By:   May Lindstrom

“If you can’t eat it, neither should your skin”. Avocado takes this philosophy to a whole new level of delicious as a beautifying treat from the inside out.

Creamy and rich, avocado is affectionately referred to by nutritionists as “green gold”. It’s no wonder -- a serving provides nearly 20 essential nutrients including vitamin K, dietary fiber, potassium, folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin C and copper.

Toss this nutrient powerhouse onto all your salads to maximize the good-for-you impact. Recent research has shown that absorption of two key carotenoid antioxidants—lycopene and beta-carotene—increases significantly when fresh avocado or avocado oil is incorporated into an otherwise avocado-free salad. Combining one cup of fresh avocado to a salad of romaine lettuce, spinach, and carrots increases absorption of carotenoids between 200 and 400 percent.

Best of all, nutrients and oils in the delicious avocado pack a huge beauty punch. For centuries, ancient Mayan, Aztec, and Incan women have celebrated the avocado as a star player in their beauty rituals to rejuvenate the skin, reduce eye puffiness, heal damaged hair and contribute to the overall glow of good health.

Treat yourself head to toe with these incredibly quick and easy tips for outer beauty:

Puffy Eyes
Slice a peeled avocado half into quarter-inch crescent-shapes. Lie down with a few slices under each eye and rest for around 20 minutes.

Skin Nourishment
Simply mash half an avocado and spread evenly on your clean face. Allow to remain for 15 minutes, then rinse off with warm water. This is best for dry skin types. For oily skin, add a teaspoon of lemon juice and an egg white to the mixture.

Daily moisturizer
Save the peel from your avocado and gently massage your face with the insides. You can do this at night and let the goodness penetrate your skin overnight, or apply it in the morning before applying your makeup and let it sit for just a few minutes before rinsing with cool water.

Indulge Your Whole Body
Mash the fruit of an entire avocado and blend with honey before giving yourself a rub from head to toe (you can even include your hair for luscious locks!). To make this even more beneficial, use the pit to gently apply pressure to tight muscles and to ease tension in the face and jaw. Enjoy this sensual fruit inside and out!