Avocado Oil vs. Olive Oil: Which Is Healthier?

March 21, 2010 Email This Article Print This Article

Avocado oil is pressed from the soft flesh surrounding the seed or the pit of the avocado, while olive oil is pressed from the olive itself. Olive oil has long been promoted as one of the healthiest oils on the market, and while it is true that olive oil has many health benefits, and far outweighs most of the oils available, avocado oil may be the healthier option.

The Similarities of Avocado and Olive Oils

It is amazing to discover the number of similarities between these two oils. Both are high in monounsaturated fats, vitamin E and omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. The fatty acids found in these oils both help to reduce cholesterol, triglycerides, high blood blood pressure and help to prevent many diseases.

Both are high in antioxidants, which help to get rid of harmful free radicals which cause wrinkles and the overall aging of the body. Use them in your homemade lotions, shampoos and soaps to help your skin and hair looking their very best.

Both oils are cold pressed, and/or refined, and both appear darker in their most natural state. With each refining process they go through, they lose some of their valuable nutrients and color. However the lighter colors are cheaper for purchasing and are more suitable for cooking, and the darker colors are great in salads and dressings.

So Which Oil is Healthier?

Even though olive oil is high in valuable nutrients, avocado oil exceeds those nutrients in almost all areas. It has a much higher concentration of monounsaturated fats. Because of this it is able to penetrate deeper into the skin making it an ideal base for use in skin and massage lotions. Its healing and antibacterial properties are also higher as well as the ability to fight against cancer and other diseases.

Avocado oil acts as a carbohydrate and contains proteins which olive oil does not. Carbohydrates are essential as they are the main source of energy for the body.

Choose refined avocado oil for your cooking and baking because it has a much higher smoking point than olive oil. (The smoking point is the degree to which you can heat the oil before it begins to burn and smoke.) Avocado oil, depending on how refined it is, will not burn before it reaches a high temperature, somewhere between 490 degrees F and 520 degrees F. Olive oil, on the other hand, will burn at 410 degrees F. Once the oil begins to smoke it creates free radicals which are very harmful to your health and are a major cause of many diseases.

Keep in mind cold press avocado oil does not have such a high smoke point, so use it in all your salads and salad dressings as it contains the most nutrients.

Last but not least, avocado oil has the ability to naturally block the harmful rays of the sun better than any other oil available.

So whether you need oil for your lotions, hair, soaps or food, avocado oil is your best choice!

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