Avocado: Benefits and Contraindications for Women and Men

Avocado

Avocados have only recently appeared on our tables, but they've quickly become an essential ingredient in many dietary dishes, thanks to their numerous beneficial properties and minimal contraindications. Thanks to their rich vitamin content, they quickly fill you up, promote weight loss, promote healthy skin, and have a pleasant, creamy taste.

Remember!

To ensure that the fruit brings maximum benefit to the body, it is important to note that moderation is very important when consuming it, otherwise its effect on health will be directly opposite.

It's also important to learn how to select an exotic product based on its appearance and master simple methods of preparing it: this will allow you to fully appreciate its health benefits.

Chemical composition and general beneficial properties of avocado

The fruit is a natural source of easily digestible fatty acids and essential vitamins. All parts of the plant, except the seed, are beneficial for health: the fruit, seeds, and leaves. A decoction made from the leaves and seeds is beneficial for gastrointestinal ailments, and the pulp has a positive, comprehensive effect on the body. It contains:

Vitamin E, which makes up 20% of the daily requirement in the diet, is beneficial for the skin: it prevents premature aging, saturates cells with oxygen, and actively fights stretch marks.
Beneficial properties
Vitamins K, F, and B help strengthen the immune system, protect against nervous exhaustion, and increase hemoglobin levels.
Potassium accelerates organic reactions in the body, thereby increasing endurance. It also normalizes kidney function and prevents edema.
Copper prevents the development of anemia, and iron helps form blood cells.
Oleic acid maintains normal cholesterol levels in the blood, prevents them from increasing, and breaks down accumulated cholesterol.
The amino acid L-carnitine burns fat, speeds up metabolism and promotes weight loss.

Vitamins, macro- and microelements	Amount in mg
B1	0.06
B2	0.04
B3	0.6
B5	1.0
B6	0.2
C	7.7
Potassium	280
Phosphorus	33
Calcium	15
Sulfur	15
Magnesium	10
Iron	1
Aluminum	0.8
Zinc	0.29
Copper	0.25
Iodine	0.002

The fruit's general beneficial properties are due to its high content of the antioxidant glutathione, lutein, and folic acid:

the digestive system is cleansed of waste and toxins;
the number of cholesterol cells decreases by a maximum of 3 times;
the body becomes resistant to ARVI pathogens;
blood pressure remains stable;
irritability and fatigue go away;
prevents deterioration of vision, strengthens the optic nerve in case of weakened vision;
increases endurance and improves resistance to stress;
protects the skin from drying out, peeling and inflammation;
smoothes out fine wrinkles and prevents the appearance of new ones.

The fruit is also beneficial for those trying to gain muscle mass. It is a valuable source of protein and is similar to animal meat. It is also worth including in the diet during the recovery period after bone injuries.

The benefits of avocado for women in weight loss and cosmetology

Due to the product's rich vitamin content, it is especially beneficial for women: it improves the condition of skin and hair, is used to produce cosmetics, and is included in many weight-loss programs.

Benefits of avocado oil for skin and hair

Avocado oil is beneficial for both improving the appearance of healthy hair and treating thin, brittle hair prone to hair loss.

Oil — The cosmetic product contains biostimulants, microelements, and amino acids that nourish the hair, strengthen the hair roots, and accelerate hair growth.

Regularly rubbing the oil in its pure form or adding it to shampoo gives excellent results after just one week of use:

the amount of dandruff decreases;
hair is protected from ultraviolet radiation;
the structure is restored after coloring and styling;
The strands become denser, resulting in volume.

Useful recipes for natural hair masks:

Mix kefir, honey, and oil in equal proportions, depending on the amount of hair you have. Comb your hair and massage the mixture into the roots, distributing any remaining hair with a comb. Wrap a warm towel around your head, and after 30 minutes, rinse the mask with warm water. This product is best suited for oily hair.
Mask with kefir, honey, and avocado oil
To promote hair growth, combine avocado and burdock oils in a 1:1 ratio, add 5 drops of jojoba oil, and massage into the roots. Any remaining oil can be applied to the ends or applied to your hands. Rinse the mask off with shampoo after 40 minutes.
If you have split ends, combine 2 tablespoons of avocado oil with the same amount of olive oil, add a spoonful of bay oil and 10 drops of liquid vitamin A. Apply the mixture to the ends for 1 hour.

How to Lose Weight with Avocados

Due to its calorie content, this fruit cannot be considered a complete dietary supplement, especially when eaten with bread, croutons, and fatty meat dishes. Its effectiveness in dieting lies in its normalizing gastrointestinal function, promoting the elimination of toxins and better digestion. Therefore, when trying to lose weight, it's important to follow a few rules:

Avoid eating more than 100 grams of this product per day. This amount will help you feel full faster, provide your body with nutrients, and won't be converted into fat.
It is best to add 20 g to small portions of boiled chicken or turkey breast.
Replace sweet tea, coffee and milk in your menu with avocado juice.

If you need to lose a small amount of weight in a short period of time, follow a diet for three days that allows you to lose 1.5 kg. This method should be used no more than a couple of times a year:

for breakfast, eat half an avocado with low-fat cottage cheese and drink green tea;
for lunch – 200 ml of vegetable broth, 200 g of salad, a boiled egg, a quarter of a fruit, cucumbers with herbs;
For dinner – a small piece of baked beef, a quarter of an avocado, washed down with a glass of kefir.

Contraindications and potential harm of avocado

Avoid including avocado in your diet if you have an intolerance to it, or if you have intestinal or stomach conditions, especially during an acute stage. For gallbladder and liver dysfunction, use only in very small quantities, and only if the condition is not severe.

During lactation, the product should not be consumed; it can only be introduced into the diet after breastfeeding has ended, otherwise milk supply will decrease significantly. The product should also not be included in children's diets. Only after three years of age can it be given in 10-20 g per week in pureed form, provided there is no allergy.

The product poses no health risks when consumed in small quantities. Consuming 500 grams or more of the fruit daily may cause side effects:

digestive problems;
stomach pain;
flatulence;
bloating;
constipation or diarrhea;
convulsions;
development of coronary heart disease (if predisposed to the disease).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deW4m7iWHug

Avocados are also harmful if you eat the pit, not the flesh. The pit contains many toxins that can be released and penetrate the flesh of the fruit when exposed to air. Therefore, the pit should be removed immediately after cutting the fruit and avoid attempting to break it and add it to food.

How to properly use the fruit for medicinal purposes

Only fresh and thoroughly peeled avocados can be used to improve symptoms. The body receives maximum beneficial nutrients whether used internally or externally.

Interesting!

The fruit is suitable for consumption only in its raw form, as it becomes bitter when cooked.

The most popular methods of preparation are pureeing, slicing into sandwiches with bread, and making smoothies.

How to peel a fruit?

Peeling isn't as difficult as it seems. Wash the avocado thoroughly and follow these instructions:

Place a napkin on the cutting board to prevent slipping;
place the fruit vertically on it and, holding the knife in your hand, make a cut starting from the narrower end of the fruit;
since it won’t be possible to cut the bone, make 2 very deep cuts on both sides of the avocado;
You need to divide it in half with your hands, slowly turning the halves from side to side in opposite directions.

One of the separated halves will contain a seed, which should be removed with a tablespoon—this is the most convenient method. You'll also need the same utensil for peeling. Carefully insert it between the skin and the flesh, and scrape out the flesh until it's either one solid piece or several smaller ones—the fruit is ready to eat.

Daily intake rate

Avocado is a high-calorie fruit (245 kcal per 100 g), comparable in nutrition to lean meat and vegetable oil. The average weight of a pitted avocado is 200 grams, which is the maximum daily intake. Dieters are advised not to consume more than 100 grams per day. Children should not be given more than 30 grams per day.

Important!

If you eat 3-5 pieces a day raw, you may feel a strong heaviness in the stomach, which will later result in the deposition of excess fat.

Avocado leaf infusion

The infusion is effective for dysentery and enterocolitis accompanied by diarrhea. For a two-week course of treatment, one of the following remedies is suitable, prepared according to the following recipes:

Pour 300 ml of water over a tablespoon of leaves and simmer for 8 minutes. Let the liquid steep for 2 hours, then strain.
Drink the resulting liquid half an hour before meals, half a glass 3 times a day.
Using the same proportions, you can make an infusion from the fruit seeds. Drink half a glass 30 minutes before meals.
Steep 6-7 large leaves in 1.5 liters of boiling distilled water and simmer over high heat for 10 minutes. Cool the infusion and consume throughout the day. This remedy is effective for cleansing the kidneys.

For gum treatment

A few drops of avocado oil can be added to mouthwash to prevent gum disease. To treat cavities, pyorrhea, and bleeding gums, it's recommended not only to eat the fruit but also to apply its pulp to the gums for a few minutes. A compress can also be made from the oil. Apply a small amount to a cotton ball and apply to the affected area for 2-3 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to choose a good fruit?

First, feel it: if your fingers leave indentations on the surface that smooth out immediately, the fruit is ripe. Also pay attention to the area under the stem: a quality avocado will be light yellow. If the skin is dark green, too soft, and spotted, the avocado is overripe and shouldn't be purchased.

Can diabetics eat fruit?

Avocados help control blood glucose levels, and they're low in carbohydrates. These foods are recommended for diabetics, but in small amounts: about 30 g per day.

How to store avocado?

Unripe fruit should be stored in a paper bag for up to 5 days, not in the refrigerator, and then eaten when ripe. Ripe fruit is best stored in a cool place or pantry, away from sunlight, at a temperature of 3-6˚C (3-6˚F). You can preserve the freshness of sliced, pitted ripe fruit by rubbing the flesh with lemon juice and covering it with plastic wrap.

Avocado is a healthy food used in cooking, cosmetology, and medicine. It has minimal contraindications, and when eaten in moderation, it becomes an excellent source of vitamins and helps improve overall health.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaRUUReS4aI