Avocado is a fruit that has gained a lot of popularity for its heart-healthy benefits and versatility in dishes like toasts, salads, and eggs. But while the benefits are immense, cutting into an avocado can be challenging.
The process involves slicing it in half lengthwise around the pit, twisting to separate the halves, and carefully removing the pit by gently tapping a knife into it and twisting. After that, you scoop out the flesh with a spoon and cut it into thin strips. While this process seems straightforward, it often leads to injuries, especially for those new to handling avocados. This type of injury is also called an avocado hand.
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Why Is It Called Avocado Hand?
Avocado hand occurs when a person sustains a hand injury with a knife used to pit or slice an avocado.
The term originated when incidences of knife injuries while cutting avocados became more frequent.
According to a 2020 study published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, there were over 50,000 estimated cases of avocado-related knife injuries between 1998 and 2017 in the United States. What's more alarming is that the number of these injuries has dramatically increased over time, coinciding with the rise in avocado consumption.
What Does An Avocado Hand Look Like?
Here are some symptoms or characteristics of avocado hand to help identify it:
- Deep cuts or lacerations on the palm or fingers
- Puncture wounds from knife slips
- Swollen or bruised hands or fingers
- Numbness or tingling in the affected area
- Possible tendon or nerve damage leading to limited hand movement
When To Seek Medical Assistance?
Avocado hand is severe when the knife used to cut the fruit not only injures your hand or fingers but also causes damage to your hand muscles, nerves, and tendons. This can lead to:
- Excessive bleeding
- Loss of sensation in the affected area
- Loss of ability to flex fingers
- Having trouble making a fist
- Pain, swelling, or redness in the affected area
- Formation of pus
- Fever
If left untreated, the cut can increase the risk of infection, which can be extremely dangerous.
How To Prevent An Avocado Hand
The good news is that avocado hand is preventable, given that you take proper precautions. These include:
- Choosing a ripe avocado, which is easier to cut through
- Using a cutting board instead of holding the avocado in your hand
- Using a specialised avocado slicer tool designed for safe cutting and pitting
- Placing a kitchen towel under the avocado to stabilise it while cutting
- Using a spoon to remove the pit instead of a knife.
- Cut the avocado with a blunt-tipped knife to reduce the risk of deep cuts.
- Taking your time and cutting slowly and carefully to maintain control
Bottomline
If you’re someone who loves eating avocados, learning the art of cutting them is the first step. If you have someone who can do it for you, well and good. If not, then ensure that you learn the proper steps and avoid using a sharp knife in your initial attempts. It is crucial that you avoid knife injuries, as they can not only be painful but may take a long time to heal, making everyday tasks challenging.
[Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Hence, we advise you to consult your own doctor if you are dealing with any health issues to avoid complications.]