With the growing trend towards clean eating and a healthy lifestyle, the growth in the popularity of certain culinary items has witnessed a boost in recent times. From whey proteins to nuts and seeds, nutritionally dense items are widely available and are popular amongst the masses. These nutritionally dense foods are given a marketing term- ‘superfoods’. Till now there must have been a thousand of these superfood trends to come and go. However, there is one superfood that is persevered to date- avocado.
Avocado is a delicious fruit with its roots in Central America. The nutritiously dense fruit is enriched with anti-oxidants, fibers, healthy fats and has proved to treat numerous ailments. The versatile fruit can be added to the daily diet as a sandwich topping, a healthy salad additive and even be made into a delicious Mexican dip- Guacamole. Although avocados are widely popular today, very few people know the etymology of their name. And trust us when we say this, if you don’t know the etymology of avocado yet, you’ll surely be shocked when we’ll enlighten you on the same.
The popularity of avocados dates back to 500 B.C. when it was first discovered in Mesoamerica (Mexico and CentralAmerica). The region was inhabited by Nahuatl-speaking Aztecs who discovered the present superfood. When these people discovered the delicious fruit hanging from the branches in pairs, they named it ‘ahuacatl’ meaning ‘testicles’. Now it's up to you if you want to call it a lucky guess or common sense but the texture, shape and size did strike the Nahuatl’s mind this way. The name of ahuacatl changed to avocado when Spanish conquerors arrived in the region and began adopting the Mesoamerican culture.
For this very reason, many people translate guacamole as ‘testicle sauce’. However, Mesoamerican experts have debunked this myth and cleared the confusion.
No matter what avocado was named initially, it has been benefitting mankind with its nutrient density for ages now. What are you waiting for now? Go, try these recipes for a healthy and delicious meal.
