5 Neat Avocado Oil Uses – A Nutritional and Beauty Supplement
Avocados are a superfood. They’re loaded with nutrients like vitamin K and folate, pantothenic acid, and vitamins B6 and C. They’re so purely good, they’re on the Top 10 list of first baby foods because avocado nutrition fits almost perfectly with a baby’s growing development. What’s more, there are many avocado oil uses anyone can use to both improve health and beautify.
The healthy fat in avocados is not just medicinal, it’s also an excellent addition to a beauty or skin-care regimen. Here are 5 reasons to keep a bottle of avocado oil around.
1. Heals and Prevents Disease and Injury
Oleic acid is an omega-9 essential fatty acid found in avocados. It’s known to lower the risk of some cancers, prevent auto-immune disease flare-ups, and speed cell regeneration and wound healing. Oleic acid can also help the body repel and eliminate microbial infections, reducing interior and exterior inflammation.
About 70% of an avocado consists of oleic acid, which has also been found to improve glucose levels in diabetics.
2. More Avocado Oil Uses – Keeps Teeth and Gums Healthy
Avocado oil can be added to mouthwash, as natural extracts from the avocado plant have been found to provide antiseptic properties that can kill the bacteria responsible for tooth decay, bad breath and inflammation of the mouth.
A 2001 study published in the Journal of Periodontology reports that low doses of avocado oil were found to be effective at inhibiting tissue-degrading enzymes, leading researchers to surmise that it might be useful in preventing tissue damage in gum disease.
Related: The Health Benefits of Avocados
3. Revitalizes Hair
Among other avocado oil uses, the healthful oil can be used as a hair conditioner or leave-in treatment for the scalp or split ends. Put 1/3 to ½ cup of the oil on your scalp or split ends and leave it wrapped in a towel for 20 minutes before shampooing.
4. Improves Digestion
Frequent sufferers of heartburn, bloating, and gas may benefit from adding avocado oil to their food. The digestive tract is helped by the many vitamins, minerals, and monounsaturated fatty acids found in avocado oil. It takes time, but regularly consuming avocado oil can remedy these discomforts, give you more energy, and even eventually help you lose weight. [3]
Avocado oil can be cooked at high temperatures (up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit), which makes it perfect for everything from sautéing, to stir-frying, to baking.
5. Keeps the Heart Healthy
In February 2003, a study was published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition which showed avocado oil is comparable to olive oil as a heart-healthy dietary oil. Researchers compared the atherogenic effects of avocado oil with coconut, olive, and corn oil on animals. The oils comprised 14%t of the animals’ diet over 90 days. The scientists found that the animals that were fed avocado or corn oil had the highest levels of high density lipoprotein, the “good” form of cholesterol. [4]
Have any other avocado oil uses to share with us? Be sure to mention them in the comments section below!
Additional Sources:
[3] Huffington Post
[4] Jillian Michaels
