8 Fun Facts About Avocados - from Web MD

Avocado Spread

European sailors on their way to the New World used avocados in place of butter.

Avocado Varieties

There are more than 80 varieties of avocados. The most common is the year-round Hass avocado, whose original mother tree still stands in California.

Alligator Pear

The avocado is also known as an alligator pear, because of the shape, green skin, and rough texture of the Hass variety. (The Florida avocado has a shiny, smooth surface.)

Avocado Production

The two main U.S. producers of the fruit are California and Florida. The Golden State far outranks the Sunshine State, however, with more than 6,000 groves accounting for about 90% of avocado crops.

Avocado Nutrition

Avocados are a good source of fiber, potassium, and vitamins C, K, folate, and B6. Half an avocado has 160 calories, 15 grams of heart-healthy unsaturated fat, and only 2 grams saturated fat. One globe contains more than one-third the daily value of vitamin C, and more than half the day’s requirements of vitamin K.

Avocado in Salads

Consider adding avocado or avocado oil to your salads. Antioxidants such as lycopene and beta-carotene are better absorbed with the healthy monounsaturated fat avocados have in abundance.

Super Bowl Guacamole

What would guacamole be without avocados? On Super Bowl Sunday, Americans eat about 8 million pounds of guacamole. For Cinco de Mayo, the tally is closer to 14 million.

Avoiding Browning in Avocados

To help prevent an already sliced avocado from browning, sprinkle lemon juice on the exposed flesh, and then refrigerate in a plastic bag.

By Chloe Thompson WebMD Magazine - Feature