Healthy Benefits of Cooking with Avocado Oil
Forty years ago, chefs across the continent switched from butter to margarine. Thirty years ago the trend shifted from margarine to sunflower oil. Since then, a series of oils, including canola, safflower, sunflower and olive oil have debuted and either found a permanent place on the grocery store shelf or been shoved to the back of the discount rack. Today’s consumers are demanding natural oils over man made, and one of the relative newcomers in beneficial natural oils is avocado or nutrition oils. The surprising and broad sweeping benefits of avocado oil will quickly win over many who may doubt its effectiveness.
For cooking, avocado oil contains heart-friendly monounsaturated fats. Its high-smoke point exceeds that of olive oil, making it ideal for cooking at higher temperature ranges. Unlike many other nutrition oils, avocado oil is rich in fiber giving users a healthier alternative that actually aids digestion. As a matter of fact, avocado oil retains many of the nutrients and vitamins of the avocado, including folate, potassium, antioxidants and Vitamins B5, B6, C, E and K, along with other nutrients in trace amounts that your body needs.
Knowing avocado oil contains these nutrients is not nearly as important as understanding their roles in the body.
The monounsaturated fat (oleic acid) in avocado oil lowers triglyceride and cholesterol levels, decreases inflammation and positively enhances a gene’s ability to detect cancer. Oleic acid has also been proven to aid arthritis sufferers.
Fiber is indigestible but acts as a catalyst in digestion by moving other food stuff through the intestinal tract. This leads to weight loss and better digestive health. Avocado oil also reduces blood sugar spikes after hearty meals.
Potassium (Vitamin K) lowers blood pressure, which decreases chances of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.
In numerous studies on the effects of avocado oil on the heart, it has been proven that ongoing ingestion of avocado oil reduces total cholesterol levels significantly, lowers blood triglycerides and reduces LDL cholesterol levels while maintaining healthy HDL cholesterol levels.
Consider switching your common cooking or nutrition oil to avocado oil. It could be the best decision you make this year – and for years to come. Learn more from the nutrition-oil experts at Bell Chem.