Avocado Oil

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Most plant oils are extracted from the seed of the plant, but avocado oil is extracted from the flesh of the avocado.
The Aztecs were using it to protect their skin.
The great thing about avocado oil is that it’s not only can be used in uncooked items like salads and dips, but it’s also highly recommended for cooking.
It has a higher smoke point above 450˚ F (250˚ Celsius) than olive oil. The smoke point is the temperature at which the oil starts to be visibly smoking in the pan and becomes unhealthy as its structure begins to break down, nutrients are lost, flavor is changed and most dangerously, compounds can be created that are damaging to your health (1).

COMPOSITION
Unlike most fruits that are high in carbohydrates, avocados are uniquely high in healthy fats.
Almost 70% of avocado oil consists of heart-healthy oleic acid, a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid, known to improve the cardiovascular system and lower cholesterol.
The oil contains also some palmitoleic acids (omega-7) as well as alpha-linoleic acids. While avocado oil has a high omega-6 to omega-3 ratio (13:1), this shouldn’t be of concern as the total amount of omega-6 is relatively low.
Avocado oil is also rich in vitamin E, phytosterols and carotenoids.
The crude avocado oil is green in color as it still contains chlorophyll.

BENEFITS
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 especially when made with good quality fruits and extracted by centrifugation or cold pressed and stored in colored glass bottles

1- Reduce arthritis symtoms
Arthritis is a painful disease that involves inflammation of the joints. The most common type occurs when cartilage between joints wears down causing inflammation and pain it is called osteoarthritis.  Another common form of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis caused by an autoimmune dysfunction where the white blood cells actually destroy the cartilage.
Researchers found extracts from avocado and soybean oil (called avocado/soybean unsaponifiables – ASU), can reduce pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis. It’s used to treat knee and hip osteoarthritis (2)

2- Improves heart health and help lower cholesterol
The monounsaturated oils (omego-9) in avocado are excellent for the heart.
There are the essential components of olive oil linked to the benefits of the “Mediterranean” diet. The oleic acid in avocado oil is also beneficial because it can lower your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the body’s “bad” cholesterol

3- Boost nutrient absorption
Some nutrients need fat in order to be absorbed by your body.
Among those are the carotenoid antioxidants, which are pigments found in many plant foods.
However, fruits and vegetables rich in carotenoids are typically low in fat.
The study found that the addition of avocado oil to a salad with carrots, romaine lettuce and spinach significantly enhanced carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta carotene and lutein) absorption. Dietary carotenoids are thought to be the precursor of the vitamin A significant for eye health.

4- It is also a beauty star
Avocado oil has a low level of UV protection coupled with a high vitamin and strerolin contain which is helpful for preventing sun damage.
It helps protect the skin against aging, it is also recommended to calm eczema and light burns.
Even though avocado oil feels thick, it absorbs easily and doesn’t leave an oily residue. One of the benefits of the oil is that it permeates the skin quite deeply, making it a good carrier for essential oils. Apparently it has one of the highest penetration rates of all the botanical oils.
The vitamin E content gives the oil very highly anti-aging properties capable of providing protection against free radicals.
It nourishes the hair as well as calm and heals the skin. 

•  For the face - The oil has nourishing, anti ageing, moisturizing, properties. It is lovely for a sensitive, irritated skin, because it contains potent phytosterols that help to take the fire out of an itch.
  Can be used around the eyes to reduce fatigue marks. When I use vegetal oil, I always mix the oil with a little bit of water before massaging it to the face. It makes a huge difference in the ways the oils absorbs to the skin.

 

• For the body - The oil contains oleic acid (omega 3 and 9) a wonderful moisturizing and regenerating fatty acid that help protect the skin from dehydration.  It works wonders when applied to elbows, hands, feet especially in winter when the weather is cold. Don’t hesitate to add some to your creams or to apply it pure and massage. 

 

• For strong and shiny nails - Mix some avocado oil with a few drops of lemon essential oil (EH) 

 

• For hair care - The oil is excellent for hair because it is rich in vitamin E, which is essential for maintaining healthy hair. It is also a good source of monounsaturated fats, which provide hair follicles with the nutrients they need to stimulate hair growth. Apply avocado oil as a hair mask to repair heat-damaged hair, prevent split ends and strengthen hair (mix an egg yolk with one or two tablespoons of avocado oil, apply to the hair and leave for one hour than shampoo as usual) You can also massage the ends with pure avocado oil. The advantage of massaging avocado oil into your scalp is that it is very light and absorbed easily.