Avocados grow on a tall evergreen tree in the tropical parts of the world such as Brazil, Australia, Indonesia and South Africa. They are oval shaped like a pear and have a pebbly alligator skin. Thus they are often referred to as the alligator pear.
The avocado is a fruit that is manually picked while it is still green to preserve the shelf life and to make it possible to transport the avocados to different parts of the world. As the avocados ripen the outer skin becomes a dark color, and the yellow green flesh on the inside soften.
Different Varieties
There are several different varieties of avocados, but the most popular in America is the Hass variety, Other varieties include Fuerto, Gwen, Pinkerton, Reed and Zutano. Depending on which variety, avocados can weigh 8 oz. and up.
How Many Calories?
They are high in calories as well as in fat content which is why they are often avoided, especially by those who are trying to lose weight. But new studies reveal that even though they are high in fat and calories, they are a perfect addition to any diet, whether you are trying to lose weight, or just trying to stay healthy.
An average avocado calories can contain as many as 306. This equals to about 234 calories for every 146 grams (about 1 cup of sliced avocado). About 90 percent of those calories come from, mono and polyunsaturated fats.
However, this does not mean that the calories are bad for you, as they are rich with essential nutrients such as vitamins A, B complex, C, E, H and K, as well as calcium, iron, copper and magnesium. On top of that the fats are not anything like the trans-fats and saturated fats that are found processed foods and animal proteins which contribute to cholesterol plaque and heart disease.
But rather the fats which are contained in avocados are the healthy fats which will not contribute to high cholesterol levels, but instead they help to reduce the levels of cholesterol as well as the triglycerides levels.
Healthy Addition to Your Diet
Avocados calories can add to your daily diet, as they not only provide you with lots of calories, but they also provide you with proper nutrition so that you can reduce your food cravings. As a result the healthy fats will not cause you to put on excess weight, but rather they can help you to do the opposite.