Did you know there are hundreds of types of avocadoes in the world, and that they’re actually a fruit, not a vegetable? And not are they just super tasty, but additionally extremely nutritious so here’s to a moment of celebrating an ingredient that we can all love and be creative with, as seen in cultures all over the world. Like in the US, they are super delicious as a guacamole – but in Indonesia, common uses include drinking them as a juice, and also putting it in your hair… Curious? Read on.
BASICS FIRST. WHY ARE THEY SO HEALTHY?
Avocados are a good source of pantothenic acid, dietary fiber, vitamin K, copper, folate, vitamin B6, potassium, vitamin E, and vitamin C. They are are full of beta sitosterol, a chemical that has been shown to have a beneficial impact on the blood levels and helps reduce inflamation. Research shows that avocados are rich in oleic acid, which is a fatty acid associated with reducing the LDL (bad cholesterol), improving the ratio between good and low-density lipoprotein… all in, this is a super heart healthy fruit we should all enjoy!
The great thing about avocados is its ability to be utilized in a wide range of dishes. A simple sandwich with avocado and a little lemon juice sprinkled on top can be a fantastic snack and keep you feel full and satisfied for very long, and you can always enhance with anything from sundried tomatoes to hummus. Avocados are also a great addition to any vegetable salad. Make certain to include avocados in the daily eating routine. My dad makes it a habit to eat 1/2 an avocado every morning with olive oil and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar to maintain his youthful 77 years young!
USES IN INDONESIA.
I like to think the centuries of its use has given us a lot of time to get creative with it…
IN A JUICE:
Blend 1/2 an avocado with ice, water (or coconut water), 1 tbsp of condensed milk, and 1/2 tsp of instant coffee. Makes 1 cup. It has a sweet, delicious Avocado flavor with just a touch of a coffee aroma and flavor to make it a touch more aromatic and flavorful. For an decoration, you can squirt some chocolate syrup on the inside of the walls of a transparent glass cup before pouring in the juice for extra festive appearance! Here’s a fun recipe.
IN YOUR HAIR:
Yes, seriously. In your hair. An avocado’s fats and rich texture makes for a great hair conditioning treatment and nourishes your scalp. In our traditional Indonesian “cremebath” treatment, you go to a salon to get a 45 min head, shoulder and arm massage (aka mini piece of heaven) while receiving a deep conditioning treatment with a natural hair mask. For dry skin, we use Avocado. You can make your own hair mask by mashing an avocado and mixing in an egg yolk if you have dry hair, or a banana if you have dull hair. You can give yourself a hair massage if you want then put on a shower cap for 30 minutes. Rinse with water or light shampoo.
ON YOUR FACE:
There are DIY masks, but then there is our Java Plum & Avocado Nourishing Mask that has all the yummm without the mess. Nourishing avocado is mixed with skin firming Java Plum and mild fruit acids to smooth and hydrate skin in this leave-on mask. We love avocadoes for skin so much we decided to make a mask with it!