Here’s something to chew on: Did you know that the world’s fattiest fruit is also one of its healthiest? Well, it is. And no, we’re not talking about French fries, although we wish they counted as a fruit. We’re talking about avocados.

Known as the “fat” fruit, avocados contain nearly 15 grams of fat apiece, which is more than a small fry at McDonald’s, which has 11 grams of fat. The difference between the fries and the fruit, however, is that the most of the fruit’s fat is heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, which has been shown to assist in weight loss, and to lower bad LDL cholesterol while increasing good HDL cholesterol. So while the fries are likely to grow your waistline, the fruit may actually help you shrink it.

Fat isn’t all avocados have to offer, however. They’ve also got plenty of potassium, which can help regulate blood pressure; lots of folate, another heart-healthy nutrient; and more fiber than any other fruit you’ll find at the market.

And in case you’re more concerned about flavor than you are about fiber, avocados have plenty of that, too. Known for their creamy texture, avocados aren’t sweet like other fruits. Instead, they’re savory. Although they’re most commonly used as a base for guacamole, they’re also a great addition to salads and sandwiches. In Texas, for instance, peanut butter and avocado sandwiches are popular, thanks to the region’s Mexican influence. Sound strange? Start simpler and try avocado on a burger, in a taco or in an omelet.

Another thing avocados have plenty of is history. Native to Mexico, as well as parts of Central and South America, they were popular first among the Aztecs, who used them as a sexual stimulant and even named them “ahuacati” for the Aztec word meaning “testicle.” If it sounds a little racy, that’s because it was. Known as the “fertility fruit,” the avocado historically was avoided by anyone who wanted to maintain a “chaste” reputation. Eventually, though, avocados caught on. When they did, they were transplanted to Asia, Jamaica — where they were colloquially called “alligator pears” because of their pear shape and dark, leathery skin — and the United States, where they’re now grown commercially in Florida and California.

While many consider California the “avocado capital of the world,” you can easily turn your own home into an avocado garden — provided you have a lot of sunlight, and a lot of patience to match. To grow your own avocado tree, simply remove the pit from a fresh avocado and clean it, then push three toothpicks into the pit so that you can suspend it over a glass of water; the toothpicks should rest on the rim of the glass while the base of the pit is submerged in water. When you put the glass in a bright windowsill for several weeks, the pit will split and sprout a stem that can be transplanted to a large flowerpot when it’s approximately six inches tall. At that time, keep the bottom half of the pit in soil and the top half exposed — just like you did in the glass of water. After three or four years, your tree may begin to grow fruit, especially if you have several trees, which aids in pollination.

While avocado trees can grow up to between 20 feet and 40 feet tall, don’t worry: If you prune it, you can keep yours short enough to fit in your living room all year round — to the benefit of both your tortilla chips and your heart!