The incredible benefits of avocado for women - myth or reality?

Just a few years ago, avocados could only be tasted in exotic countries or restaurants. However, now this fruit (botanically it is more of a berry, but in everyday life it can be called a fruit) is often found on store shelves and is gradually becoming part of the diet of Russians, especially women of all ages. We will talk about the composition of avocado, its benefits for the female body at different stages of life and its use for cosmetic purposes.

Chemical composition and properties of avocado

Avocado (butter fruit, alligator pear) has a rich composition that has a beneficial effect on the human body.

The pulp of a fruit weighing 200 g contains the most of the daily requirement:

• vitamin K - 52%;
• folic acid - 40%;
• vitamin C - 34%;
• vitamin B5 - 28%;
• vitamin B6 - 26%;
• vitamin E - 20%;
• potassium - 28%

The composition also includes copper, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, omega-6, pantothenic and oleic acids. 100 g of pulp contains 27% of the daily fiber requirement.

Calorie content and BZHU

The calorie content and nutritional value of avocados depend on the variety. On average, 100 g of fresh product contains from 160 to 220 kcal, 20 g of fat, 2 g of protein and 6 g of carbohydrates.

The benefits and harms of avocados for women

Doctors and nutritionists unanimously recommend avocados for the prevention of many diseases. The nutritional value and composition of the fruit, rich in vitamins and microelements, make it possible to use avocados at any age and in any state of health.

Medicinal properties for various diseases

Thanks to the components that make up avocado, it has a healing effect on the body for various diseases:

1. Vitamin K helps normalize the functioning of the kidneys and liver, participating in cleansing the body of toxins. In addition, it is responsible for the synthesis of platelets, maintaining blood clotting at a normal level. Avocado is the basis of the diet for hemophilia.
2. Folic acid helps relieve nervous tension, strengthen the immune system and prevent the development of bacterial and viral diseases. Normalizes the functioning of the digestive organs and lungs, helping in the transport of oxygen to the organs. Reduces the risk of blood clots and helps achieve results when losing weight, speeding up metabolism.
3. Potassium strengthens the walls of blood vessels and controls the functioning of the cardiovascular system. According to the World Health Organization, regular consumption of avocados reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes by 25%.
4. Polyunsaturated fats, magnesium and saponins have a beneficial effect on bones, cartilage and joints. This occurs due to the strengthening of bone tissue and the normalization of metabolic processes in it. According to Brazilian scientists, this effect is long-term.
5. Avocado is used in the treatment of skin diseases — it restores the natural lipid barrier of the epidermis.
6. High iron content Suitable for the treatment and prevention of anemia.
7. Suitable for feeding people with diabetes because it normalizes blood sugar levels.

Benefits for different ages

Avocado is an ideal product for women's health of all ages. The greatest value is a large amount of folic acid, which affects many vital processes of a woman’s body. Avocado is involved in the prevention of osteoporosis, which develops against the background of premenopause and menopause. The fruit slows down skin aging, the appearance of wrinkles and hair loss.

By maintaining sufficient levels of oxygen in the blood and internal organs, avocado fruits help minimize the effects of stress during menopause, improve the general condition of the body and increase performance.

Contraindications

The list of contraindications for use is short:

• individual intolerance;
• child under 2 years of age (may cause stomach upset);
• chronic or acute liver diseases;
• allergies to citrus fruits, birch pollen, and latex (this is explained by the similarity of the allergenic proteins of avocados and the rubber from which latex is made);
• tendency to diarrhea and other gastrointestinal disorders.

Avocado pits and peels can harm the human body. - You can’t eat them. They contain toxic substances that can cause poisoning and gastrointestinal problems.

In what form and quantity to eat for maximum benefit?

To prevent avocado from losing its beneficial properties, nutritionists and doctors recommend consuming it fresh, for example, making a paste for sandwiches or adding it to a salad. However, you shouldn't get carried away.

The optimal dose for an adult is one medium-sized ripe fruit daily or every other day. In this case, the body will receive maximum benefit and will be able to absorb all trace elements and vitamins.

Avocado for women during pregnancy

During pregnancy, regular consumption of avocados will provide the woman’s body with essential microelements and vitamins:

1. High folic acid content will help prevent fetal development defects. It also reduces the risk of developing pyelonephritis and maintains normal uterine tone, the strengthening of which becomes a common cause of miscarriage, especially in the early stages.
2. Monounsaturated fats will help the placenta, brain and visual apparatus of the fetus to form correctly.
3. Potassium normalizes the functioning of the heart of the pregnant woman and the fetus.
4. Due to the stress on the body, pregnant women experience deterioration in vision. The carotenoids contained in the oily fruit will maintain visual acuity at the same level.

The optimal dose for a pregnant woman is half an average fetus every other day.

When breastfeeding

Pediatricians recommend introducing avocados into the diet of a nursing woman two months after giving birth. Avocado improves intestinal function and, due to its high iron content, prevents the development of anemia. At the same time, it will not harm the baby; on the contrary, it will soften the symptoms of colic in a newborn.

Beauty benefits

Avocados benefit more than just your internal organs. Its positive effect is also noticeable on a woman’s appearance.

For hair

Vitamins and microelements in the “alligator pear” strengthen follicles, reducing hair loss and premature thinning. The roots receive more nutrients, which has a positive effect on hair growth and thickness.

For skin

Vitamin K, folic acid and B vitamins make the skin elastic and moisturized. Expression and age wrinkles are smoothed out, the natural oiliness of the skin is normalized.

Important! For long-lasting and effective results, it is not enough to just eat avocados. It is worth paying attention to cosmetic products, for example, shampoos and masks, with avocado squeeze.

For weight loss

Despite its high calorie content, it can and should be consumed during a diet. The high content of L-carnitine activates fat synthesis, which is actively involved in lipid metabolism, which is responsible for energy. That is, the substance acts as a conductor, accelerating the movement of fatty acids in the metabolic process. Penetrating into cellular mitochondria, acids are burned and converted into energy reserves.

Avocado promotes rapid digestion of proteins, thereby reducing the load on the kidneys. It also neutralizes bad cholesterol and promotes the production of natural insulin, normalizing metabolism. And thanks to the nutritional value of the fruit, you can reduce your serving size.

Application in cosmetology

The rich composition of avocado has led to the widespread use of its oil and pulp in modern cosmetology. An extract from it is added to shampoos, masks and creams.

Reference. Avocado fatty acids have a similar composition to those that make up the lipid membrane of human skin.

Such “kinship” with the help of a mask allows you to maintain skin tone, restoring its elasticity and youth.

The components that make up the pulp also play a huge role:

• vitamin A triggers active cell regeneration;
• fatty acids “repair” holes in the lipid barrier of the epidermis;
• linoleic acid (omega-6) regulates the natural oiliness of the skin;
• vitamin E, a natural antioxidant, protects the skin from phytoaging and smoothes wrinkles;
• vitamin C, niacin and riboflavin inhibit natural aging by nourishing and moisturizing cells; vitamin C also lightens age spots.

You can test the cosmetic power of avocado with a simple mask. For it you need to grind some avocado pulp and half a ripe banana in a blender. Apply the resulting homogeneous puree to previously cleansed facial skin, hold for 20 minutes, and then rinse with warm water. This mask is suitable for any skin type and has a softening, nourishing and moisturizing effect.

To restore hair follicles, saturate them with useful substances, and give hair natural shine and smoothness, you can prepare a homemade conditioning balm. Grind half an avocado in a blender and mix with regular yogurt to the consistency of thick sour cream. The resulting mass is applied to the roots and distributed along the entire length of the hair with soft massage movements. Keep the balm for 30-40 minutes and then wash off with shampoo. To improve the therapeutic effect, the hair can be wrapped in film and a towel.

How to choose and store correctly

When choosing an avocado, be guided by the color of the skin and the softness of the fruit. The bright green color of the peel indicates immaturity; choose dark green fruits, without signs of mechanical damage or black spots (characteristic of overripeness). When choosing an avocado, press it lightly. A suitable fruit should be slightly pressed, while maintaining elasticity. An overripe avocado has pockets of air between the flesh and the skin, called “air pockets.”

Store ripe avocados should be refrigerated for 3-5 days. To increase this period by 2-3 days, wrap the fruits in film or paper.However, when dark spots first appear, avocado must be consumed so that it does not have time to spoil.

Sliced ​​avocado quickly oxidizes in air and darkens. Place unused half in a container with a lid or cover with cling film. In this form, the product can be stored for no more than a day.

Attention! If you bought an unripe fruit, put it in a paper bag with a banana or apple and put it in a dark place. Check your avocados regularly. Once it becomes soft, it can be eaten. In this case, the refrigerator is prohibited, since low temperatures will slow down the ripening process.

Overripe fruit can be saved using the freezer. Grind the pulp in a blender and place in a container or bag. Avocados can be stored in this form for up to six months, adding puree to smoothies or homemade sauces.

Conclusion

Avocado, although it recently appeared on Russian shelves, is already firmly entrenched on the podium. A correctly selected fruit will delight you not only with its taste, but also with its benefits. The rich chemical composition has a beneficial effect on the woman’s body, normalizing the functioning of many systems - digestive, cardiovascular, nervous, endocrine, etc.

The usefulness of the product during pregnancy is due to the high content of folic acid, which is responsible for the proper development of the fetus and maintaining the mother’s body.