Discover the amazing health benefits of avocado oil in this article. Avocado oil is rich in nutrients and suitable for both skin and hair.
To give you some hint avocado oil is an edible oil extracted from the fruit of the Persea Americana (Avocado).
As an oil for food, it is used as an ingredient in dishes. It is used for lubrication and also in cosmetics, where it is highly used for its supposed regenerative and moisturizing qualities.
Nowadays, the avocado has become an incredibly popular food among health-conscious people.
It is often referred to as a superfood… which is not surprising as it has many health properties.
There are many types of avocados, and the shape and color can vary between them. They can also weigh from 8 ounces (220 grams) to 3 pounds (1.4 kg).
The most popular type is known as Hass avocado. It is often referred to as “alligator pear,” which is very descriptive as it tends to be pear-shaped and has green, bumpy skin… like an alligator.
The yellow-green flesh inside the fruit is eaten, but the skin and seed are discarded.
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Avocado Oil Health Benefits
Now you must be looking for some benefits from this awesome oil. Let me discuss some.
The benefits of this oil have attracted many medical professionalists as well as home users. Avocado doesn’t get the respect that it deserves.
Consider the fact that it is over 75% fat. What this fruit lacks in sweetness, it overachieves insufficiency. But let us look at the fat breakdown.
From an omega standpoint, avocado oil gives you a profile as nutritional as olive oil. Almost 70% of avocado oil is oleic acid, which is a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid.
Apart from the significant monounsaturated concentration, avocado oil is about 16% saturated fatty acids and 14% polyunsaturated fats. The omega-6 to omega-3 is in the ratio of 13:1.
While it is not an outstanding ratio, the PUFA content itself is small enough (i.e.14%) that we are only talking about a small portion of the total oil concentration. In the big scheme, it is as solid as olive oil, with a better taste profile.
The fats are not only healthy in and of themselves but make the other nutrients, specifically carotenoids, in the avocado much more bioavailable.
Many types of research have shown that avocado or avocado oil increased the absorption of carotenoids in a meal ranging from 2.6 times to 15.3 times depending on carotenoid concentration.
Some Nutritional Figures
Talking about micronutrients, an avocado itself has an impressive nutritional breakdown.
A mere half of your average Haas avocado offers good things such as
- 345 mg of potassium (that’s more than that of a banana),
- 185 µg(micrograms) of lutein/zeaxanthin per half fruit,
- 19.5 mg of magnesium,
- 60 μg of folate,
- 10 mg of choline,
- 19 mg of glutathione,
and 57 mg of phytosterols including the potent lipid influencer beta-sitosterol concentration.
With their extreme levels of multiple antioxidants (e.g., polyphenols, proanthocyanidins, tocopherols, and carotenoids), avocados deserve honor far beyond their usual attention, and research proves that avocado oil speaks their nutritional health benefits,
Following are the benefits of this oil. If you go through them, you will understand how beneficial they are to your overall health.
1. Avocado Oil For Skin
Before using avocado oil for the first time, you should make sure you aren’t allergic to it. For this, put a few drops of avocado oil on your arm and rub it gently on the skin.
Check your skin for a few days. If you observe any negative results such as hives or a rash, do not continue using it.
If you don’t see any negative reactions, you are free to start enjoying all the benefits of this beneficial avocado oil. Just to name a few:
a. Facial Moisturising
When using it for salads, instead of throwing away the peel, save them for your facial. The peel has a hidden source of oil containing a substance called humectant that acts to retain moisture.
To use the peel, gently rub it over your skin in upward massaging motions until you have covered your whole face. For best results, leave the oil on your skin whole night, and rinse it off in the morning.
b. Dry Skin
Because avocado oil reduces itching and inflammation of the skin, people who suffer from very dry skin or eczema find avocado oil to have soothing properties.
To treat dry skin or eczema, put a small amount on the affected skin areas and massage it gently.
c. Age Spots
Avocado oil is rich in steroid named as sterolin. Sterolins penetrate deep into the skin to make it moistures.
To make the use of the power of sterolins in treating age spots, mix two tablespoons of avocado oil with an equal amount of castor oil, and stir it well.
Massage well over the age spots, and let rest for at least 15 minutes. Then rinse it off with warm water.
You can Moringa Oil to get a flawless skin
2. Avocado Oil For Hair
Apart from skin benefits, it is also beneficial for your hairs. The monounsaturated fatty acid content in avocado oil is even higher than extra virgin olive oil and is one of the main reasons it is so good for your hair.
Many people’s hairs are dry, damaged and weak from poor nutrition, heat styling, chemical treatments and environmental pollution.
Monounsaturated fats, when applied directly to a hair mask, can moisturize, nourish and strengthen hair strands, improve the way they look and protecting them from damage.
Massaging avocado oil into your scalp also stimulates blood flow to your hair follicles. With improved blood flow and circulation to the scalp, more nutrients can reach the follicles to stimulate new growth and healthier hair in general.
Finally, and perhaps most beneficially for hair care, its monounsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols and high levels of antioxidants like vitamin E, are well absorbed into our scalp and hair shafts.
This not only has a highly moisturizing and protective effect against environmental stressors and damage, but it may also stimulate new growth and help unclog blocked follicles.
The combination of antioxidant vitamin E, moisturizing plants sterols and the rich levels of monounsaturated fatty acids in the avocado oil, provides three different nutrients that have been individually recommended for stimulating hair growth.
Following are the benefits of this oil:
a. It Replenishes The Hair Vitamins
Avocado oil is full of vitamins that are helpful to the overall hair growth. The avocado fruit from which the oil is extracted brags a wealth of vitamins.
Among them vitamins such as B and E, that helps in boosting the cellular level while strengthening the hair at the same time.
Vitamin B is critical for hair growth while vitamin E helps in rejuvenating the scalp. If not looked after, a damaged scalp may slow down your hair growth.
b. It Prevents Hair Loss
Loss of hair is mainly caused by a vitamin deficiency or external stress on the hair. Also, hair loss occurs when hairs are exposed to extreme heat or cold.
The chemicals you use on your hair also subscribe to hair loss. Due to its high concentration of useful vitamins, it will be better if you use avocado oil for hair which in turn keep most of your hair intact.
c. It Moisturizes The Hair
When used alongside a moisturizer, avocado oil can help your scalp and hair keep its moisture content thereby averting it from breaking.
To get the required results, mix a teaspoon of avocado oil with an egg. Add a teaspoon of olive or rosemary oil. Apply it on the hair starting with the scalp to the hair ends.
Let the mask settle on the hair for about thirty minutes. Then rinse it off with warm water.
d. It Helps Treat Dandruff
If you are looking for dandruff solutions, using avocado oil for hair may turn out to your best option.
Apart from treating dandruff, the oil can also treat blemishes on the scalp linked with eczema and psoriasis. Massage the oil into the scalp in a circular motion to increase the rate of absorption
You can also use Essential Oil for hair and grapeseed oil for treating hair problems.
3. High Cholesterol
Eating a diet rich in avocado can lower “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and increase “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
4. Osteoarthritis
Many extracts made from avocado and soybean oils are known avocado soybean unsaponifiable (ASU). Taking ASU for some months seems to reduce pain and overall disability in people with hip or knee osteoarthritis.
However, the long-term effects of ASU are unclear. Some researchers show that taking ASU for two years doesn’t lower the symptoms of osteoarthritis in most people.
However, it may prevent the joints from becoming worse in people with severe osteoarthritis.
Avocado Oil Uses
This oil has many uses. Just to name a few:
- In place of Butter.
- It is used in baking work.
- Can also be sprinkled over popcorns.
- It is used to spread on bread toasts.
- It is used for cooking.
Side Effects Of Avocado Oil
Apart from so many benefits, this superfruit also has some side effects. Some of them are listed below:
i. Avoid During Pregnancy And Breast Feeding
It is advised not to eat avocado oil during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The oil may reduce milk production. It can also cause damage to the mammary gland.
If the breastfeeding mother consumes avocado in a large amount, the baby will have an upset stomach.
ii. Avocado Oil Causes Allergy
Avocado oil effects on the skin are adversely leading to terrible skin issues with allergies being the major effect. Symptoms of allergy are hives, itching, redness in skin or eczema.
iii. Adverse Effects Of Avocado
Many people who consumed avocado oil suffered from adverse effects like flu, paralysis, nausea, gastrointestinal disorder, vomiting, migraine, fever, drowsiness, and asthma.
iv. Liver Damage
There are certain types of avocado oil which may cause damage to your liver. Try to avoid Mexican avocado which consists of estragole and anethole.
These elements have been tested for carcinogenic reactions. Thus, consumption of these may cause damage to the liver.
If you are suffering from compromised liver function and to avoid avocado oil side effects, stop eating this fruit.
v. Sensitivity To Latex
People who are sensitive to latex should avoid taking avocado oil as it increases the level of serum IgE antibodies in the body which may cause an allergic reaction.
vi. Reduce Cholesterol
You may be happy reading that avocado oil reduces cholesterol level. Yes, that’s true, but if you consume it in a large amount, it will harm your body as it is rich in beta-sitosterol that absorbs necessary cholesterol from the body.
vii. Restrict Its Consumption If You Are On Diet
Avocados are high-calorie fruits and hence its oil. It will increase your weight. So avoid taking them if you are on a diet.
viii. Cause Mouth Allergy
If avocado oil is consumed in adequate amounts, then it may cause mouth allergies like itching sensation in the mouth and swelling tongue.
ix. Drugs
Avocado oil in large amounts may decrease the effect of the anti-inflammatory medication. Hence, its excess consumption leads to blood thinning.
x. Gastrointestinal Irritation
If you consume avocado oil in a large amount, then you will have an upset stomach. It sometimes also causes gastrointestinal irritation.
These are the avocado oil side effects which you were not aware of. Isn’t it? More research is going on about its side effects.
Till then take avocados and its oil in moderate amounts to stay away from the allergies. However, ensure that you take the health benefits of it.
Nutritional Value Of The Avocado Oil
Avocados are very nutritious and contain a wide variety of nutrients, including 20 different vitamins and minerals.
Minerals that are found in avocados are Vitamin K, Folate, Vitamin C, Potassium, Vitamin B5, B6, and E. It also contains small percentages of Magnesium, Manganese, Copper, Iron, Zinc, Phosphorus, etc.
This fruit comes with 160 calories, 2 grams of protein and 15 grams of healthy fats. Although it contains 9 grams of carbs, 7 of those are fiber, so there are only 2 “net” carbs, making this a low-carb friendly plant food.
Avocados do not contain any cholesterol or sodium and are low in saturated fat. I don’t think that matters, but this is one of the reasons they are favored by many “old school” experts who still believe these things are inherently harmful.
Not only are avocados healthy, but they’re also incredibly delicious and go with all sorts of foods.
You can add them to salads and various remarkable of recipes, or you can simply scoop them out with a spoon and eat them plain.
They have a creamy, rich, fatty texture and blend well with various other ingredients.
A notable mention is a guacamole, which is arguably the most famous use of avocados. It includes avocado along with ingredients like salt, garlic, lime and a few others depending on the recipe.
An avocado often takes some time to ripen, and it should feel slightly soft when ripe. The nutrients in avocado can oxidize soon after fleshing it, but if you add lemon juice, then that shouldn’t happen as quickly.
Is Avocado Oil Healthy?
Apart from using it in cooking, there are many nutritional and medical benefits of avocado oil. It has the highest percentage of monosaturated fats, potassium, and vitamins.
These fats are the good and necessary fats needed in a healthy diet. This fruit is a rich source of antioxidants as well as beta-sitosterol, all of which have been proven to reduce the risk of developing cancer and heart diseases and keep you healthy.
How To Make Avocado Oil?
Avocado oil is a collection of the oil that has been extracted from the flesh of avocados. It is very aromatic and has multiple uses in culinary and cosmetics activities.
However, as the avocado is an expensive fruit, buying avocado oil from a store can cost a significant amount. If you have leftover avocados, you can use them to extract oil.
Once learned these steps, the extraction of avocado oil is simple and can be performed anytime with ease. Just follow the listed steps:
- Get some fresh avocado.
- Cut it into two equal pieces.
- Remove the seeds.
- Scoop the flesh.
- Use the skin to extract oil by pressing it harder on the ORANGE PRESS and rotating softly.
- Sieve the oil.
- Leave it for a night in a strainer for maximum extraction.
- Store it in a bottle for later use.
Where To Buy Avocado Oil?
If you don’t want to waste your valuable time in making it at home, or you just not have enough time to do that. You can go for buying it online, or you can go to a store to buy it.
