Alligator pear
 Alligators, of course, pears do not grow ... So call it a form of avocado fruit. The antiquity of avocados can be seen in archaeological finds in Peru, who discovered avocado pits buried with the mummies in 750 BC

An ancient legend tells that the first fruit of the avocado tried Mayan Princess. As a result, it has acquired a mystical enlightenment and did not fade, and a happy marriage, which was born many beautiful, intelligent and healthy children.

Avocado - Persea   - Fruit, evergreen tree from the laurel family of up to 15-20 meters high with broad crown and brittle branches. The leaves of the avocado wide, at the end pointed, leathery, shiny, bluish-green below. White bisexual flowers are collected in paniculate inflorescences. Avocado Flowering in February - April.

The period of ripening fruit from 6 - 8 to 12 months. Fruits - dark green seeded drupes, often in the form reminiscent of pear, covered with smooth or rough skin. Inside the fruit of a large bone. Ripe avocados are considered just when acquiring a dark color. Weight per fruit ranges from 100 to 600 grams. There avocados weighing 1kg. Avocado tender and buttery, but almost does not have a taste. With one avocado tree to collect 200-250. fruits.

Homeland avocado believe Peru and Mexico. In a culture known little more than 10 species of avocado. In the industrial scale they are grown in the states of the USA (California and Florida), in Brazil and Hawaii. On the territory of the former Soviet Union avocados grow on the Black Sea coast of Georgia.

Avocados are used in cooking, folk medicine and cosmetics. Fruits are usually harvested in September-November, and the leaves in February - April.

Avocados contain vitamins - A, B1, B2, C, D, E, K, a lot of fat, protein, fiber, mineral salts - potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, and a minimum of sugar. Leaves contain: essential oils and bitterness.

To taste the flesh of the avocado is a lot like walnuts, but personally I do not. It is considered a dietary product, and is used in the food raw, in salads, in sandwiches.

Clean the avocados should be before the cooking, or sprinkle with lemon juice to avoid darkening.

Traditional medicine appoints avocados in diseases of the stomach such as gastritis with high acidity, anemia, anemia, hypertension, atherosclerosis, weakening of memory, in diabetes.

It is used as an aphrodisiac and, for the awakening of sexual desire.

A decoction of the seeds are used for diarrhea.

The skin of the fruit, leaves and branches of the natives used as anthelmintic and gastrointestinal disorders.

The cosmetics industry makes extensive use of avocado oil. Avocado fruit itself is used for cosmetic purposes in the home.

- Simple Mask
Wash and rub on your face mashed avocado pulp for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with water at room temperature. This simple mask nourishes and moisturizes the skin, if you do it twice a week for 1-2 months, the skin look younger and noticeably acquire blooming.

- Mask with avocado for dry skin
2 tbsp. tablespoons olive oil mixed with 2 tbsp. spoonfuls of mashed avocado, 1 teaspoon of honey and ½ teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply the mixture on your face and neck. Wash off after 15 minutes with warm water or remove the swab dipped in warm tea leaves of green tea. After 5 minutes the ice rub the skin cosmetic of the decoction to wash or cool mineral water without gas. To enhance the effect even on wet skin, you can apply a moisturizing cream. After this procedure, you can not go out into the cold, so that the mask is better to do in the evening. Course - 15 masks after 2 days.

- For oily skin
Mix 2 tbsp. spoon mashed avocado with 1 chicken protein and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply on face. Wash off after 15 minutes with water at room temperature.

- Moisturizing Mask
Mix 2 tbsp. spoon mashed avocado with 2 tablespoons. spoons of milk and apply on face and deposed to put wet gauze. Wash chamomile tea (tea bags sold in pharmacies) or broth of parsley.
Author: Natalia Alexeeva