The Power of Avocados

Avocados are packed full of healthy goodness and a source of healthy fats, but recently this gorgeous green fruit has been demonised in the media. The boom in avocados has said to have caused environmental damage in regions like Michoacán because of their huge water demand and fuelling of deforestation. But does this mean we shouldn’t eat avocado? Of course not! It just means when picking our source we should try our best to ensure the fruit is produced ethically and sustainably.

Supply chains are in need of better monitoring to ensure workers’ rights are respected and there are concerns drug cartels are involved in the food chain in Mexico. So we recommend opting to buy organic and fair trade avocados when possible. Lucky for us the European avocado harvesting season has just started and buying avocados from European countries can help avoid the sustainability concerns because of tighter restrictions in these countries.

So why do we love avocados? Firstly, they are delicious! Whether you are having on toast with a pinch of salt, making our delicious avocado pesto or making guacamole for a Mexican inspired dinner, this fruit makes a healthy and yummy addition to any plate.

Avocados are a source of many essential vitamins, including vitamin C, E, K and B6. Vitamin C gives your immune system a boost and can help reduce skin wrinkling. Vitamin E is an antioxidant which helps reduce cell damage, including skin cell damage. Vitamin K helps heal wounds quickly and can help your bone health. Vitamin B6 is used to store energy and form your red blood cells, often vegans can lack essential B vitamins because they are often found in meat and dairy, so eating plenty of fruit and veg containing B vitamins is very important.

They also provide riboflavin, niacin and folate, which are B vitamins. Folate can help give your mental health a boost as scientists have found a link between low folate levels and depression, looking after our mental health is as important as our physical health and eating a balanced diet can help us do so.

Avocados contain countless other vitamins and minerals which are essential for various functions. They contain high levels of healthy fats which can help keep us full for long and slows down the breakdown of carbohydrates, helping to stabilise our blood sugar. They are also good for the heart because they help maintain healthy cholesterol levels. It is even thought they can help reduce the risk of some cancers!

Avocado is also beneficial in skincare! They contains many nutrients which help to nourish and moisturise the skin and these are easily absorbed into the outer layer of skin, helping to form new, soft skin. All the essential antioxidants and vitamins they contain also help relieve inflammation, which can help reduce the redness associated with acne. Avocado can also help your skin recover from wound s and sunburn. They can even help reduce the appearance of ageing!

Avocado butter is made from avocados through hydrogenation. Its melting temperature is at the exact same temperature as your body, meaning when applied it melts and spreads well over your skin. This butter contains all the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of avocados and is a powerful and nutritious ingredient to use in your transition to a more natural and eco-friendly lifestyle.

Here at Gaia and Vie we love the little green fruit and have a very exciting new product on the way, using avocado butter! We can’t wait to share this with you and provide your skin with all the wonderful properties associated with avocados!