I don't know what has taken a hold of me, but lately I have been craving Avocados and can't stop eating them :) As weird as it may sound, my favorite morning snack is sliced cucumber, topped with diced avocado, with a light drizzle of Italian dressing and a pinch of cayenne pepper. This delectable delight is packed with nutrients to start your day off right!
Being that I have been consuming so many avocados lately, I have an abundance of seeds left over. I tend to not discard seeds like this since they can be planted and re-grown and even consumed.
In case you don't know, yes, you can plant an avocado seed and a avocado plant (tree) will sprout to life within approximately 4-6 weeks. But, the time it takes to bear fruit can be years and to become a fully mature tree could be upwards of 5-7 years. Is this really worth the time and attention it takes.... I say YES, to a certain extent. If you have a green thumb and enjoy cultivating nature, with little work and maintenance, these trees could be a fun way to bring life and nature to your space and make thoughtful little house warming gifts.
However, what I appreciate most about the avocado seed is that it is packed full of nutrients and they can benefit you in so many ways, including:
Strengthen your immune system
Protect against free radicals
Help reduce arthritis and gastritis
Aid in preventing viruses and bacteria taken root in your body
Helps lower your cholesterol
Helps lower your blood pressure
Boosts your metabolism
Strong anti-oxidant properties
Now don't think you can just eat an avocado and eat it like a nut or an apple; this would be a sure fire way to meeting your dentist for an emergency visit. If you're interested in consuming the seed properly, follow these instructions.
How to Prepare and Avocado Seed for Consumption
Slice the avocado and remove the seed
Wash off the seed thoroughly
Preheat your oven to 250 degrees
Take a cookie sheet and line it with aluminum foil
Place the seeds on the cookie sheet and place in the oven
Let the seeds cook (or dehydrate) for about 2 hours
When done, remove the seeds from the oven and let cool
Now, peel the outer layer off of the seed and slice it into several pieces
Take the sliced seed and place it into a blender or coffee grinder and grind away
Make sure the grind the seed into a fine powder
Enjoy
How Does it Taste?
Now that you have grinded up your avocado seed, take the powder (1 teaspoon) and mix it in with your favorite smoothie, a glass of milk, coffee, or tea or even put it in a bowl of oatmeal. Take note, the flavor of the seed tends to be robust and earthly with a sharp bite to it, so consuming it in its raw form wouldn't taste very good, that's why I suggest that you mix it in with a drink or food of some sort - something sweet to hide the bitterness of the powder.
Storing the avocado powder
Take the unused powder, place it into a freezer proof container and put it into your freezer. It is said that the powder will last up to 3 weeks in the freezer, but I usually only keep it in there for 1-2 weeks to ensure that it remains safe for consumption.
Warning
The avocado seed ISN'T meant to be consumed in access daily and you should take caution the first few times you consume the powder to see how your body reacts. With it being so potent and rich in valuable nutrients and components, some people may experience side effects when ingesting too much of the powder. But, don't be scared, the powder isn't toxic (unless you consume handfuls of it a day), if you take too much you may feel some stomach pain/discomfort, vomiting as well as an occasional bout with diarrhea. That's why I like to only take 1 teaspoon a day in a smoothie or bowl of oatmeal.
I hope you enjoyed reading this post, learned something new today and are on your way to taking that next step to living a more natural and holistic lifestyle. If you did enjoy the post, please share it with your friends and if you have suggestions or want to learn more about a specific topic, drop me a note at jessica@herballyanointed.com OR click on the chat icon at the bottom right of your screen and I will reply as quickly as possible.
Thanks for reading and blessings to you!
NOTE: Please remember, the information contained here is for educational purposes only and isn't meant to treat, diagnose, prevent, or cure any disease. Before taking / using any of these items, please consult your doctor; especially if you're pregnant and/or taking any prescription medication.