Is Avocado Oil Paleo?
What is Avocado Oil?
As the name suggest, this is simply the oil pressed from avocados. Originally, the oil was extracted for cosmetic uses (it gets absorbed by your skin very quickly), but now it’s become a popular cooking oil due to its health benefits and high smoke point (often over 400F or 200C).
Like most oils, extraction of the oil can result in a good unrefined form and in a bad refined form.
For use in cosmetics, extraction is done by chemical solvents to get a more refined oil. As the introduction a 2004 study stated:
“The residues left by such solvents represent a risk to the consumer’s health; also, the temperatures applied during the recovery process may destroy some of the nutrients in the oil.”
For most food purposes, cold press techniques are now employed by most producers. This often involves putting large amounts of pressure on the avocado flesh to separate the oil from the water and the solids. However, it’s not a very high production process, which is why there are still inventors looking to improve the productiveness of the process.
And you can experience for yourself just how little oil comes out of one avocado with this do-it-yourself tutorial on how to extract avocado oil at home.
Is Avocado Oil Paleo?
Quick Answer: Yes
Explanation:
As with all edible oils, one of the main things we look at to determine whether it’s Paleo or not, is to look at the fat composition of the oil. For avocado oil, the breakdown is as follows:
70% monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA),
12% Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)
1% Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)
12% saturated fatty acids
Like olive oil, avocado oil is super high in monounsaturated fatty acids. I’m sure you’ve all heard the “heart healthy” chants surrounding monounsaturated fats, so I won’t go into too much detail in this article about why it’s so. Instead, I’ll leave you with a quote from Robb Wolf’s book, The Paleo Solution:
“Indeed, MUFA’s are pretty impressive with regards to their benefits: Improved insulin sensitivity, improved glacagon response, and decreased cholesterol levels.”
How To Choose The Best Avocado Oil
1. Make sure it’s unrefined and extracted using a cold press process. This ensures that the oil is less oxidized.
2. Buy avocado oil stored in dark containers (and then store them in dark places) again to make sure they don’t get oxidized before you eat them!
Our Suggestion For Avocado Oil on Amazon: La Tourangelle Avocado Oil
Here Are Some Paleo Recipes Using Avocado Oil:
1. Cinnamon Raisin Toast Sticks
3. Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Cherry Sauce
6. Paleo Ginger Tamarind Grilled Chicken
7. Strawberry Salad With Balsamic Dressing
8. Grilled Cauliflower with Basil and White Balsamic Vinegar