Health Benefits

• Avocados have more potassium than bananas.Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
  
  An avocado is a very healthy fruit, it has 25 essential nutrients including vitamins A, B, C, E, potassium, iron, and fiber just to name a few, according to the Health Online Zine. The fruit has so much fat that that it can be used as a meat substitute in a vegetarian or vegan diet, an average size avocado is around 300 calories, The Food Chart website states. When eaten they can help prevent cancer, lower cholesterol and regulate blood pressure. Avocados also strengthen your skin by stimulating collagen and can be used as a face mask when made into a paste.
  
  

Cosmetic Uses

• Persea gratissima, or avocado oil, conditions the skin.Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images
  
  While eating the avocado has variety of advantages, the oil is the critical ingredient in many face and hair products, the Personal Care Products Council states. Persea gratissima is a green and yellowish liquid in the avocado that's obtained by slicing the fruit thinly and pressing out the oil. It's used in bath products, eye makeup, lipstick, cleansing creams and sun tanning lotions just to name a few.
  
  

Cooking Oil Benefits

• Avocado oilcan be used as a cooking oil.BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty Images
  
  Because it is oil that comes from food, Persea gratissima is also used as cooking oil. Persea gratissima closely resembles olive oil and can serve as a substitute, according to Olivado, a distributor of avocado oil. The oil is very rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, extremely low in saturated fat and it contains no cholesterol. Avocado oil offers the same benefits as as an avocado in fruit form.
  
  

Types

• The Fuerte, top, and Hass avacados.Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
  
  Persea Americana, which originated in Mexico or South and Central America, is grown in states with warm climates such as California and Florida. There are several types of avocados grown worldwide with Hass, Fuerte and bacon being among the most popular, according to The George Mateljan Foundation. In the United States, Hass is the most popular type of avocado. Almost black in color and with pebbly skin, they're primarily grown in California.