You might have heard that you must avoid fats in order to maintain health. However, many “good fats” are actually beneficial to your health. One of these is found in avocados. Avocado oil, which is a monounsaturated fat, provides similar benefits to other oils like olive oil and coconut oil. By using this oil as a substitute for butter and vegetable oils and as a supplement, you can find many health benefits.
1. Skin
With so many skin problems, it’s no wonder that avocado oil is an effective treatment for some. For example, in a study from Dermatology, patients successfully used a combination of avocado oil and B12 cream to treat chronic psoriasis. In addition, avocado oil can be used to improve your skin’s overall appearance. With the high fat content, it can serve as an effective moisturizer for dry, chapped skin. It can also be applied to closed wounds to help them heal faster and reduce the appearance of scars.
2. Hair
You’ve probably heard of putting a variety of things in your hair, such as coconut oil, egg whites, and mayonnaise. While these have some benefits, avocado oil has vitamin E, which helps give hair its shine. In addition, the monounsaturated fats found in avocado oil provide nutrients to follicles to stimulate hair growth, which is especially important for dry, damaged hair.
3. Diabetes Management
A study from the American Diabetes Association found that a diet high in monounsaturated fats like avocado oil may help decrease cholesterol levels and manage glucose levels. Avocado oil can also lower triglyceride levels.
4. Heart Disease Prevention
Maintaining diets high in monounsaturated fats can decrease your risk for cardiovascular diseases. In addition to lowering LDL levels, avocado oil can also raise HDL levels, promoting heart health. It can also improve your blood pressure by changing the composition of the fatty acids in the blood, which passes through your heart.
A report from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that avocado eaters were also 50% less likely to suffer from metabolic syndrome, a syndrome which includes a group of symptoms such as high blood sugar, excess body fat, and high blood pressure—all of which increase your risk for heart disease.
5. Nutrient Absorption
Fat soluble vitamins like vitamins A, D, E, K, and the carotenoids need fat to be better absorbed. By eating healthy fats like avocados, you can better absorb these vitamins when you eat vegetables.
Avocados can be found at your local grocery store, but if you want to reap the benefits of avocado oil, you can find it at a health food store like Whole Foods, or order it online at Amazon. For the best health benefits, buy extra virgin cold-pressed avocado oil.
Sources:
1. https://authoritynutrition.com/12-proven-benefits-of-avocado/
2. http://www.livestrong.com/article/408594-what-are-the-benefits-of-avocado-oil/
3. http://superfoodprofiles.com/healthiest-oils/cold-pressed-avocado-oil/
