Hi Scarlett,
Avocados are wonderful
I was just reading at
www.webmd.com Quote:
Lowers LDL ("bad fat") and triglycerides, both associated with heart disease.
Increases HDL ("good fat") levels which lowers the risk of heart disease.
Avocados are rich in beta-sitosterol, a natural substance shown to significantly lower blood cholesterol levels.
Everything in Moderation
Sneaking monounsaturated fats into your own daily diet may allow you to enjoy similar health benefits, says Melanie Polk, a registered dietitian and director of nutrition education at the American Institute for Cancer Research in Washington, D.C. Used creatively, she says, avocados can add variety -- and good nutrition -- to your diet. Instead of spreading butter or cream cheese on your bread or bagel, use some mashed avocado instead. Replace that mayo you'd usually put on a sandwich with avocado slices. You'll not only save calories, you'll be cutting out saturated fat and increasing your daily intake of monounsaturated fat as well.
A recommended serving size is 2 tablespoons, or roughly one-sixth of a medium-sized avocado. Each serving provides 5 grams of fat and 55 calories. Still, compared with butter or mayonnaise -- which each pack 22 fat grams and 200 calories in a 2-tablespoon serving -- they don't seem so bad.
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Of course, when you're used to eating the whole thing, it's kind of hard to imagine scooping out 2 TBS and being done!
And Scarlett, you're right, the magic number will probably hit someday - my husband is dancing around the issue...he talks about me serving "rabbit food" or says something about me walking or "What are you doin'? Trying to get healthy?" (from him this morning as I was making my first smoothie - Yuck! I made it wrong!) He says these things good naturedly, but he hasn't noticed that I've been doing a lot of these things for awhile now or that they've had any effect.
It's ok - I've never felt better about myself
He'll see it eventually!
