Avocado Oil; The Many Benefits And Uses

 

As you know I love to cook.  Lately there has been lots of talk about the health benefits of using different kinds of oils in our cooking and eating.  Some of these oils can even be used for your hair and skin.  I’m going to do a short series on different types of oils, their uses and health benefits.  The first oil I am going to share is avocado oil.  It is my new favorite oil to work with and I started using it not too long ago.

There are several health benefits of avocado oil and here are some of my top favorites.

1.) Rich in healthy fats.  70% is Omega 9.  Reduces cholesterol and improves heart health.  It has been proven to help increase the good cholesterol or HDL.

2.) High in Lutein, an antioxidant that benefits the health of your eyes from age related degeneration.  Our bodies do not produce lutein so it is important to supplement.  Lutein can also help prevent certain types of cancers.

3.) Improves your skin and hair.  It contains monounsaturated fats that are great for hydrating your skin but also improves eczema and other skin inflammations.  Personally, this is where I have noticed the greatest improvement.  Over the winter my skin was in way better condition due to the fact that I was pushing the monounsaturated fats in my diet.

4.) High in antioxidants which can help reduce free radicals.  Free radicals are waste products that can cause damage to your cells, DNA and proteins in your body. Having a diet high in antioxidants is very beneficial and can help reduce the risk of some cancers.

5.) Easy to use.  It has a buttery flavor and a high smoke point of over 500 degrees!  If you are unaware what a smoke point means, it is the point at which the oil is heated and begins to smoke.  This is an indication that it is turning carcinogenic and breaking down and will start to burn.

There are a variety of ways in which you can use avocado oil. One of my favorites, because of its butter flavor, is to use it on a salad or on popcorn!  It is really quite delicious and healthy!  Of course, it is still an oil so make sure you are paying attention to the quantities.

Another great way to use avocado oil is for marinating meats!    The buttery flavor and the high smoke point make it ideal for grilling steaks or veggies!  This veggie combination is delicious and a family favorite.  It is super easy and all I added was the avocado oil and some salt and pepper.  I feel so much better when I am eating healthy and it is real food!

Try drizzling it on French Bread or any type of artisan bread will work, add a dash or two of garlic salt.  It’s amazing, you can’t beat that buttery flavor! Pair it with some spaghetti and it is rockin good!

Give avocado oil a try.  I think you will love it as much as I do.  Let me know some of your favorite recipes, maybe I’ll give them a try!