Avocado nutritional information

Medically reviewed by Avocado nutritional information Marengo LDN, R. Avocados are pear-shaped fruits that grow on tropical evergreen trees.

They generally have a rough, green outer skin, buttery flesh, and large seed in the middle. Coming in many shapes, sizes, colors, and textures, their flavor is often described as mildly nutty and creamy. Though you may only be familiar with a few types of avocado, hundreds of varieties are cultivated around the world — with 56 growing in Florida alone. This article reviews 15 common types of avocado, including their benefits and differences. They’re great sources of folate, potassium, and healthy fats, as well as vitamins K, C, and E. The monounsaturated fats in avocados — most of which are oleic acid — are good for your heart, fight inflammation, and may have anticancer properties.

Furthermore, avocados are full of fiber, an important nutrient lacking in most Western diets. Avocados also contain antioxidants that are good for your eyes and brain, such as lutein and zeaxanthin. What’s more, research suggests that people who regularly eat avocados are healthier and have a lower risk of metabolic syndrome. While you may only see a few types of avocado at your local grocery store, hundreds of varieties grow around the world. The fruits are categorized as either A-type or B-type cultivars. The difference lies in the opening times and pollination behaviors of the avocado tree flowers.

The type of cultivar has little effect on consumers and matters more to those who grow avocados. Avocados are partially self-pollinating through a process called dichogamy. A-type flowers bloom as females in the morning and shed pollen as males in the afternoon. Many varieties share similar features, with slight differences in size, coloring, flavor, shape, and peak growing season. Here are 15 of the most common types of avocado. The Choquette has smooth, glossy skin with watery flesh that often leaks when the fruit is cut.