Wonders of Avocado

Avocado oil is a traditional beauty oil which was used by the tribeswomen of Mexico and Arizona. The oil comes from the flesh of the avocado and was one of the easiest vegetable oils for early civilizations to extract. The avocado was first found growing in South American swamplands and still carries the nickname ‘alligator pear’. It is a distant relative of the magnolia and bay laurel and grows in California, Mexico, Florida, and Mediterranean countries. The Aztecs were the first fans of this fruit and claimed it was an aphrodisiac. Other cultures used avocado oil for more medicinal purposes and in the Philippines, it was sold as a cure for conditions as diverse as toothache and dysentery.

 

Since then, avocado oil has continued to be acclaimed for its skincare properties and to be an important ingredient for the cosmetics industry. Oil from the flesh of the avocado is highly nutritious and rich in many nutrients, including vitamins A and D, and the mineral potassium. Although the oil is monounsaturated, it is not as stable as olive oil at high temperatures and so not as suitable for cooking.

 

Avocado oil is a time-tested skin soother and softener but scientists are only beginning to realize its full skincare potential. Research carried out has revealed that avocado oil not only smooths the surface of the skin, but can also slip through and penetrate its upper layers. It is more easily absorbed by the skin than well-known cosmetic oils, such as olive and sweet almond. By carrying its vital vitamins and essential fatty acids below the surface of the skin, avocado oil plays an important part in delaying skin degeneration and slowing the signs of ageing. Many vegetable oils are natural sunscreens – and again avocado beats the other beauty oils in its ability to block out the suns’ rays. The sun is the skin’s number-one enemy for encouraging fine lines and wrinkles.