10 Little-Known and Unexpected Facts About Avocados
Avocado is one of the most popular products of modern healthy eating. Technically, it is not a fruit, as many believe, but a berry with a large seed inside. For many, this is news, but we want to offer you 10 more amazing and unusual facts about avocado that will definitely interest you.
Avocado contains the toxin persin, which is a fungicide. It is harmless to humans, but dangerous to many animals. Therefore, avocado should not be given to animals or birds. It is known for sure that cows, goats, horses, sheep, rabbits, pigs, fish and birds are at risk.
In South America, avocado seeds were used to make poison for rodents by grinding them up and mixing them with cheese. As for cats and dogs, opinions differ. Some say that the toxin does not affect these animals, while others confirm that it can cause stomach and respiratory problems. In any case, it is better not to experiment.
Avocados have been known in South America since ancient times. But outside the continent, these fruits only became known in the 20th century. We have biologist Rudolf Hass and his children to thank for this, who in the early 1900s bred a new variety, the Hass avocado. The family did the breeding in their backyard.
Hass avocados are smaller than other varieties and have a thick skin, making them easy to grow and transport. They also have a pleasant nutty flavor. Hass avocado trees grew rapidly in popularity in the 20th century, making the fruit more accessible and affordable.
Avocados are not only useful in the kitchen, but also in hair care. Avocado puree can be a natural substitute for shampoo, strengthening hair and stimulating its growth. This is possible due to the high content of fatty amino acids, which create a protective coating that retains moisture.
Copper, iron, and vitamins A, D, and E found in avocados promote healthy hair and scalp by moisturizing and improving overall health. Regular use of avocados helps stop hair loss, making hair strong, shiny, and healthy.
In the Aztec language, avocado was called ahuacate, which translates as "testicle." The fruit got its name because of its shape. But someone misinterpreted this and spread the legend that avocado is an aphrodisiac. At the beginning of the 20th century, this greatly hindered the sale of the fruit in America.
Americans were suspicious of the fruit, which was believed to have aphrodisiac properties. The situation changed when Californian farmers came up with the modern name "avocado". This helped make the fruit more attractive to consumers and increase its popularity in the US market.
The climate of the Mexican state of Michoacan de Ocampo is ideal for growing avocados. Half of all the fruit on the planet is grown there, and 90 percent of the state's income comes from the sale of this crop. It is no wonder that local drug cartels have set their sights on this lucrative business.
There have been increasing reports of cartels kidnapping and even killing farmers who refuse to share their profits. A 2014 investigation found that one gang alone was raking in up to $152 million a year from cowed farmers.
Avocado is also called American persea and agacate. But there is another, rarely encountered name - "alligator pear". And it, without a doubt, suits these fruits. Avocado actually resembles a pear in shape, and its skin resembles the rough skin of a reptile.
Avocados are often sold unripe, which makes them easier to store and transport. But the fruit ripens well even when picked from the tree. If you want this process to happen faster, place the unripe avocado next to apples, bananas, apricots, nectarines or plums. All of these fruits produce ethylene gas, a ripening agent.
Place the avocado in a paper bag with any of these fruits and the fruit will ripen much faster. But you should monitor the process, as it happens very quickly and sometimes takes less than a day. There is a downside to this method - many believe that such ripening with companions changes the unique taste of the fruit.
A 2017 study by HSBC found that only 35 percent of millennials in the U.S. were homeowners. The rest reported that they were unable to save for a down payment for one reason or another. In an interview, real estate mogul Tim Gerner said one reason young people can’t save for a home is their addiction to avocados, which are too expensive.
Bakers believe that avocado can easily replace butter. It can be used in almost all recipes for muffins and cakes. True, to calculate the required amount of the product, you will have to spend some time, but it is worth it. Butter is high in calories and also contains fats that are harmful to the body.
Replacing butter with avocado reduces the calorie content of baked goods by almost half. Half of this fruit contains only 109 calories. The taste of the finished dish will be slightly different, but the baked goods will be richer in protein, and the content of saturated fats and cholesterol will be significantly reduced.
In addition to vitamins and microelements, avocados contain lutein, zeaxanthin, and carotenoids. These substances are powerful antioxidants that help maintain youth and health. They are especially useful for preventing cataracts, an age-related eye disease. In addition, avocado components maintain skin elasticity and strengthen joints and ligaments.
Which of these facts surprised you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments!