Avocado oil properties
Avocado oil is mainly composed of monounsaturated fats, which help increase good cholesterol (HDL) and lower bad cholesterol (LDL), and polyunsaturated fats, necessary for cell growth and brain function. In addition, its high content of vitamin E provides multiple benefits to our body.
Properties of vitamin E or Tocopherol
Vitamin E or Tocopherol is one of the 4 fat-soluble vitamins that exist in nature. Specifically, vitamin E from pure avocado oil provides us with the following benefits:
- Antioxidant properties, aiming to prevent oxidative stress, which can have adverse effects on all cellular elements (membranes, cytoplasm, mitochondria, etc).
- Anti-inflammatory properties, helping to reduce or minimize the production of substances that cause inflammation in our body.
- Improves fertility, as it is related to sex hormones.
- Enhances wound healing.
- Prevents premature aging.
What happens if we have a vitamin E deficiency?
The absence of consuming oils like olive oil or raw avocado oil, among others, can cause a vitamin E deficiency, associated with the following effects:
- Headache.
- Dizziness.
- Diplopia (Double vision).
What is the best avocado oil?
When it comes to buying avocado oil, it is important to consider the extraction method. Why? It should be a cold extraction, as heat will damage its properties. In addition, choose those that are extracted only through mechanical processes.
It is also important to ensure it is 100% pure avocado oil. This will be the healthiest option compared to those oils that are sold under the premise of avocado oil but have a low percentage of it in their essence and composition.
What advantage does avocado oil have over other healthy oils?
The main advantage of buying avocado oil is its high smoke point compared to other oils when it comes to resisting different types of cooking, such as frying, sautéing, or baking, while maintaining the health properties of avocado oil.
Is this really important? Many times we use various oils in our cooking that we believe have a high capacity to provide us with certain benefits (polyphenols, carotenes, etc.) without taking into account that heat is damaging them. The consequence of heat on these oils is that many of the benefits we choose to consume them for disappear.
Therefore, you must take into account that avocado oil and its properties, on the other hand, are not altered by its use in cooking, making it the best option for grilling, frying pans, molds, dressings, pastas, etc.
