By Penelope A. Domogo, MD
Avocado is one of my favorite fruits. It’s in season since lockdown (and starting to disappear). Did you notice that nature becomes more generous in times of crisis- I see avocado everywhere in the market and in my neighbors’ yards. It’s sad, though, that there is this misconception that avocado contains cholesterol so they don’t eat it. Avocado does not contain cholesterol because cholesterol is only found in animals, including humans. Our bodies manufactures inside the cholesterol we need so actually anything we take in from the outside – animal meat, eggs and dairy (milk, cheese, cream, etc)- is excess.
Let us see what the 1997 Philippine Food Composition Tables states for every 100 grams of red avocado (equivalent to one small avocado), there are:
0.9 grams protein
7.6 grams fat
7 grams carbohydrate
1 gram crude fiber
11 mg calcium
27 mg phosphorous
45 micrograms Beta carotene
1.3 mg niacin or vitamin B3
13 mg ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
See? Like other plants, it contains protein, minerals like calcium and vitamins like Vitamin C! Well, it certainly is full of life-giving elements. It contains 20 essential vitamins and minerals. I am sure that if we had more sensitive gadgets, we would discover more. You also see that it is high in fat but it is good fat as it is monounsaturated fat. Remember that term “monounsaturated fat”. This fat is needed by the vitamins and minerals (like Vitamins A, D, E & K and iron) in kalunay, tongsoy, camote leaves and all the leafy vegetables and beans that abound this rainy season and which you should be eating precisely because they are in season. Our Creator certainly loves us so much- he gives the right combination of foods each time. But do we believe this or do we believe in our laboratories more and have our own combinations? Isip isip….
Let’s dissect deeper how our Creator designed the avocado. The avocado tree bears fruit only once a year. But it sure is a very generous tree, right? I would say that those who grow avocados cannot consume all the fruits of their tree, even if it is only one tree. Our neighbors shared us their avocado harvest a lot of times. Thank you, dear neighbors! When the fruits mature, they usually mature at the same time and ripen at the same time so that much as I like them, I cannot eat that much. Well, apparently, the Maker does not mean us to eat a kilo of avocados in one sitting. He must have placed something there that controls my appetite. What kaya? Researchers say that these maybe the high fat and fiber content. Fiber is that important substance found in plants that makes you feel full thus the more fiber the food contains, the lesser your intake. Regarding its fat content, one cannot really eat a lot of fat, even felat. Masuya ka. God is good, really. As we mentioned earlier, the good fat in avocado is important in our diet but even good things, in excess, can be bad. So our Creator created avocado in a way that we don’t eat it in excess. Trust Him to know what’s best for us.
And if the avocado is overripe, I wouldn’t eat it. Would you? So you have to share these with your pigs or compost. I can’t even dry them or ferment them. Or perhaps I haven’t tried enough. Has anybody ever tried avocado wine? It cannot be preserved naturally. Anyway, I accept that avocado was designed to be eaten only in moderation and in season (its season is even a few months). Another thing I am thankful for is that we can’t force avocados to fruit out of season. It is one of the plants that have remained organic and natural, like starapple. We should be careful not to tamper with nature because there’s already an intricate design for balance and harmony which our gadgets have not deciphered but we are sure is there. Agriculturists, please take note.
What about the avocado leaves? They make tasty colorful teas, good for anemia and insomnia and diarrhea. Back in the 1980s, we had a popular 3-in-1 organic tea called ABK (abukado, bayabas, kayomito) for diarrhea or just a drink. By itself, I marvel at how the avocado tea changes color from yellow green to pink to red. In just minutes. Mind-boggling!
The avocado seed is also good for shampoo, facemask, smoothie, tea, dye and a lot more. I recommend that you read the Mother Nature Network article of Robin Shreeves on “9 ways to use an avocado pit.” Leonard Co in his book “Common Medicinal Plants of the Cordillera Region” lists avocado seed or bark as remedy for rheumatism and neuralgia (nerve pain). Just mix the finely ground dried seed or bark with oil and rub over the painful area. Wow! Innumerable benefits!
In the city where we only have a container garden, I experimented planting avocado in a big pot. It’s 2 years old now and although I don’t expect it to bear fruit, I am happy that it provides me with fresh leaves for a wonderful tea.***
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“He rained down manna upon them to eat and gave them grain from heaven. So mortals ate the bread of angels, he provided for them food enough.” Psalm 78:24-25
