Did you know that avocado oil could make you look fresh, improve your immunity and even aid in digestion? If you thought that was all, you will be stupefied at what other benefits this healthy oil can offer. Avocado is an incredibly healthy fruit and is loaded with tons of goodness, vitamins and nutrients. Its many health benefits are backed up by science too.
Those who suffer from hypertension or high blood pressure can greatly benefit from avocado oil. According to a scientific study published in 2005, avocado oil is very effective in lowering and controlling blood pressure. In the study, some rats were sustained with an avocado oil rich diet. The avocado oil contains certain fatty acids, which regulate the fatty acid reaction in the kidneys. This results in a change in hormone levels, which ultimately helps in controlling blood pressure. The avocado oil also alters the fatty acid composition in the heart. As a result, regularly consuming avocado oil will help you keep your blood pressure under control.
We consume lots of nutrients every day. However, they are of no use to us if these are not actually absorbed. Avocado oil helps in the absorption of carotenoids (1). Carotenoids need fatty acids to be transported into cells. But paradoxically, foods that are rich in carotenoids are also low in fatty acids. Now the fat present in avocado oil helps in transporting alpha carotene, beta-carotene and lutein that you may obtain from salads or vegetables. Hence, replace the extra virgin olive oil in your salad dressings with avocado oil for extra flavor and extra benefits.
Teeth and gum problems are quite common these days, thanks to the excess sugar in our diets and the prolific manufacturing of sweet treats. Avocado oil and soybean oil, when used together as a home remedy, can really help with periodontal diseases. Avocado oil inhibits cytokine molecules that are responsible for inflammation. The teeth and gum tissues and the bone cells and ligament in the jaw – all of these show reduced inflammation on using avocado oil. It also prevents bone erosion that advanced periodontal diseases may cause.
Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes the skin to form a scaly, flaky and hide-like upper layer. It is as harmful to the skin as embarrassing. So, if you see psoriasis developing in any part of your skin, apply avocado oil. A mixture of vitamin B12 serum and avocado oil (which is rich in vitamin E), when used for 12 weeks, has proved to heal psoriasis completely, according to a 2001 study. On the other hand, if only vitamin E is used, the psoriasis shows signs of getting treated in the first four weeks, but after that the effects might wear off. So long term treatment of psoriasis with avocado oil is much more beneficial (2).
A natural extract called avocado soyabean unsaponifiables (ASU), made of one part avocado oil and two parts soyabean oil, is found to act well against osteoarthritis, slowing its progression (3). It is extensively used in clinical trials of arthritis treatments. It works especially well in improving osteoarthritis in the knees and hips. It also reduces the need to use anti-inflammatory drugs and works much better than placebo.
Cold pressed oils produce the healthiest kind of oil, and when it’s avocado, it is even better for the heart. Cold pressed avocado oil is very low in acidity and oxidization, and very high in monounsaturated fatty acids. In fact, extra virgin avocado oil contains over 75% monounsaturated fatty acids – much higher than olive oil’s 67%. Saturated fat content also makes a difference – while olive oil contains 17% of saturated fat, avocado oil only has 13%. Keeping your heart healthy is one of the best health benefits of avocado oil. We all know that monounsaturated fatty acids are very good for our heart, whereas saturated fats are harmful. In both these factors, avocado oil trumps olive oil, which is considered the healthiest of cooking oils. Hence, avocado oil is better for lowering low density lipid cholesterol levels, which is the biggest reason for heart distress.
The high levels of vitamin E in avocado are preserved in avocado oil when it is cold pressed. Vitamin E, of course, has various benefits. For one, it makes your skin more radiant, healthy and also reduces the signs of aging. Vitamin E also fights high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s disease and even certain types of cancer.
Avocado oil also contains a very important antioxidant called lutein. It is present around the macula of our eyes and is said to protect our eyes from UV radiation and high energy blue light. It also prevents macular degeneration with age, which is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly in the West (4). So, avocado oil is also good for middle-aged persons who don’t have good eyesight.
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