Where is avocado from

They also provide lutein, beta carotene , and omega-3 fatty acids. Avocados contain high levels of healthy, beneficial fats, which can help a person feel fuller between meals. Eating fat slows the breakdown of carbohydrates, which helps keep blood sugar levels stable.

Roughly half an avocado, or grams g , contains :. Fat is essential for every single cell in the body. Eating healthy fats supports skin health, enhances the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, and even helps support the immune system. Learn more about the different types of fat here. In every g of avocado there are 76 milligrams of a natural plant sterol called beta sitosterol. Regularly consuming beta sitosterol and other plant sterols may help maintain healthy cholesterol levels, which are important for heart health.

Avocados contain lutein and zeaxanthin , two phytochemicals present in eye tissue. They provide antioxidant protection to help minimize damage, including from UV light. The monounsaturated fatty acids in avocados also support the absorption of other beneficial fat-soluble antioxidants , such as beta carotene. As a result, adding avocados to the diet may help reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration. This nutrient is often overlooked but is essential for bone health.

Taking in enough vitamin K can support bone health by increasing calcium absorption and reducing the urinary excretion of calcium. Studies have not yet assessed a direct link between avocado consumption and a reduction in cancer risk. However, avocados do contain compounds that may help prevent the onset of some cancers. Research has associated an optimal intake of folate with a reduced risk of developing colon, stomach, pancreatic, and cervical cancers.

However, the mechanism behind this association remains unclear. Avocados also contain high levels of phytochemicals and carotenoids, which may have anticancer properties. Studies have shown that carotenoids, specifically, may protect against cancer progression. A review highlighted the potential benefits of avocado consumption in relation to breast, oral, and throat cancers.

However, these associations are typically the result of test tube studies, not controlled human trials. Further research is necessary to confirm these associations. Folate is important for a healthy pregnancy. Adequate intake reduces the risk of miscarriage and neural tube abnormalities. Consume at least micrograms mcg of folate per day when pregnant. One avocado may contain as much as mcg.

Avocados also contain fatty acids that are integral to a healthy diet and fetal development. Avocados are a good source of folate , which plays an important role in overall dietary health. Studies have also found links between low folate levels and depression. Folate helps prevent the buildup of homocysteine, a substance that can impair circulation and delivery of nutrients to the brain.

Reviews of past research have linked excess homocysteine with cognitive dysfunction, depression, and the production of serotonin , dopamine, and norepinephrine, which regulate mood, sleep, and appetite. Avocados are high in fiber, containing approximately 6—7 g per half fruit. The avocado tree grows best in humid, tropical weather with well-draining soil. It is commercially cultivated around the world and produces 7 metric tons for every 2.

The fruit is cultivated while still hard and only ripens when off the tree. This tree species is difficult to propagate via pollination. To ease the process, most cultivators graft onto producing trees. When cultivated by seed, the plant takes between 4 and 6 years to produce fruit. These trees are particularly susceptible to viral, bacterial, and nutritional diseases.

Mexico is the top avocado producing country in the world. The total avocado production area is around , acres, which produces 1. Not only does this country produce more avocados than any other country in the world, but it produces more per acre as well. In theory, the seed was ready to sprout by the time it was excreted. The avocado was extremely important among the indigenous people of ancient Mesoamerica, as the fruit provided sustenance and possessed mythological powers.

The fruit eventually made its way across the Atlantic when Spanish explorers were introduced to the avocado in the 16th century.

By , the fruit had spread through Central America and into parts of South America before being exported back to Europe by the Spanish and sold to other countries. While today we refer to it as an avocado, the yummy green fruit has experienced its own bit of an identity crisis through the years with misinterpretations of its name and potential side effects. However, Aztecs believed the fruit promoted fertility for both men and women.

The fruit is grown mostly in the Kodagu district in the Southwest Indian state of Karnataka. The avocado made its way to the Land of Liberty in and enjoyed moderate popularity where avocado farms existed, such as California, Florida, and Hawaii. People in other areas of the country largely avoided avocados until the s when the fruit became a supporting actor in delicious salads.

Avocados experienced another popularity setback in the United States in the s as people became increasingly nutrition-conscious and the low-fat diet fad gained prominence. But inevitably, as people learned more about nutrition, they learned about the differences between good and bad fats and the nutritious benefits of the unsaturated fats in avocados. Since then, the avocado never looked back.

With the rising popularity of Mexican cuisine over the last several decades and a population more knowledgeable than ever on how to live longer, nutritious-filled lives, the avocado has firmly established itself as an American dietary staple. Today, the United States accounts for 79 percent of avocados exported from Mexico and has entered the pop culture conscience of American society with countless memes, T-shirts, and the first Big Game ad for a fruit.