History

• Avocados have been in existence at least since the eighth century B.C. Seeds of the Persea Americana were discovered with a mummy in Peru during an archaeological excavation. Avocados have long been touted as an aphrodisiac. The seductive reputation is rooted in the ancient Aztecs' observation that the fruits looked like testicles growing on a tree, giving rise to the idea that avocados increase libido. The fruit was even advertised in the United States as lacking aphrodisiac properties, with the intention of convincing people otherwise by reverse psychology.
  
  

Types

• The three primary strains of avocado--Mexican, Guatemalan and West Indian--were categorized by Spaniard Bernabe Cobo in the year 1653. Today there are more than 20 varieties of the fruit grown in the United States. Seven of these are grown in California and include the popular Haas, Bacon and Pinkerton varieties.
  
  

Features

• Avocados are distinct in a couple of ways. Avocados are the only tree fruit which are not sweet, tart or juicy. In addition, avocados do not ripen unless removed from the tree. This means that harvest can be drawn out, and some varieties can be left on the tree for months without negatively affecting the fruits.
  
  

Benefits

• Avocados are a wellspring of nutrients and health benefits. They offer a third of the RDA of vitamin C, 63 percent of the RDA of fiber and 8 percent of daily iron. In addition, avocados have a wealth of minerals and dietary amino acids as well as essential omega fatty acids three and six. These are rounded out with 5 grams of healthy protein.
  
  

Considerations

• Avocados are used in nearly half of American homes. If your home is not yet one of them, consider trying out easy ways to prepare this delicious and nutritious fruit. Cut the avocados in half lengthwise, around the pit. Scoop out the pit then remove the flesh with a spoon and cut up in a salad, or eat the meat right out of the skin. If the meat is not going to be eaten right away you should drizzle a bit of lemon juice on the surface to avoid discoloration.