In California, many of the most authentic taco/burrito restaurants pile on the avocados or guacamole at no extra charge- it's considered essential, like cheese. In Colorado and most other states I've been to, avocado/guacamole always costs extra when you add it to your Mexican dish. I guess I can't blame these restaurants; it's hard to grow avocados in all but the warmest climates, and it can't be cheap to truck avocados out to Colorado. These precious commodities often go for $3 apiece in the markets here! But it's rare that I'm not willing to pay precious extra cash for the unbelievably great taste and texture of avocado.
FOOD OF THE DAY: AVOCADOS
Avocados appear in a few different varieties in supermarkets: California, Florida, Mexico, and Hawaii all supply them in huge numbers, and the different varieties vary in size and skin color. To me, they all taste about the same; and their nutrient content does not vary much between avocado types. If you want them cheap, get them from a Mexican supermarket if you have one near you. If you live in California, Hawaii, or Florida, you can even grow them at home!
People seem tremendously confused about whether avocados are "fattening" or not. The truth is that they CAN be; they are relatively high in fat and calories, and some of this fat is saturated. However, most of the fat in avocados is unsaturated fat, similar to what is found in nuts and fish. This kind of fat does have abundant calories, but it tends to have a GOOD effect on your blood cholesterol. In a later blog, we'll discuss different types of fats and how they affect the different types of cholesterol in your blood.
AVOCADOS: BENEFITS
-Delicious, filling, and versatile, they can really liven up salads, fish dishes, sandwiches, and Mexican food.
-Tremendously high in fiber; a single avocado has a full 50% of the fiber you need in a day.
-A good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, and some of the B vitamins.
-Packed with unsaturated vegetable fats which can have a favorable effect on your blood cholesterol and potentially reduce inflammation.
AVOCADOS: DRAWBACKS
-Not really a "low-calorie" choice if you are watching calories. A single whole avocado has 300-350 calories.
-Not a ton of saturated fat, but some. An avocado has about 3 grams of saturated fat, more than most plant foods.
-Can be expensive if you're not shopping at a Mexican grocery store.
-Don't keep well once you cut them open. If you eat half and avocado, plan on eating the other half the next day.
PEOPLE OF THE YEAR: NURSES
Do you know anyone who is a nurse? If you do, send them a card or at least give them a hug this week. This week is Nurse's Week, and nurses deserve more recognition than any mere week can give them. Nurses, with few exceptions, work their ASSES OFF, and they are truly the ones who keep the health care system going. Did you know that in hospitals and clinics, it's the nurses that provide the vast majority of the patient care? Without attentive nurses, few doctors would be able to handle the crushing load of patient health problems and questions that arise in an average clinic day. Without caring nurses checking medications, allergies, and vital signs constantly, few patients would make it out of the hospital alive. When my patients survive a life-threatening illness and hospitalization, and come into clinic talking about the wonderful care they received when they were ill, more often than not it's the great nurses they remember. And as a doctor with a busy practice and a ton of stress, I certainly know who I can count on to boost my morale and keep a smile on my face when times are tough: the nurses on my team. So do yourself and our society a favor: take a moment to appreciate NURSES!
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