AVOCADO TREES

 Avocado Trees are also a part of our school and kitchen gardens in Kenya. They help provide many health, nutritious and economical benefits to the surrounding communities. 

Avocados may be medium to large trees but dwarf varieties exist for home growing. The trees have fragile limbs that are easily damaged by wind and the entire plant is very sensitive to cold conditions.

The avocado tree is evergreen with thick, leathery leaves and produces perfect white, ivory to yellow flowers. The fruit has a large seed or pit in the center and may be green or nearly black.

Avocado tree care must include deep, thorough watering when the growing season is in full swing.

Lets take a look at some of the benefits of planting avocado trees:

1. Nutritious

Avocados are an excellent source of monounsaturated fat and vitamin E, and are a good source of folate. They also supply more soluble fibre than other fruit and contain a number of useful minerals including iron, copper and potassium.

2. Support Heart Health

Avocados are high in fat with 60 per cent of this being monounsaturated fats, which research suggests helps to protect against heart disease and lower blood pressure. They are also an excellent source of potassium, folate and fibre, all of which benefit the heart and cardiovascular system.

3. Help Lower Cholesterol 

The oils supplied by avocado include oleic acid and linoleic acid. These unsaturated fats are recommended as part of a balanced diet to help manage cholesterol.

4. Supports Eye Health

Avocados contain lutein and zeaxanthin, two phytochemicals present in eye tissue. They provide antioxidant protection to help minimize damage, including from UV light.

The monounsaturated fatty acids in avocados also support the absorption of other beneficial fat-soluble antioxidants, such as beta carotene. As a result, adding avocados to the diet may help reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.

5. Improving digestion

Avocados are high in fiber. Eating foods with natural fiber can help prevent constipation, maintain digestive tract health, and lower the risk of colon cancer.

6. Antioxidants

Avocados are known to be high in antioxidants, but avocado leaves have even higher concentrations than the fruit. Avocado leaves have a compound called quercetin that removes free radicals from your body. Free radicals are the product of naturally-occurring degeneration in our bodies as a result of oxygenation. Antioxidants slow or even prevent this process from occurring, keeping our bodies healthier. In addition to quercetin, avocado leaves also contain polyphenols which are another group of powerful antioxidants.

7. Treat Asthma Symptoms

The phytochemical compounds in avocado leaves instill relaxation and calmness in many parts of the body and mind. This can result in easing headaches, muscle soreness, and even asthma. The tea can reduce the stiffness in the respiratory muscles that are causing uncomfortable asthma symptoms. Some holistic users of avocado tea recommend adding one tablespoon of salt per 3 cups of tea.

Let's take a look at some of the benefits of planting Avocado trees as mentioned by our Instagram family: 

@aisha_bagha - 

"The fruit is a great source of nutrition" 

@zainab_akadir -

"Avocados are a good source of fat.. healthy fat which keeps your heart beating!"

@change_lives_africa -

"Great fruits with taste"