This Fruit Can Help You Live a Heart-Healthy Life #SaboreaUnoHoy #Sponsored

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post; however, my love of this fruit started in the womb. Gracias Mami and Papi!

Arroz con gandules. Baked chicken. Escabeche de Guineos y Mollejas. And, the sides: tostones, with mojito, a garlic sauce; amarillos; and, the piece de resistance, my Papi’s favorite, avocado slices drizzled with a pinch of salt and lime. This meal, based off our Boricua cultura, was the norm in his family when he was growing up. And, they became ours.

As a Navy chef, my Papi enjoyed cooking. As a child, I recall his cooking filled our home with rich, savory smells. They were his way of showing us love, each and every day. I can still see him at the stove, mixing, stirring, tasting and smiling. Thinking of those meals can bring me back to those days and reminds me just how powerful food is in our families and community.

Now, time constraints, limit how often my sons and I get to enjoy those kinds of sit-down meals. Yet, we still try to enjoy Papi’s favorite side, avocado slices with a pinch of salt and lime, several times a week.

I didn’t realize how healthy Papi’s favorite side was till years down the line.

My family has an extensive history of heart disease. While heart disease is the #1 killer for all Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health, Hispanics typically are at a higher risk because they are more likely to have risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes. The foods we eat and serve our families, can help manage these risks and prevent high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. My parents didn’t realize this at the time, but they were inadvertently arming us and determining our future health with every meal they served. Some of their choices were healthier than others. Papi’s favorite side of avocado slices was one. Baking, not frying, was another. What a legacy! By giving us a love of healthier foods, they helped us reduce our chances of developing heart disease.

Now, as a Mom, I try to do the same.

I’ll admit, for many years, I was on a fast food roller coaster. I didn’t actually get off it till my oldest son was diagnosed with high cholesterol and high blood pressure when he was a teenager. After hearing this, I went back to my roots. I started cooking more home-cooked meals. I made it my mission to learn more about heart-healthy foods and different types of fats: saturated and unsaturated. The saturated “bad” fats should be avoided as eating saturated foods can cause cardiovascular disease while unsaturated “good” fats can have heart-healthy benefits. Avocados contribute naturally good fats to our diet, are a great substitute for foods high in bad fats and do not raise cholesterol levels. I also learned when it comes to tackling obesity: Good sources of dietary fiber like fresh avocados add bulk to the diet, helping you feel fuller faster. This feeling of fullness can help you manage your weight. Who knew that Papi’s favorite side was such a powerhouse?!

More tips on how to heart healthy living available HERE from registered dietitian and Aguacates Frescos – Saborea Uno Hoy® spokesperson Sylvia Meléndez Klinger.

Now I buy several avocados every week.

Not only have my sons learned to love Papi’s favorite, avocado slices with a pinch of sea salt and lime, as much as he did, but they have their own favorite avocado dish. My oldest son, a true millennial, loves his avocado toast, while my youngest refuses to share his avocado and mango smoothies (No matter how much I beg!). Me? I’m over here enjoying my frozen avocado and banana paleta and sending Papi a silent thank you for introducing us to foods that help us live healthier lives.

Since he’s passed away, we may not always get to enjoy the huge sit-down meals that he loved, but my boys and I have taken away what was most important…  avocados are good for you!

¡Gracias, Papi!

Head on over to our sponsor’s website, Saborea Uno Hoy, for more information about the heart health benefits of fresh avocados.