As if our avocado toast obsession was not over-the-top already, new research published in The Journal of Nutrition shows that pairing avocados with other foods rich in vitamin A can significantly enhance pro-vitamin A carotenoids absorption. As well as the conversion of these carotenoids to an active form of vitamin A that the body can use. This is great news since vitamin A plays many large roles in the body when it comes to supporting healthy skin, healthy vision, and having a healthy immune system. Now we just need to be as cool as Californians and have access to fresh ripe avocados all year round. We can all dream, right?
Specifically, the study what caught our attention is that pairing avocado with a vitamin A rich food, like a tomato, more than doubled the absorption of beta-carotene and more than quadrupled the conversion of pro-vitamin A into the active form of vitamin A that the body can use. – The Journal of Nutrition
Next Sunday, when you are prepping for the Superbowl whip up a bowl of avocado and tomato salsa to pair with your favorite Siete chips and you will really be feeding your soul and body with all of the nutritional goodness.
The Vitamin A rich Salsa
recipe by: Paleo Grubs
Paleo friendly, gluten free, dairy free, vegan
Ingredients
1 large cucumber, peeled and sliced
1 small red onion, peeled and sliced
2 medium ripe avocados, peeled and chopped
3 medium tomatoes, halved and chopped
½ lemon, juiced
4 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
1 jalapeño, deseeded and chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
salt, black pepper to taste
- Place the onion in a bowl.
- Season with a pinch of salt and drizzle with lemon juice. Let stand for 15 minutes.
- Add the rest of ingredients, season to taste with salt and black pepper and gently toss to combine.
