Avocado Oil-Health Benefits and Extraction Tips

It is no secret that avocado fruit is unusual. It has so many properties that make it very healthy and important for human consumption. This fruit contains healthy fats which you can convert into oil known as avocado oil.

You will enjoy so many benefits from using this oil for your food, hair, and skin. Is the oil delicious and suitable for cooking? We all know about olive oil, well, this oil is very similar in taste.

If you are wondering why you should switch to avocado oil, this post is for you. We will show you a few benefits of using this oil and how to extract it.

Health benefits of Avocado Oil

Contains Oleic Acid

Oleic acid falls under the healthy fat category and it makes up close to 70% of avocado oil. The acid is an omega-9 monosaturated fatty acid. You will also find oleic acid as the main component of your favorite olive oil.

This acid is one of the chief contributors to the health benefits of many healthy oils that we consume. For one, it contributes to the health of the heart.

Reduces Cholesterol Levels

Cholesterol is one of the major causes of heart disease. This oil showed great benefits when tested on animals in relation to heart health. Avocado oil helps you drop the level of cholesterol levels in your bloodstream.

That’s not all, this oil helps to create a balance in your system. It increases HDL to make up for the deficit. HDL is known as “good cholesterol.” It has also shown signs of reducing blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.

This means that consuming more avocado oil will keep your heart in great shape.

High Lutein Content

Avocado oil is one of the major sources of lutein. Lutein is a carotenoid that occurs naturally in the eyes. It possesses antioxidant properties that help to maintain eye health.

This means that with more consumption of lutein, you will reduce the risk of macular degeneration and cataract. Both conditions are eye defects that occur with aging.

It is important to get your fix of lutein from your diet. This is because your body is not capable of synthesizing the lutein it needs.

Enhances Nutrient Absorption

Sometimes, your body needs some help to absorb certain important nutrients. This is help comes in the form of fat.

Some of the nutrients that fall into this category include carotenoid antioxidants. You can find these pigments in so many plants. The challenge is that the vegetables and fruits that contain carotenoids don’t come with enough fat.

To absorb more of the nutrients from these foods, simply add some avocado oil. Studies show that it was easier for the body to benefit from the nutrients in a salad containing lettuce, spinach, and carrots. How? By adding some avocado oil.

Reduces Arthritis Symptoms

Arthritis causes inflammation in the joints that results in a lot of pain. This condition is very common around the world, especially among older people. There are different variants of this condition but osteoarthritis seems to be the most common. It relates to a breakdown of the cartilage around the joints.

Several studies reveal that oil extracts from avocado along with soybean help alleviate the stiffness and pain resulting from arthritis. The extract is also beneficial for knee and hip pain.

Prevents Gum Disease

Avocado oil is beneficial for several other diseases asides arthritis. Combining this oil with soybean extract is also great for treating gum disease.

Gum disease is also known as periodontal disease and it is an inflammation of the gums. It results in bleeding and reddening of the gums, a breakdown of the tissue and bone around teeth, and bad breath. In some cases, it may result in tooth loss.

One of the key promoters of this inflammation is protein, especially IL1B protein. This leads to the destruction of tissues and bone loss. Avocado oil blocks this protein thus saving your gums from inflammation.

Benefits of Avocado Oil on Skin

Avocado oil contains a lot of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents. These agents ensure that you have strong, elastic, and smooth skin. There are two ways of getting your fix of avocado. You can either extract it yourself or buy it from a grocery or health store.

What are the benefits of avocado oil on the skin? Check out some of them below:

1. Calms itchy skin.
2. Replenishes dry skin.
3. Heals chapped skin.
4. Moisturizes and hydrates the skin.
5. Protects your skin from damage.
6. Shields the skin from UV rays.
7. Neutralizes free radicals that attack the skin.

It is important to note that avocado oil works best for dry and normal skin. This is because it adds moisture and soothes the skin. Because of this, it may not be favorable for oily skin.

Using Avocado Oil For Your Skin

Using this oil for skin care is becoming very popular these days because of the immense benefits. There are several ways to add avocado oil to your skincare routine. From massaging it over the skin to using it as a facemask or adding it to your lotion.

It is one of those natural extracts that you can use daily without the risk of inflammation or irritation. Wondering how to start using avocado oil for your skin? Here are a few ideas:

1. As face oil moisturizer – Fill two-thirds of a 1-ounce capacity bottle with some avocado oil. Get some emu or tamanu oil to fill up the remaining one-third of your bottle. Add between three and four droplets of essential oil like rose or lavender. Cover the bottle and shake it properly. Use the oil over your face daily. You can also use this oil as a moisturizer for your hands and other parts of your body.
2. As lotion for your chapped skin – Massage your skin with some avocado oil after you take your bath. You can also add a few drops to your body lotion and mix it for daily use.
3. As a DIY facemask–Cut some ripe avocado into small cubes then add a little avocado oil. With a spoon or fork, you should mash the avocado into a paste. Apply this to your face then leave it for between 10 and 15 minutes. Wash it off with some warm water or use a face cleanser. It depends on your skin type.
4. Anti-aging cream – Mix one-quarter cup of avocado oil with coconut oil (2 tablespoons). Add vitamin E oil (half-teaspoon), beeswax (2 tablespoons), and shea butter (1 tablespoon). Mix in a jar and add four inches of water. Put this overheat and leave to simmer. After they all melt, pour the resulting cream into a jar and leave to harden. Cover the jar and store it in a cool location.

Risks Associated With Using Avocado Oil

Many studies have been carried out to check for any side effects of using avocado oil. So far, there aren’t any serious side effects. But we suggest that you conduct a patch test before using the product for your whole skin. This is very important before using any product on your skin.

The patch test helps you know if you have any allergies to the product or it will irritate your skin. Conducting this test is very simple. Rub a little amount of avocado oil on the inner part of your forearm. If there is no inflammation or irritation within 24 hours, it is safe to use.

It is important to speak to your physician if you have any prior allergies to avocados.

How to Extract Avocado Oil at Home

By now, you must be very interested in adding avocado oil to your diet and skin routine. There’s a question you need to answer. How can you extract the oil at home? It isn’t so difficult, let’s show you how.

Firstly, you need a kind of press that will make it easy to press the oil out. After you obtain the press, take these steps to extract the oil.

Step 1 – Wash the seeds and get rid of every remnant from the exterior.

Step 2 – Put the seeds under the sun for a few days to dry. This is very important.

Step 3 – Once the seeds are sufficiently dry, place them inside a plastic bag. You can now begin to crush them using a mallet.

Step 4 – Open the plastic bag then gather the oil from the seeds. Pour the oil into a glass jar then put the fragments of the seeds inside a strainer. Press on the fragments to obtain some more oil that you should pour into the jar.

Step 5 – Gather the seed fragments and put them in the press. This will help you gather every bit of oil remaining in them.

Step 6 – Once you have gotten all the oil available, sieve the oil and then place it overheat. Cook it over 100^oC of heat to rid the oil of bacteria or excess water.

Now you have your avocado oil and you can use it however you please.

Wrap-Up

Avocado oil contains several healthy nutrients and is a great addition to your diet and skincare routine. We have shown you the benefits and how to use this oil. Did we leave anything out? Share with us in the comments section.