The Astonishing Health Benefits of Almond Oil

Many health beneficial properties of almond oil were recognized even thousands of years ago. Almond oil is an integral part of Ayurvedic medicines. Our ancestors knew of such health benefits of almond oil as improvement of heart health, delaying ageing and maintaining sharp memory. Almond oil was valued for its ability to prevent intoxication and many more. What does the modern science say? What is almond oil good for?

Different almond oils

There are two types of almond oils, according to Wikipedia - bitter almond oil and sweet almond oil.

Bitter almond oil is derived from bitter almonds. It has a strong fragrant and is used for blends in aromatherapy. However, it can’t be applied on the skin. Bitter almond oil contains glycoside amygdalin which can release toxic hydrocyanic acid, glucose and benzaldehyde. Bitter almond oil is added to medicines because of its bactericidal, anesthetic, vermicidal, anti-carcinogenic and diuretic properties.

Sweet almond oil is extracted from the edible almond. There are various sweet almond oil benefits for health as well as for skin and hair. It is commonly used in cosmetics for its vitamin E and unsaturated fatty acids.

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Almond oil beneficial ingredients

Almond oil has proteins and certain minerals, for example calcium, magnesium, phosphorous and iron. Calcium benefits for teeth, joints and bones, phosphorous – for teeth, magnesium participates in metabolic processes, together with vitamin B6 it is beneficial for the nervous system. There are nearly 36 mg of phytosterols per tablespoon of almond oil, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture Nutrient Data Laboratory states. Phytosterols help reduce high cholesterol as they inhibit its absorption.

Almond oil is rich in vitamin E, a powerful anti-oxidant and an essential vitamin. A research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has stated that as almonds are high in bioavailable vitamin E, the rise in their intake enlarges the resistance of low density lipoproteins against oxidation.

Fat content as one of the benefits of almond oil

Almond oil contains 120 calories of fat in 1 tablespoon of almond oil. It possesses large amounts of unsaturated fats, low levels of saturated fats, and it is cholesterol free. All fats in almond oil are considered “good fats” and may help lessen the risk of a heart disease, as the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition states. Almond oil is a source of Omega-9 fatty acids good for heart, nervous system, hair and skin. Omega-6 fatty acids are essential for the body, they maintain healthy brain tissue, help avoid brain malfunctions. Omega-6 fatty acids in almond oil assist in hair-loss reduction and hair roots strengthening. Several researches show that using almond oil instead of animal fat with lead to lessening total cholesterol levels, triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins (LDL). Moreover, almond oil increases high density lipoproteins (HDL), so good cholesterol levels remain stable.

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Other benefits of almond oil are:

•  Almond oil benefits for the digestive system as well.
• When applied in aromatherapy almond oil has cleansing and calming effects.
• It also reduces pain and used as a painkiller.
• Usage of almond oil gives relief to tense muscles.

Warning

It is recommended to take almond oil in moderation to feel the benefits of almond oil and not to accumulate fats in the body.

People allergic to nuts should avoid almond oil. In any case, if you want to consume almond oil and apply it to skin start from it small amount to check for an allergy reaction.

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