For most people, it’s no secret that avocados are one of nature’s healthiest foods. Eating one avocado per week is great for your skin, improves circulatory function, and helps to keep hormones in balance just to name a few. Avocados have even claimed a spot on the list of top 10 foods that can help you lose weight when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise, but this is no ordinary super food. The secret of this odd little fruit’s success is in the oil – about 77% of an avocado’s overall caloric composition. Read on to discover the top 10 health and beauty benefits of avocado oil.
(Already know that you want to try it? Check out this 100% pure, cold-pressed Organic Avocado Oil by Bella Vado!)
1. Rich Source of Oleic Acid
The majority of essential fatty acids found in avocado oil are monounsaturated oleic acid, the same omega-9 EFA that won olive oil its claim to fame. Oleic acid is known to have several positive effects throughout the body including lowering risk of some cancers, preventing flare-ups of certain auto-immune diseases, speeding cell regeneration and wound healing, aiding the body in repelling and eliminating microbial infections, as well as reducing inflammation inside and out. (source)
Furthermore, oleic acid is highly resistant to oxidation, meaning that avocado oil won’t go rancid as quickly as many other oils when stored for long periods of time. Due to its stability, avocado oil can also be used for cooking at higher temperatures (stir fry, sauté, etc) without breaking down and loosing some of its health benefits (as other oils are known to do.)
2. Keeps Your Heart Healthy
Avocado oil has an unusually high concentration of beta-sitosterol, a type of cholesterol which our bodies can use to convert less healthy fats into forms which are more usable and less damaging to cells. Because avocado oil is anti-inflammatory, it can help to prevent damage to arterial walls which in turn lowers the risk of heart disease caused by plaque deposits. Furthermore, less inflammation in the arteries means avocado oil can also go a long way toward keep blood pressure at normal, healthy levels.
For more great tips on balancing your cholesterol with healthy wholesome foods, read up on these 21 Foods That Naturally Unclog Arteries!
3. Good Source of Vitamin E
Avocado oil is among the top five foods highest in vitamin E. This fat-soluble vitamin is known for improving skin and eye health, bolstering the immune system, providing defense against oxidative damage to cells caused by free-radicals, improving memory and mental acuity, as well as increasing the overall efficiency of the digestive tract.
Because our bodies absorb vitamin E (as with most nutrients) much more efficiently from the food we eat than from supplements, you’ll definitely want to add organic cold-pressed avocado oil to your natural health shopping list!
4. Improves Digestion
If you find that you get frequent heart burn, experience an abnormally high amount of gas and bloating on a regular basis, or if you simply feel tired all of the time, poor digestion could be to blame. Try adding avocado oil to your food to fix the problem. The vitamins, minerals, and monounsaturated fatty acids in avocado oil all help the digestive tract to process food more efficiently. While this won’t fix the problem overnight, you might be surprised at how quickly you’ll begin to feel better, have more energy, and even start to lose weight as a result!
5. Helps You Lose Weight
As previously mentioned, the high concentration of oleic acid in avocado oil can help you lose weight – especially when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise. However, there’s more to it than that. Avocado oil is thick and full of powerful nutrients, meaning that it will make you feel fuller faster and keep your appetite satisfied longer. Also, because the vitamins and EFAs in avocado oil improve digestion, you’ll get more energy from the other foods you eat with it, making it easier to take part in physical activities that you otherwise might not feel like doing.
Avocado oil makes an amazing dressing for salads. Drizzle it on by itself, pair it with your favorite vinegar, or try out this delicious recipe for Lemon Garlic Avocado Oil Vinaigrette by avocadoamore.com!
Want more excellent tips on losing weight the natural and healthy way? Check out these Top 10 Secret-Weapon Super Foods To Help You Lose Weight (avocado included!)
6. Detoxifies Your Body
Avocado oil is loaded with chlorophyll – a natural source of super-healthy magnesium (the same mineral that makes Epsom salt so popular!) and one of the best-known natural substances for removing heavy metals like mercury and lead from the liver, kidneys, brain, and other organs. Each chlorophyll molecule contains a magnesium ion at its core which is released when it comes into contain with an acidic environment such as the inside of the human body. In the absence of said magnesium, the incomplete chlorophyll molecule attracts other metal ions in order to fill the space. When it comes into contact with one, chlorophyll binds the metal ion to itself, rending the previously toxic element harmless before passing out of the body through the bowels.
Pair avocado oil dressing with cilantro in salads and other foods for an added boost of detoxifying chlorophyll power!
Read more about the detoxifying superpowers of chlorophyll in 21 Natural Ways To Rid Your Body of Heavy Metals.
7. Strengthens Your Skin
The vitamins and minerals in avocado oil are not only nourishing for the inside of your body, they can also feed you from the outside in. Boost your skin’s ability to generate more and stronger cells by moisturizing with avocado oil. The vitamin E, potassium, and lecithin which are the primary skin-feeding nutrients in the oil are all easily absorbed through the epidermis – the outermost layer of the skin – and into the dermis where they provide energy for the growth and health of new skin as well as fortification of existing cells.
Learn more about using natural oils for skin care with these 17 Anti-Aging Oils for Beautiful Skin!
8. Grows Hair Faster & Fuller
The same nutrients in avocado oil which make it ideal for moisturizing and feeding skin are also exceptionally nourishing for your hair. After cleansing your hair, apply avocado oil alone or mixed with your favorite hair- and scalp-friendly essential oils to improve both the appearance and structure of existing hair while at the same time promoting healthier and faster growth of new strands.
Be sure to check out these 28 Best Herbs For Hair Growth as well as these Top 10 Natural Ways To Grow Hair Faster to pick up more great tips and recipes to nourish your lovely locks!
9. Reduces Inflammation & Itching
Due to its high concentration of anti-inflammatory oleic acid, avocado oil can be applied topically to ease discomfort caused by all manner of skin conditions, including but not limited to dandruff, cracked heels, keratosis pilaris, insect bites and stings, sunburn, eczema, and psoriasis. (Click the links for more great natural remedies!)
Also, because avocado oil is so thick, it won’t soak in as fast as other oils. For chronic ailments like eczema, a thin coating of soothing oil can go a long way toward relieving the persistent itching of a break out. Of course, not everyone has the same reactions to every plant oil so you should definitely test a drop or two of avocado oil (or any new treatment, for that matter) on a small patch of skin from which the oil may be easily removed before applying to large areas of the body.
10. Accelerates Wound Healing
Just as avocado oil helps the body to grow healthier and stronger skin, it can also speed up the healing process. Once you’ve thouroughly cleaned the affected area, try treating damaged skin caused by cuts, scrapes, burns, raw skin from blisters or rashes, sunburn, bug bites and stings, and other wounds with a drop or two of avocado oil. Your skin will knit up faster and with less chance of scarring.
For more tips on repairing damaged skin, be sure to read these 10 Super Clever Natural Ways To Remove Acne Scars which can be used not only on the face, but anywhere you have unwanted scars!
Ready to experience the amazing health benefits of avocado oil for yourself? For quality and consistency, I highly recommend this 100% pure, cold-pressed Organic Avocado Oil by Bella Vado, available through Amazon.com!