It is a pear shaped fruit that scores high when it comes to its miraculous health and beauty benefits. Avocado, also known as butter fruit comes loaded with essential nutrients. Traditionally used for treating several health and skincare problems besides being consumed as food, avocados are among the healthiest natural ingredients on the planet.
What is the composition of avocados? Which aspect of health do they benefit in? Yes yes, everything is covered below.
Read on.
What is avocado oil?
Avocado oil is the extract of avocado fruit. Better put, it is the natural oil pressed from the pulp of an avocado. As edible oil, it is packed with nutrients and vitamins. The avocado oil has 77% of an avocado’s overall calorie content. So many nutrients are there in avocado oil, that you can safely expect it to be a fantastic remedy for skin and hair.
Avocado Nutritional Value
Avocado is a great source of all healthy ingredients – Vitamins, minerals, proteins, fiber, healthy fats etc.
The main ingredients that avocado contains are:
Avocado Nutritional Values | |
---|---|
Vitamin C | 17% |
Vitamin E | 10% |
Vitamin k | 26% |
Folate | 20% |
Potassium | 14% |
Apart from these main ingredients, Avocados are loaded with fiber, riboflavin, copper, magnesium, manganese and antioxidants.
It has plenty of health aiding benefits, partly because they are low in carbs too.
Avocado For Health:
Moreover, avocado has high amounts of soluble and insoluble fiber, which lowers the risk of cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and obesity.
1. Improves Cardiovascular Health:
Avocado has folate in high levels, which prevents the risk of strokes. It also helps in protecting good cholesterol, which reduces the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. It is rich when it comes to its polyunsaturated fat, potassium and monounsaturated fat. Since it contains linoleic and oleic acids, you can expect the benefits of reduced LDL cholesterol and higher HDL (good) cholesterol.
2. Treats Arthritis:
A common problem that occurs with age or even with poor health care is arthritis. Making avocado as a part of diet allows the intake of Phytosterols – this in turn slows down the absorption of cholesterol. Avocado is the ultimate remedy for joint pains and joint fixes as it aids in preventing pro-inflammatory prostaglandin E2 synthesis within the connective tissue. So your diet could reduce your pains.
3. Diabetes Prevention:
Avocado health benefits include treatment of diabetes. The good fats can reduce insulin resistance and soluble fiber will regulate the blood sugar levels.
4. Protects Liver From Diseases:
Avocado has fat content which is told to be ‘good fat’. The purpose of good fat is to lower the bad cholesterol and increase the levels of good cholesterol. This good cholesterol will help clean the blood of toxins and replace the saturated fat with mono saturated fat. This aids in lesser risk of liver hardening and inflammation.
5. Aids Weight Loss:
The fat content in avocado is good fat, and good fat is for the well being of the body without causing harm or complications of obesity. Avocados increase and improve the metabolism and help in maintaining a healthy body.
6. Improves Eyesight:
Butter fruit has high levels of fiber and carotenoid lutein that protects the eyes from ailments such as cataracts and eye diseases related to age and vision problems. Its consumption also improves eyesight in a major way.
7. Helps Digestion:
The avocado nutritional benefits help in aiding digestion. The vitamins present in avocado plays a major role in stimulating your digestion.
8. Strong Nails:
Avocado gives you stronger nails that don’t easily break or chip off. This is an easy fruit butter recipe that you can try for stronger nails. All you need to do is just massage your nails and cuticles with avocado oil every night and you will see positive results in few days.
Good health has been guaranteed by Avocado. But aren’t there so many more benefits you would love to have?
So it doesn’t stop here! Avocado has a few promises to make regarding your hair too.
Let’s see what!
Avocado for Hair:
All those shampoo and conditioner commercials getting you a wee bit jealous? Avocado tries to bridge the gap between your hair and the hair shown in ads.
9. Hair Conditioner:
For dry hair especially, butter fruit works as an effective conditioner since it is creamy. Massaging your hair with the butter fruit paste, results in soft and healthy looking hair. It effectively conditions damaged and dry hair. It also helps control frizzy hair to a great extent.
10. Regulates Hair Growth:
The avocado oil stimulates your hair follicles, which improves blood circulation in the scalp. Hair loss is usually the result of deficiency of Vitamins. So, Avocados solve the problem as they are high in vitamins B and E that strengthen and protect the hair. Vitamin B and E aid and regulate hair growth by working right from the cellular level. Using avocado as a conditioner is the best way to promote hair growth.
11. Moisturizes The Scalp:
Dry scalp is a common ailment that bugs us. The avocado or butter fruit oil goes deep into the epidermis layer thereby helping in keeping the scalp moisturized. If you suffer from dry or itchy scalp and have given up hope of ever getting back your healthy problem-free scalp, then try using avocado to treat your scalp worries. Simply mash up a ripe avocado and massage it onto your scalp.
Leave it on for an hour and wash off.
12. Dandruff Remedy:
Dandruff treatment is another one of butter fruit benefits. The avocado seeds can be powdered and used as a natural dandruff treatment.
[sc:mediad]
13. Gets Rid Of Split Ends:
Split ends can be taken care of by using avocado butter for hair. Dry and brittle hair can be cured by using butter fruit oil. The vitamins and minerals in avocado bonds your hair, trying to mend the brittle ends.
14. Hair Detangler:
The oil de-tangles hair without making it greasy. Avocado fruit is known for stimulating hair growth and controlling hair loss. This fruit as a moisturizer improves the hair condition to a good extent.
Gorgeous hair and the best of health aren’t complete without flawless skin, is it?
Avocado For Skin:
How does avocado strive for your flawless skin? It doesn’t even burn your pockets like those cosmetics.
Still does the magic, see how!
15. Reduces Wrinkles:
When applied with cocoa butter, it helps in lightening scars and spots and gives you a radiant skin tone.
16. Lessens Skin Breakouts:
Regular intake of avocado effectively controls acne or breakouts in the skin. A wonderful skin tonic it is that keeps the skin supple and glowing. Avocado oil gets easily absorbed into the skin and thus penetrates deep into your skin, leaving it well-cleansed, nourished and baby-soft.
17. Nourishes Skin:
The juice of avocado, popularly called butter fruit, leaves your skin soft, supple and hydrated when applied on skin. It also helps accelerating the new cell generation and promotes circulation in the body and skin. Mash up an avocado and apply in onto your skin, concentrating on any dry areas. The avocado will penetrate into the skin and deeply moisturize it, leaving you with soft skin.
18. Anti Aging Properties:
The butter fruit also has anti-aging properties. It’s antioxidant properties help in fighting the aging process, detoxifies your skin and keeps it soft and supple.
19. Natural Sunscreen:
The avocado fruit protects the skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun, reducing wrinkles and age spots. Avocado oil can be used as a natural sunscreen which will keep the harmful effects of UVA and UVB rays at bay. Avocado oil will also help heal sunburn. You can use butter fruit recipes to protect your skin. So the next time you come home from a day out in the sun, apply avocado oil to your skin to soothe and treat any sun damage.
20. Improves Complexion:
Avocado butter for skin is used in various cosmetics which help in skin lightening. It can also give you instant radiance.
21. Calm Itchy Skin And Inflammation:
Because it is high in oleic acid, avocado oil is the answer to itchy and inflamed skin.
22. Heal Chapped Skin:
Considering the moisturizing nature of avocado oil, the nutrients in the oil get easily absorbed in the skin and dermis, thereby healing chapped skin.
23. Smoothening Of Skin:
Since avocado oil is rich in fatty acids and vit E, it helps in smoothening the skin and moisturising it too.
24. Replenish Dry Skin:
Is your skin hungry and crying out for ample moisture? Apply avocado oil.
25. Hydrate And Moisturize Skin:
Talk of one great thing about avocado oil? It soothes irritated skin, but the best part is that it provides moisture for dry skin.
26. For Acne Treatment:
Fatty acids and proteins in avocado oil have penetrative power. They remove the blocked skin pores containing impurities and cure inflamed skin, the root cause of acne.
27. Strengthens Your Skin:
Minerals and vitamins loaded, avocado oil has sufficient ingredients to strengthen your skin inside out.
28. Removes Dark Circles:
Stress, sleepless nights and overexposure to computer screens can lead to dark circles. Thanks to the anti-aging property of avocado oil, you can happily see fading of wrinkles and fine lines from your face.
29. Protect Against Skin Damage:
Whether it is dry, dehydrated or damaged skin or the harmful effect of UV rays, you can reduce and reverse the signs of skin cancer by applying avocado oil.
30. Treats Eczema And Psoriasis:
Inflamed and irritated skin is a sign of eczema. Psoriasis leads to scaly skin with red, inflamed border. Avocado oil because of its high fatty acid content reduces the symptoms of both these skin ailments.
31. Heals Cuts, Wounds And Scars:
Suffering from painful and irritated wounds on your skin? Avocado oil is there to speed up the healing process.
It’s mind boggling that one fruit could solve almost all your problems, isn’t it? But are you not a fan of the taste?
Well, to make things easier for you, here are few avocado recipes for your skin. Follow the simple steps without consumption for amazing results.
Some More Avocado Uses for your skin:
1. As A Lotion For Chapped Skin:
What all you need: Avocado Oil:
Directions:
- Take your bath first.
- Dried your skin with towel? Sounds good.
- Now massage a good amount of avocado oil into your skin.
How it works: Avocado oil rehydrates dry and chapped skin to soft and supple one.
Tip: You have two options – either use the avocado oil by itself or pour a few drops of it to your everyday body lotions. Simple!
2. As A Facial Oil Moisturizer:
What all you need:
- Avocado Oil,
- other nourishing oils like Tamanu or Emu
- A bottle
Directions:
- Start by filling two-thirds of a 1-ounce bottle with avocado oil.
- Now pick any other nourishing oil (as mentioned above) and use it to fill the last part of the bottle.
- Add 3-4 drops of your favorite essential oil (lavender or rose).
- Put the cap on the bottle.
- Shake it well.
- Now pour a few drops of this homemade treated avocado oil on your palms.
- Apply it on your face.
How it works: When your face is battling enough of environment and pollution, give it a much-needed relief by applying avocado oil as a moisturiser on face.
Tip: Not just face, you can use this facial oil moisturiser on your hands too. Keep the bottle away from sunlight so that it can last a year.
3. As A Natural Anti-Aging Skin Cream:
What all you need:
- 1/4 cup Avocado Oil,
- 2 tbsp coconut oil,
- 2 tbsp beeswax,
- 1/2 tsp vitamin E oil,
- 1 tbsp Shea butter
Directions:
- Mix all the ingredients as above in a glass jar.
- Put the jar (open) in a pot already filled with four inches of water.
- Bring it to a simmer.
- Stir the ingredients as they melt in the jar.
- Once melted, pour the cream into a smaller jar.
- Let it sit till the mixture hardens.
- Put the lid on the jar.
- Now store the cream in a cool place.
How it works:
Plump up the face and skin – this is what avocado oil delivers beautifully.
4. Makeup Remover:
What all you need:
- Avocado Oil
- Cotton Ball
Directions:
- Dip a small cotton ball in avocado oil
- Now cleanse your face with it, slowly and gently
- For eye makeup especially, you can moisten your face with warm water first before applying avocado oil
How it works:
The face looks so clean of dirt and impurities, it is worth trying out avocado oil.
5. Avocado Face Masks:
Avocado and Avocado Oil Face Mask
What all you need:
- Avocado (ripe)
- Avocado Oil
- Water (lukewarm to warm)
Directions:
- Cut and slice an avocado into small cubes.
- Add a few drops of avocado oil to it.
- Now using a fork or knife, mash it into an even paste.
- Apply the paste to your face.
- After 10-15 minutes, wash off the homemade avocado mask with warm water.
How it works: Face mask is done in order to rejuvenate the skin and bring back the lost charm, isn’t it? Avocado oil comes to aid with sure shot success.
Tip: Instead of warm water, you can also use a face cleanser, depending on your skin type.
Avocado Face Mask With Fruits:
What all you need:
- 1 tbsp. mashed banana
- 1 tbsp. fresh orange juice
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 tbsp. mashed avocado
Directions:
- Take and blend the mixture till a smooth paste is attained.
- Apply the paste to your face; keeping it away from the eyes.
- Leave it for 20 minutes and wash off with lukewarm water.
- Apply this paste twice a week to get smooth and soft skin.
Benefit:
We all are aware of the beauty benefits of fruits. Banana is rich in potassium and orange belongs to the citrus family, which is excellent for the skin.
Homemade Avocado Face Mask With Honey:
What All You Need:
- Pulp of 2 avocado
- 2 tbsp. honey
- 1 egg yolk
- Lukewarm water
Directions:
- Mash the pulp of avocados honey and egg yolk.
- Mix it properly to form a smooth paste.
- Apply the mask on your face and let it stay for 20 minutes. Wash it with lukewarm water.
- Apply it twice a week.
Benefit:
Honey takes care of skin lightening and giving a natural glow to your skin. It works as a natural anti-ageing mask.
Avocado And Aloe Vera Mask:
What All You Need:
- 1 tbsp. aloe vera gel
- 2 tbsp. avocado pulp
- 1/2 tbsp. brewer’s yeast
- Lukewarm water
Directions:
- Mix all the ingredients together and make a thick paste out of it.
- Apply it on your face and neck, avoiding the eye areas.
- Allow it to settle for twenty minutes and wash it off after the stipulated time with lukewarm water.
- Use this mask twice or thrice a week for better results.
Benefit:
We all are aware of the rich benefits of aloe vera gel for the hair and skin. This homemade face mask is recommended to those who have a very sensitive skin, as it strengthens the skin and heals dry and flaky skin. It also hydrates the skin.
Tip: You can also use aloe vera juice instead of gel too.
Avocado Face Mask With Almond Oil:
What All You Need:
- Mashed avocado
- 1 tbsp. honey
- 1 tbsp. almond oil
Directions:
- Mix all the ingredients together. Let a thick paste be formed.
- Apply the paste to the face avoiding the eye area. Allow it to settle for 20 minutes.
- Wash it with lukewarm water.
- Apply this paste thrice a week to see better results.
Benefit:
Almond oil is rich with benefits and is considered the best among all oils. It protects the skin from free radicals, reduces age defining wrinkles, tightens the skin, refines the pores and softens the skin.
Tip: This homemade face mask for dry skin can also be used on other skin types.
Avocado And Oatmeal Face Mask:
What All You Need:
- 1/2 ripe avocado
- 1/2 cup oatmeal
Directions:
- The first step in this butter fruit recipe is to cook the oatmeal as per the instructions provided on the packet.
- Once it is cooked, mix it with some mashed avocado till you have a smooth paste without any lumps.
- Apply this avocado face mask for dry skin and leave it till it is completely dry. Use lukewarm water to rinse it off.
Benefit:
This avocado face mask combined with oatmeal is great for your dry skin. An avocado and oatmeal mask can be used as a moisturizing mask which can help in repairing your damaged and dry skin.
Wait.
The amazing healthy components present in this fruit make it a great choice for all aspects. Don’t you think so?
Risks and Precautions:
External factors such as sensitive skin or scalp, and allergy are some of the key elements which come as a barrier in using any skin or hair product. The same logic applies to using avocado oil. What is the extent of side effects of avocado oil? Pretty scarce. God! That’s a big relief. Nevertheless, there are few risk factors on avocado oil, which you should know.
Risk & Precaution 1: Heard of ‘latex allergy’? This is related to certain food items such as avocados, bananas, kiwis, chestnuts, and passion fruit. So if you are allergic to latex, then you should strictly avoid avocado.
Risk & Precaution 2: Are you on blood thinners, like Warfarin? Consult your doctor/medical practitioner before you take avocado oil internally, as the oil of avocado decreases the effectiveness of this medication.
A patch test is highly recommended, in case your skin is sensitive to any particular oil, such as avocado oil.
That’s not it. Scroll on for answers to all the numerous doubts that are popping up in your head.
FQs:
1. Are avocados good for you?
It is quite obvious reading the above benefits they do provide, that avocados are good for health. They benefit almost all parts of the body, with absolutely no side effects which makes them the most suitable fruit to include in diet.
2. How much fiber is in an avocado?
In 100g of avocado, there is 7g of dietary fiber. Avocados are known to be good sources of insoluble fiber and rich in other vitamins too.
3. Does avocado contain cholesterol?
Avocados do not contain any dietary cholesterol and contains healthy fats mostly. Although when avocados are consumed regularly in diets, they impact of effect of LDL cholesterol and try to lower it. Low levels of LDL cholesterol reduce our risk of heart diseases.
4. Does avocado have antioxidants?
One of the sole reasons for avocados being considered healthy is their high composition of anti oxidants. Not only do they have antioxidants, but also increase the antioxidant intake from other foods consumed.
5. How much avocado to eat per day?
There is no specific restriction on the amount of avocado that is consumed per day as long as the diet is balanced to a low carb diet. It is otherwise safe to say, half an avocado per day is good to eat. Even though it contains ‘healthy’ fats, fats are still fats, so stick to half an avocado with your regular diet.
6. What vitamins do avocados have in them?
Already having mentioned the nutritional value of avocado above, it is known that avocado contains a lot of vitamins, proteins and minerals. In brief, the vitamins it contains are : Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Vitamin K.
7. Can you eat an unripe avocado?
Yes, an unripe avocado can be consumed but the creamy texture and flavour will be absent. This could make it harder for you to eat it. An unripe avocado at room temperature takes about 4-5 days to ripen, so let it ripen for better taste.
8. How many carbohydrates are present in half an avocado?
Half an avocado is perfect for consumption on a daily basis. Avocado is loaded with healthy fats and vitamins but half an avocado contains 161 calories. The calories when split up shows that 19% of carbohydrates are present in each half of an avocado.
9. Are avocados acidic?
Avocados are not considered acidic, they are alkaline instead. While some charts say they are highly alkaline, others say they are mildly or low alkaline. But the basic point is they are not acidic and consist of a safe pH.
10. How much fat does avocado have?
Avocado is known to be a fatty diet, although the fats it contains are on the healthy side. So, one avocado will approximately have upto 77% of fat.
11. How many carbohydrates does an avocado have?
A full avocado will have the same percentage of carbohydrates like half an avocado, upto 19%. But a single full avocado contains about 322 calories which have a breakdown into fats, proteins and carbohydrates.
12. How much protein is in half an avocado?
Being rich in vitamins, fats and proteins, the protein content in avocado is the least compared to the other two. In a single avocado, you can find upto 4% of protein which in itself benefits the body.
Half an avocado a day, keeps the doctor away? YES! Keep the diet balanced, and let us know below in the comments your views.
Images Source: pinterest, wordpress
4 comments
How many avocados we should eat daily for weight loss?
Avocados are healthy although them contributing to weight loss is still in debate. The avocado has a whopping 227 calories, and having even two full fruits would contribute to 1/4 of the calories we burn everyday.
How can I determine if the avocado is ripe or not?
Take an avocado and place it in your palm, and gently squeeze it wihtout using your fingertips. If it yeilds to firm gentle pressure, it is ripe.