12 Awesome Ways to Use Avocados

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Avocados are nutritional powerhouses that you can use for much more than simple salads or guacamole. The creamy texture and healthy oils in avocados make a perfect substitute for harmful fats in various dishes. They also have a wide variety of uses for skin and body treatments.

Explore these unique ways to take advantage of the many health benefits of avocados.

1. Mayonnaise

You can have the creamy deliciousness of mayonnaise, without the unhealthy fats and additives that come in many commercial brands. Vegan avocado and basil mayonnaise makes a great addition to any sandwich or burger or you can make your own creamy avocado potato salad.

2. Pudding

Excellent for those of us who love sweets, avocados are a perfect base for all sorts of different vegan puddings.

3. Baby Food

Avocados are a good transitional food for babies 4 months and older. Pediatricians often recommend starting your baby on greener vegetables rather than sweeter ones so they don’t develop a sweet preference and reject regular food. Avocados count as a green vegetable and have a mild flavor appropriate for babies. Parents magazine has instructions on how to prepare your baby’s first avocado.

4. Butter Substitute

You can replace half the butter in any baked recipe with avocado puree. The final baked product will be softer and chewier than with butter, but lower in calories. It’s also possible to replace the entire amount of butter with avocado. You will need to reduce the oven temperature by 25 percent and increase the baking time. This will prevent the baked item from rising too much and then dropping when it’s removed from the oven.

5. Whipped Cream

To make a simple vegan whipped cream, combine the following in a blender and process until smooth:

  • One avocado, with the seed and peel removed
  • ½ cup milk, such as almond, coconut or soy
  • ¼ cup sugar or other sweetener to taste
  • ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract

6. Grilled and Fried

For a healthier twist on grilled and deep fried foods, try adding avocados. To grill an avocado, cut one in half, remove the pit, brush both sides with lemon or lime juice, then place them face-down on the grill. You can finish them off by filling the hollow centers with salsa. Another tasty option is deep fried avocados with lime dipping sauce.

7. Ice Cream

The texture of avocado makes it a great vegan ice cream ingredient. Try out these recipes for avocado banana ice cream and avocado coconut ice cream.

8. Psoriasis and Eczema Treatment

Avocado is known for being a good facial skin treatment, but it can also help with skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema. Apply either fresh avocado pulp or avocado oil directly to any affected skin areas. Avocado has been found to reduce skin inflammation and itching, as well as provide a soothing effect.

9. Hair and Scalp Moisturizer

Avocado oil works well to moisturize your hair and scalp. To prepare a treatment, combine and warm up 2 tablespoons each of avocado oil and castor oil in a bowl. Wet your hair and massage the warm oil into your scalp and hair. Leave overnight. Wash your hair as usual in the morning. Dry hair shafts can directly absorb avocado oil and it can also help stop dandruff.

10. Breath Freshener

The thick, creamy texture of avocado can cleanse your mouth when you chew it. Also, the enzymes present in avocados can help with digestion. Chronic bad breath is often caused by inflammation in the gastrointestinal system, so the digestive soothing effect of avocados can help calm issues that give you bad breath.

11. Sunburn Relief

Avocados will rehydrate sunburnt skin and their rich nutrients will support the healing process. It’s best to start with an avocado at room temperature, mash the flesh into a smooth pulp and apply it directly to a sunburnt area.

12. Shaving Cream

If you want to get rid of commercial shaving creams and take a more natural approach, avocados make an effective replacement. Fresh avocado flesh and avocado oil both work as gentle, non-irritating lubricants for shaving.

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