When it comes to super-charged health foods, avocado oil is in a class of its own.
It goes great on a salad. You can’t make a California club without it. And when salsa gets a little old, your trusty friend is always there.
Oh yeah, it’s the avocado! And today we’re going to dive into all the wonderful benefits of avocado oil.
If you’ve already got avocados in your diet, then we probably don’t have to tell you how it’s an amazing source of healthy fats.
Did You Say “HEALTHY” Fats?
You’d better believe it!
There was a time (not so long ago) when we thought that all fats were bad fats. But as the years wore on, we realized that certain kinds of fats were actually helpful to your diet. In other words, not all fats are bad for you! (In moderation, of course.)
And avocados are a source of one of the best healthy fats out there – monounsaturated fat. It’s a mouthful to say, but here’s the deal: Monounsaturated fats lower your LDL cholesterol. This has a tremendously positive effect on lowering your risk for heart disease.
Want to know something shocking? Avocados are one of the only fruits that have healthy monounsaturated fats! And it’s really simple…just replace unhealthy saturated fats in your diet with good stuff like avocado oil, and you’re on your way to better heart health.
But there’s so much more to avocado oil than healthy hearts. We can’t wait to show you some of the great health and nutritional benefits you’ll get by adding avocado oil to your diet.
How Do You Even Make Avocado Oil?
If you know anything about how olive oil is made, then you’ve got a good idea of the process for avocados.
Fresh, ripe avocados are put through a press that removes their skin and pits. The oil is then extracted from the pump using – guess what – gravity! The avocados are spun at extreme high speeds in a centrifuge drum, which separates the oil from the pulp. The oil is strained away and viola – fresh avocado oil!
Avocados are rich in vitamin E, which is an excellent antioxidant that absorbs well into your body. So you get awesome protection against free radicals in your body caused by air pollution and other things. Since it’s an antioxidant, it also puts up a layer of protections against heart disease, brain and nervous system disorders, and high blood pressure.
But Avocado Oil Is Only For Food, Right?
Nope. We’ve talked a lot about some of the health benefits if you ingest avocado oil, but here are some other crazy ways it will help.
Moisturize Your Hair
Your hair takes a beating.
If you style it with heat, use chemicals, live in a polluted area, or don’t eat the right foods…then your hair is damaged, dry and raw.
Undo some of that damage with the restorative properties of avocado oil in your hair. Natural or not, your hair will benefit from a treatment of the stuff.
Now grab a hair mask and pour the mixture in. You’re going to have to leave the mask on for at least an hour to stiffen up, then wash and clean with a gentle shampoo.
Why? Because avocado oil jam-packed with monounsaturated fatty acids (even more-so than extra virgin olive oil). Those fats bring a spark to lifeless hair. Lock moisture into your hair and treat it to the vitamins it needs to repair itself.
There’s never better time to undo the damage that life has done to your hair.
A Face Mask For The Ages
Super-easy. Find a pre-made product at your local health and beauty store, or stir up your own. Add equal parts avocado oil, olive oil, coconut oil and honey and blend until smooth.
So let’s get started with an easy face mask that you can make right at home.
Your Skin Will Thank You
Believe it or not, avocado oil is good for your skin and can even be used on your face. And it works for many of the same reasons it works for your hair – a bounty full of monounsaturated fats and oleic acid.
The vitamin E in avocado oil promotes smooth, silky skin. And the monounsaturated fat pulls in moisture and hydrates your skin, sealing in a younger, lighter look.
Want to make your own treatment? Avocado oil is gentle enough to use straight up, meaning you can apply a few drops directly to your skin on the areas that need moisture.
You can also make an avocado mask by mashing up some of the fruit with a bit of oil and applying it to your face. It takes 20 minutes to set, and then just wash it away with a gentle cleanser. Your skin will thank you!
No More Running From Ugly Skin Problems
And speaking of your skin – avocado oil does much more than hydrate and moisturize. It’s also a terrific treatment for acne, psoriasis and eczema. Its nutrients promote healthy skin cell growth, so applying it topically will flake away your dead skin cells and rejuvenate the layers underneath.
Trying to treat psoriasis with harsh chemicals? The flaky, dead skin is an embarrassing nuisance, and the market is full of treatments with negative side effects. A gentler avocado oil cream solution has been shown to reduce the effects of psoriasis, so you can leave the house wearing dark colors again…worry-free!
And if you have some castor oil on hand, then you can make this awesome recipe for your skin. (Castor oil has been a favorite home remedy for skin for ages.) Mix one part avocado oil and one part castor oil, and rub a few drops into effected areas. Let it absorb for a few minutes, then gently clean.
Fix Those Achy Joints
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an auto-immune disorder, and the anti-inflammatory properties of avocado oil bring fast relief to the painful symptoms of this disease.
Avocado oil is bursting from the seams with monounsaturated fats, which have been shown to lower certain indicators of inflammation.
Unlike skin treatments, however, avocado oil does its best work for your joint swelling and inflammation when you consume it. In a bit we’ll show you some of the ways to effortlessly incorporate avocado oil into your diet.
What Else Can It Do?
Now you see why it’s called a “superfood!”
With its monounsaturated fats, oleic acid and vitamin E, avocado oil is easily one of the best whole foods you can add to your life.
It doesn’t stop there. Here are a few more amazing benefits.
Absorb Nutrients Like You’re Supposed To
Not only is the avocado jam-packed with healthy fats and nutrients, it can also help your body absorb more of the good stuff in the other foods you eat.
You see, many nutrients pass right through us because we lack the proper dietary fats to absorb them. Several vegetables with essential nutrients are classically low in fat, which means our body struggles to soak in the most benefit from these foods.
Drop a bit of avocado oil on your vegetables, and you’re adding that precious fat to your meal that pulls precious fat-soluble nutrients like carotenoids into your body.
And Speaking of Cooking…
You could just put some oil in a shot glass and tip it back. But we don’t recommend it. There are better ways to prepare food with avocado oil! It’s a calorie-dense food, anyhow, so while it’s healthy, you’ll want to use it as part of a balanced diet.
But avocado oil does make a terrific substitute for other cooking oils.
In particular, avocado oil has a much higher smoke point than butter or canola oil. That means you can heat it to a higher temperature for cooking without burning it and breaking down its nutrients.
So crack out the veggies and a pan…there’s a new way to sauté!
A Little Help In The Kitchen
Stuck on how to add avocado oil to your kitchen arsenal? Here are a couple ideas to get you started.
- Sauté or pan-fry vegetables in a tablespoon of avocado oil. The high smoke point is your friend here.
- Drizzle avocado oil on a fresh salad full of vibrant greens and veggies. Remember – the darker the greens, the better.
- If you’re cooking a piece of lean meat, drizzle a bit of avocado oil to the hot pan first to create a nice signature crust on the outside of the meat.
- Substitute avocado oil for vegetable oil or butter in a cake recipe.
There are countless ways to use it. Let us know your favorite recipe!
Is There Any Risk to Avocado Oil?
Some people have a latex allergy that is triggered by avocados. Or they may have other natural sensitivities to the avocado. You can check with your doctor to make sure you can handle avocados if you have a latex allergy.
Otherwise, when using it topically, make sure to test a small area of your skin first for sensitivities. You’ll know quickly if you develop an irritation or rash. These side effects are not very common.
But there is something else you should be aware of if you’re going to add avocado oil to your diet – its super-packed with awesome monounsaturated fats, which means it is calorie-rich, too.
One tablespoon of avocado oil (14 g) has 120 calories. That’s no surprise to you if you know anything about butter or oil – they’re all really dense in calories. For you, it means you need to moderate your intake. One or two tablespoons of oil a day is all you need to grab your full benefit from avocado oil.
Where To Buy Avocado Oil
With all you can gain from adding avocado oil to your arsenal, you may be wondering where you can pick some up today. Check the following stores for a fresh supply of cold-pressed organic avocado oil, shipped fast to your door.
