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Top > Earthy Delights Recipes > Earthy Delights Gourmet Recipes > Tips & Techniques > Avocado: Ancient Food of the Future |
Avocado: Ancient Food of the Future
AVOCADO:
THE ANCIENT FOOD
OF THE FUTURE
by Jessica Mobassaleh
The Ancient Fruit
Believe it or not, the birthplace of the avocado
is often disputed. While some claim avocados
originated in South America and later migrated
to Mexico, others claim just the opposite.
Many believe that avocados, although having
originated in Mexico, were first cultivated
in South America where the cultivation wave then migrated
back to Mexico. Some also say that the Incas brought the first
avocado trees from Peru or Ecuador to the Aconcagua Valley
in present day Chile.
In any case, avocados have as rich a history as they have
flavor. Dating back to the time of the Incas, Aztecs and Mayans,
avocados were the subject of many a myth.
For the Aztecs, avocado was, "the fruit of the kings" and
eaten as a luxurious aphrodisiac. The Aztecs also believed
that avocado was the fertility fruit and as such,
Aztec families would not allow their virgin daughters outside
of the house during harvesting season. The Mayans too
reserved avocados for royal tables of luxury. It was said that
a Mayan princess ate the first avocado and believed it to have
mystical, magical powers corresponding with the Aztec view
of avocados having aphrodisiac qualities. This sexual stigma
about avocados carried through the 19th century where, when
growers wanting to cultivate avocados commercially, had to
first launch a widespread campaign to try and change
the public's view of avocados. Up until this point,
avocados where neither purchased nor eaten
by anyone wishing to uphold a virtuous
or chaste appearance. As we very
well know, the grower-sponsored
campaign was a success.
Avocados are now enjoyed
around the world in both sweet
and savory ways. Brazilians
make avocado milk shakes
and avocado ice cream. Indonesians,
Filipinos, Jamaicans,
and Vietnamese make
milk shake desert drinks by
blending pureed avocado,
milk and sugar.
In Latin America and parts
of Central America, avocados are
served along side white rice as well as given out as wedding
gifts which again, trace back to the avocados' said "fertile" properties. Avocado pulp has even been used as an additive
to adobe, a building material, by many Indigenous Populations
throughout the Southwestern United States.
While avocados have been used in these various ways
for centuries, Chileans and New Zealanders now use avocado
in a new way. In these regions, the avocado pulp is pressed to
make avocado oil.
Avocado Oil
While light yet flavorful, avocado oil is typically noted for
it's mild avocado taste and subtle walnut undertone. The
oil should be deep in color, similar to that of olive oil. Avocado
oil however, is derived from the pulp of the avocado rather
than the seed or pit, as most other oils, including olive and
seed oils. Avocado oil also has a higher viscosity
and a higher smoke point (255 degrees Celsius) than olive
oil and is of course made without animal products or
additives. Avocado oil is typically packaged in dark green
bottles which prevents against the degenerative influences of
light and oxygen. Like most olive oil, avocado oil is extra-
virgin and cold-pressed (cold extraction by centrifugation)
which means that it is only pressed once
(extra-virgin) and with a cool (45 degrees
Celsius) pressing mechanism
which helps to maintain
the life and integrity of the
nutrients in the fruit. Avocado
oil is a flavorful, yet
healthy alternative to most
oils, including olive oil and
is even found in cosmetics
and skin treatments due to
its regenerative and moisturizing
properties.
Health and Wellness Benefits
As endorsed by the Food
and Drug Administration
(FDA) as well as the National
Cancer Institute, avocado and avocado oil have been the subject of much
research. Such research has concluded that the consumption of the
monosaturated fats in avocados actually aid in the absorption of many
other nutrients such as alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and lycopene,
that might otherwise pass through the body without being
absorbed. Further research finds that avocado and avocado oil
help to prevent or promote wellness against numerous diseases
and conditions such as high cholesterol (LDL), complications
in urinary flow, liver disease, prostate cancer, eye disease, heart
disease, and type 2 diabetes. As such, avocados are part of the
National Cancer Institute's National 5-A-Day Program as well
as one of natures "Nutrient Boosters" and "Functional Foods". Much of the health acclaim avocados receive is due to the fact that they are trans fat free, while high in good fat/good cholesterol
(Monosaturated fats) and low in bad fat/ bad cholesterol
(saturated fats.) This in turn helps to increase HDL levels
(good cholesterol) while lowering LDL levels (bad cholesterol)
essentially helping the blood against cholesterol. Moreover,
avocados are packed with micro-nutrients like beta-sitosterol,
and vitamins such B6, C, D, and E. And wait, weíre not finished
yet. Avocados are also packed with magnesium, potassium,
lutein, dietary fibers, folate, riboflavin, and thiamine. In
sum, avocados are not only delicious, but are actually one of
the most nutritious fruits on earth.
The Environmental Benefits of
Avocados
Avocado trees and roots provide numerous benefits to the
environment such as reduction of soil erosion and storm
run off and also the improvement of water quality. The biggest
benefit, however, is the improvement of our air quality. Avocado
trees and orchards absorb carbon dioxide and air pollutants
as well as produce a tremendous amount of oxygen per year.
One avocado tree can produce around 260 pounds of oxygen
per year. Two developed/mature avocado trees can provide
the amount of oxygen required by a family of four to breathe
for one year's time or remove the amount of carbon dioxide a
single car produces in over four years time. That's over 50,000
miles of driving!
Trivia (True or False?)
1. Avocados are typically grown during the
summer months.
2. Placing an apple in a brown paper bag with
unripe avocados speeds the ripening process.
3. Avocados belong to the genus Persea in the
Luaraceae family and are fruits.
4. Avocados are also known as Alligator or
Avocado Pears.
5. The Mother of all Hass avocado trees is
found somewhere in the Yucatan Peninsula.
6. Avocado, which means "pear," was named
by Rudolph Hass.
7. Avocados ripen on the tree.
Answers
1. False. Avocados are a year round crop.
2. True. The gases that the apple produces
cause the avocado to ripen faster.
3. True.
4. True. This is due in combination with their
rough peel and pear like shape.
5. False. The Mother Hass tree - which still produces
avocados to this day - lives in La Habra Heights, California.
6. False. The original Nahuatl name, "ahutacatl"
actually means testicle which may relate
to the fertility/sexual stigma previously mentioned.
7. False. Avocados are "climactic" fruit which
means they ripen off the tree after being picked.
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