Avocado

Avocado For Hydration

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Scientific Name: {Persea americana}

Avocado is excellent for the skin, whether eaten or applied topically. However, the moisturizing effects are more immediate if it is applied topically. In addition, avocados are excellent sources of vital nutrients and antioxidants.

Known for its moisturizing properties, avocado is one of the best ingredients for those with dry skin who desperately need both hydration and nourishment.

The primary skin benefits of avocados come from their carotenoid content. These are alpha-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, and lutein.

Moreover, these carotenoids attack free radicals and help the skin build stronger structures, improve brightness, and even contribute to the thickening of the skin. Thin skin is a significant complaint of mature women.

Health Benefits of Avocado

• Moisturizes skin
• High in beneficial nutrients
• Boosts eye health
• Ideal for a healthy heart
• Lowers cholesterol
• Cancer fighter
• Natural detoxifier
• Promotes healthy weight
• Improves digestion
• It helps to balance hormones

As we go throughout our lives, we come into contact with pollutants that wreak havoc on our skin by creating free radicals.

These atoms are highly charged and move through the cells rapidly. Additionally, on the lower end of the spectrum, they cause wrinkles, dull skin, and blemishes.

Avocados contain both vitamins C and E, which are two powerful antioxidants. Not only do they work to neutralize free radicals, they then act as a barrier. This barrier keeps hydration locked in, while the other nutrients provided by avocados help restore the skin.

Further, applying avocado can heavily contribute to improving the look of the signs of aging caused by free radicals.

As dead skin cells are sloughed away, and new, healthy layers fueled by the avocado emerge, the skin appears younger and more vibrant.

Last but certainly not least, this fruit is one of the best natural ways to moisturize the skin. The natural oils balance moisture in the skin to feel hydrated and plump without feeling heavy or cumbersome.

While a mashed avocado will do the job, mixing it with other moisturizing or toning compounds can multiply its effectiveness. The oleic acid contained in avocados hydrates the skin and promotes cell turnover. Cell turnover is when the skin removes dead and dying cells and replaces them with new, healthy cells. Consequently, newer skin looks healthy and vibrant.

This process slows down as we age, but avocados can help rev it back up!

Nutrient-Rich Superfood

Avocados are a powerhouse of nourishing Vitamins C and K, potassium, and folate. The flesh(or dark green outer layer) is the most nutrient-dense. Even though they are high in fat content, they contain monosaturated fats.

Monosaturated fats are good fats that can help decrease cholesterol levels. Likewise, they are a good substitution for using mayo or butter. Try and mix up your morning breakfast and substitute butter on your toast with an avocado spread.

Vitamins in Avocados

• 20% Folate
• 14% Potassium
• 14% Vitamin B5
• 17% Vitamin C
• 26% Vitamin K

About the Author
Kari Thomas wrote this article