. Store in a plastic bag, wrap with plastic wrap, or place on a plate and cover with plastic wrap. Sprinkling the exposed surface(s) with lemon juice will help to prevent the browning that can occur when the flesh comes in contact with oxygen in the air.

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