Avocados, or “alligator pears” as they are also known, are one of the most versatile and healthy foods on the planet. Avocado eaters who eat a healthy, balanced diet are considered to have more lustrous hair, smoother skin, stronger nails, fewer joint problems, slimmer bellies, less body odour, improved mental function and enhanced libido.

In the diet, avocados provide nutrition in the form of healthy fats and micronutrients, prevent aging and supply potassium, folate, antioxidants and oleic acid to the body- oleic acid is a healthy fat that reduces bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol in the body. Approximately 25% of your recommended daily allowance of potassium, which protects your heart and arteries, can be found in a cup of avocado as can 23% of heart-helping folate and damage-fighting antioxidants.

Avocados are known for being high in fat. However, what many people don’t consider is that it is healthy monounsaturated fat which is essential in the diet. Avocados also provide more protein then a large steak as cooked protein is denatured and unusable in the body.

Avocados contain vitamins A, C, E and K which help improve skin health and softness. Avocado is a great cleanser for both oily and dry skin; find out below how to make an appropriate face mask for your skin type:

Dry Skin: Take the flesh from one avocado and mash it with a fork in a bowl. Add one teaspoon of honey into the mash and mix thoroughly. Apply to your face and massage gently, leave on for 15 minutes and then rinse off with warm water.

Normal-Oily Skin: Take the flesh from one avocado and mash it with a fork in a bowl. Add one teaspoon of lemon juice into the mash and mix thoroughly. Apply to your face and massage gently, leave on for 15 minutes and then rinse off with warm water.

The peel of an avocado is also an excellent moisturiser as many of the oils are hidden in the skin; take the peel and gently massage your face for 2-3 minutes with the inside of it using upward strokes. Leave the oil on your skin for about 10 minutes and wash your face with water.

For an exfoliating scrub, use the pulp of one avocado, 1 egg white, 2 tablespoons of oatmeal and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Leave the mix on your face for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.

Avocado is also an excellent hair conditioner thanks to its plentiful amount of protein; to use as a hair mask take one avocado, half a teaspoon of olive oil and one egg yolk. Mash the mixture thoroughly in a bowl and apply to wet or damp hair and massage into scalp. Leave on for 20-30 minutes and rinse with warm water and shampoo your hair as usual.

Top Tips:

A ripe avocado will yield if you gently press it with your fingers.

To speed up ripening in avocados, keep them in a paper bag with some bananas.

To prevent avocados oxidising and turning brown, add lime of lemon juice to them after peeling.

Avocado should be eaten on an empty stomach as it takes approximately one-two hours to be digested in the stomach. Eating avocado with leafy greens, celery and cucumber will enhance the digestive process.

Avoid eating avocado within 20 minutes of eating sweet fruits and wait at least 3 hours before eating sweet fruit. Also do not eat with any other oily, fatty or high-protein foods such as seeds, nuts, coconut, olives, yogurt, cream, cheese or meat to avoid upsetting digestion.