Amazing Benefits of Avocado Oil

The popular avocado is nutritious and provides many health benefits. Avocado trees are native to Mexico and Central America. They are now cultivated in tropical and Mediterranean climates throughout the world and they cannot withstand freezing temperatures. The avocado fruit, which is a large berry that has a single seed, ripens after harvesting. It contains more protein than any other fruit and more potassium than a banana and is one of the top five foods with the highest levels of vitamin E. Avocado oil comes from the flesh of this fruit.It is one of a few oils not extracted from the seed and is very beneficial to the health as it is high in nutrients, vitamins and unsaturated fats. As well being used as a cooking oil and added to salads, avocado oil provides many benefits when applied to the hair and skin.

Amazing Benefits of Avocado Oil

Avocado oil assists with the absorption of nutrients from foods and generally improves digestion. The vitamins, minerals and monounsaturated fatty acids in avocado oil all help the digestive tract to process food more efficiently.It also satisfies the appetite.

Avocado oil is known to help lower blood pressure. it changes the levels of essential fatty acids in the kidneys, which means that the kidneys respond more effectively to hormones that regulate blood pressure.

Avocado oil has anti-inflammatory properties that can prevent damage to arterial walls. It also helps in cases of arthritis and prevents bone erosion.

Avocado oil has been succesfully used in conjunction with vitamin B12 to treat psoriasis.

Being rich in antioxidants and beta-sitosterol, avocado oil is useful in reducing the risk of cancer. Beta-sitosterol is a type of cholesterol our bodies use to convert less healthy fats into forms which are easier to use and are less damaging to the cells.Studies show that beta-sitosterol reduces cancer risk by a significant percentage.

Avocado oil contains folate, which helps reduce the risk of heart disease.

The lutein in avocado oil is beneficial in maintaining good eyesight.

It contains oleic acid which benefits the health in many ways. For example, by lowering cancer risk, preventing flare-ups of auto-immune diseases, speeding cell regeneration and wound healing.

Avocado oil contains large quantities of magnesium. This helps reduce incidences of migraines and lowers the chances of developing type 2 diabetes.

 It has an abundance of chlorophyll, which is well-known for removing heavy metals like mercury and lead from the liver, kidneys and brain.

The fact that avocado oil is rich in omega 3 fatty  acids means that it can be effective in cases of  depression, arthritis and high blood pressure.

Avocado oil is extremely beneficial when applied to the skin The vitamin E, potassium and lecithin, which are the oil's primary skin-feeding nutrients, are easily absorbed through the epidermis, or outer layer of the skin, and into the dermis, where they provide energy for the growth and health of new skin cells as well as strengthening existing skin cells. The high concentration of anti-inflammatory oleic acid make it wonderful for dry, itchy skin and for the scalp. It is often used in moisturizers.

It works as a good anti-ageing product as it prevents wrinkles.

Avocado oil enhances the ability of the skin to generate collagen. Collagen is necessary to keep the skin firm, smooth and youthful. Upon application to the skin, the oil naturally triggers the production of collagen by the skin. It helps the skin retain water and benefits the soft tissue. It is great to apply to cracked heels.

Avocado oil can be used to treat skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis, heal wounds, prevent nappy rash and reduce blemishes caused by UV rays.

It can give protection from the sun.

The high content of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants in avocado oil make it great for the hair. It replenishes and strengthens the hair, preventing hair loss.

The abundance of vitamin E that it contains helps to rejuvenate the scalp.

Avocado oil helps the skin, hair and scalp to retain moisture. It prevents the hair from breaking and conditions the hair, keeping it soft and elastic.The high fat content in the oil enhances the texture of the hair and helps it to grow fuller.

It can also be massaged into the scalp to treat dandruff. If it is massaged in a circular motion, this will increase the rate of absoption.

Avocado oil has a milder scent than coconut oil and is said to penetrate the skin more deeply so some people prefer it to coconut oil to hydrate and moisturize the skin.

It can be used as a make-up remover and doesn't burn the eyes as coconut oil has a tendency to do.

How to Use Avocado Oil

It is important to always use unrefined, organic oil.

As a food, avocado oil is great to use in a salad dressing. If it is added to a salad along with cilantro, the cilantro will increase the detoxifying power of the chlorophyll in the avocado oil.

 It is possible to use it for stir frying vegetables too, as it is more stable and has a higher smoke point than alot of other oils.

 It can be used as a base oil for a massage but a patch test should be done first to check for possible allergic reaction.

 It can be applied to the face or body to serve as a moisturizer and can also be added to a bath to moisturize the skin.

 It can be applied to skin with conditions such as eczema and other irritations to soothe it.      

 A drop of the oil can be applied directly to wounds, cut, scrapes, sunburns and blisters to promote healing of the skin after first cleaning the affected area. 

To benefit the scalp and hair, massage avocado oil into the scalp and leave it in for a while before washing the hair.

Risks of Avocado Oil

For most people, avocado oil is safe with no side effects. However, a patch test should be done on the skin before application to check for allergic reaction. Some people do have an allergic reaction to avocado. People who are prone to pollen allergy can sometimes be allergic to avocados and develop local symptoms in the mouth and throat after eating an avocado. A more serious allergy is the latex-fruit syndrome, which can ocur in people who are allergic to latex. Symptoms include urticaria, abdominal pain and vomiting and can be life threatening. People who are allergic to latex should not eat avocados or use avocado oil.

How to Store Avocado Oil

As it has a high content of oleic acid, avocado oil is more stable than most other oils and can be stored for a longer period of time. It should be stored in a dark-colored glass bottle away from direct sunlight. It should be kept in a cool, dark place, such as a cupboard or pantry, away from sources of heat. Avocado oil is best stored in the refrigerator after opening and can be kept for at least six months. Unopened avocado oil can be stored for about a year and in hot, humid climates, is also better stored in the fridge. Refrigeration can cause the oil to become cloudy and to solidify but this will not affect the quality or the flavor. Oil returns to its normal consistency and color at room temperature. If storing a large amount of oil, use several smaller bottles to store it in rather than leaving it in one large one as this will help prevent oxidation. If the oil has turned rancid, it will have a bitter after taste as well as an unpleasant smell. Rancid oil should be thrown out immediately.

AVOCADO OIL ORGANIC