Go, Go Avocado!

I don’t normally go in for trends. For example, I don’t own a single pair of skinny jeans. I’ve never tried a Unicorn Frappuccino. I’m not on Instagram or Snapchat. I didn’t participate in the Ice Bucket Challenge. And I refuse to use the words “doggo,” “pupper,” or “woofer” to refer to a canine.

However, I do have to admit that I’m rather smitten with the avocado. Sure, they’re dangerous. Preparing them is leading to a rash of something doctors refer to as “avocado hand,” and apparently they’re now so costly that they’re keeping millennials from affording their own homes. But they’re so danged delicious, who needs two bedrooms and a bath?

A few years ago, when avocados from Mexico bought their first Super Bowl spot, I thought it odd. Why spend millions of dollars for a 30-second ad for a fruit that had been in grocery stores for decades? But the company was on to something; people were starting to realize that they’re jam-packed with antioxidants and healthy monounsaturated fatty acids, and they contain nearly 20 vitamins and minerals. They’re good for the heart as well as the gut and can help detoxify the body. Basically, they’re superheroes disguised as wrinkly, green fruit. And once you start eating them, well, it’s kinda hard to stop.

As a multiple sclerosis patient, I’m always on the lookout for ways to keep myself hearty, healthy, and hale. This includes getting enough sleep, getting some exercise, avoiding stress when possible, taking my Copaxone reguarly, and eating nutritious food. Granted, I don’t do all of these things consistently (except for the meds), but I’ve found that when I’m rested and filled with good things from God’s very colorful and delicious earth, I feel a whole heckuva lot better.

Most things I love aren’t good for me, but amazingly, avocados are beneficial in a ton of awesome ways. For example, they help reduce blood cholesterol and contain anti-inflammatory properties, so much so that they might actually help offset the effects of less-healthy food choices. (So you can eat a burger, slather some guac on it, and it all pretty much balances itself out? That’s an oversimplification, but you get the idea. What an exciting time to be alive!) And, yes, as MS patients, inflammation is something we’d rather avoid, so the more we can do to keep it under control, the better.

Also, they contain 18 of the most essential amino acids for building protein. MS is a demyelinating disease, which means that myelin (the stuff around our nerves) is damaged during an exacerbation, so getting a few extra amino acids back in the body is always a good idea.

Along with whole grains, fresh fruit and veggies, ginger, turmeric, fatty fish, and foods rich in vitamin D, avocados are one of the best things you can shove in your chew hole if you’re an MS patient. So, go grab a sackful and make some guacamole and tuna salad. Put it in some white chicken chili. Whip it up into a healthy smoothie. Or, you could be like the cool kids these days and make a scrumptious piece of avocado toast.

I hate to admit it, but pop culture got this one right. But I still refuse to say “doggo.” That’s just ridiculous.

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Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today, or its parent company, Bionews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.