Almonds are jam-packed with numerous vitamins, minerals and myriad beneficial qualities that can help us improve our skin, hair, and health.
They are extensively cultivated from ‘Almond’ tree (Scientific Name: Prunus amygdalus). These tree species originated from Iran and then spread to the rest of central and south Asian countries. The word ‘almond’ is derived from the old French word ‘almande’ or ‘alemande’.
The almond fruit is initially covered with a hard shell and is not the true nut. After an extensive process of de-shelling the almond’s hard shell, the actual almond nut is extracted. This nut is widely sold in all countries. Some people even buy blanched almonds which are made by soaking the almonds in water overnight, to peel off the exterior brown layer of the almond and to reveal the milky white embryo of the fruit. Milk can be extracted from almonds and it’s consumed and used by Vegans or people suffering from a dairy allergy.
Almond Oil – The Complete Pack
The oil extracted from the nut is popularly known as ‘Almond Oil’. Almond oil has abundant beneficial qualities which help our skin, hair, and health in multiple ways. Let’s have a look at some of the numerous benefits of almond oil.
Oil is extracted from almonds by crushing or breaking them down and then proceeding to go through an extensive process of Distillation. And then after the oil is finally obtained, the oil is cooled and condensed. After this process, the almond oil is ready to be sold in the markets.
There are many types of almond that are cultivated. But there are only two prime types of almond that are used to make oil from them.
1) Sweet Almond Oil
This type of oil is made from sweet almonds. These are the same almonds which are edible and consumed by us. The oil also has a slightly sweet taste to it which is much better than some other oils. This oil can also be used for cooking.
2) Bitter Almond Oil
This type of oil is made from bitter almonds. As the name suggests, these almonds are extremely bitter to taste. This type of oil is never consumed or used in recipes. This specific type of almond contains hydrogen cyanide which is a very poisonous substance and therefore cannot be consumed. Yet bitter almond oils are used for other jobs.
Let’s get started with the many benefits of almond oil.
Benefits OF Almonds For Your Health
1) Lowers Cholesterol Levels
Almonds contain numerous minerals, proteins and most importantly it contains vitamin E. Vitamin E can reduce cholesterol levels in your body. Consuming almonds or almond oil has been proven to lower the LDL (Low – Density Lipoprotein) Cholesterol levels, mostly known as ‘Bad Cholesterol’.
Almonds and almond oil also prevent and reduce the chances of LDL (Low – Density Lipoprotein) Cholesterol or Bad Cholesterol from getting oxidized which can be quite harmful for our consumption ( 1 ).
2) Reduces Risk of Heart Disease
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As almonds and almond oil have been proven to reduce LDL (Low – Density Lipoprotein) Cholesterol or Bad Cholesterol levels in your body, the risk of heart diseases also gets reduced by a majority.
Almonds also comprise of polyphenol antioxidants that are proven to improve the levels of blood lipids. As almonds also contain various minerals and vitamins, the evidence of an increase of antioxidants in the blood can be noticed after regular consumption of almonds or almond oil. This also lowers the risk of coronary heart disease by a mile ( 2 ).
Almonds also reduce blood pressure levels and improve the blood flow in your body, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular or heart diseases ( 3 ).
3) Controls Blood Sugar
Almonds are a rich source of magnesium, healthy unsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and antioxidants. These qualities have been proven to be very effective for blood sugar patients. Almond effectively lowers blood sugar levels and improves insulin levels in our body.
Diabetes is a grave health concern which causes blood pressure and blood sugar levels to be extremely high in your body. Also in diabetes, the body is incapable of producing insulin by itself, which effectively lowers blood sugar levels in your body and causes an imbalance.
Almonds are a rich source of proteins, magnesium, and minerals. Magnesium has been proven to reduce the risk of diabetes. A lot of diabetes medicines or tablets contain magnesium as the main element in them. Eating Almonds is a great way of ingesting Magnesium naturally into your body ( 4 ).
4) Treats Earaches
Earaches are a very common problem affecting people almost of all age groups right from infants, teens to the elderly.
Sweet Almond Oil has been observed to relieve you from earaches and also dissolve ear wax. Sweet almond oil helps in eliminating blockage in the tubes inside your ear and also softens hardened ear wax.
Using sweet almond oil for treating your earache has been proved to be a hundred percent safe.
If you suffering from an earache or ear pain, just warming 1 teaspoon of sweet almond oil over warm water and gently putting it in your ear (with the help of a dropper) can relieve you from the pain. Let the warm sweet almond oil slide in your ear canal and work its magic to cure your earache or ear pain.
5) Helps Lose Weight
Almonds are a rich source of proteins, fibers, vitamins, and minerals. Almonds are not high in carbohydrates. Therefore consuming almonds or almond oil can successfully help you shed those extra pounds.
Though almonds are high in calories, they are filled with healthy fats that increase the feeling of fullness, controlling your appetite and helping you effectively lose weight ( 5, 6 , 7 ).
Consuming almonds regularly (in any form), practicing a healthy lifestyle that includes consuming a healthy balanced diet and regular exercise will definitely help you lose weight in a fit and safe way.
6) Other Cures
Almonds or almond oil are a rich source of vitamin E, vitamin K, other vitamins, minerals like magnesium and calcium and also antioxidants. As it is thoroughly packed with beneficial qualities, almonds and almond oil help in curing many other diseases.
Almonds and almond oil can reduce inflammation and pain in your joints and also cure a lot of age-related diseases.
There is also scientific evidence to suggest that Almonds can prevent and also cure Alzheimer’s disease to a certain extent. ( Alzheimer is an untreatable disease that leads to a considerable loss in a person’s memories and cognitive abilities.)
How To Consume Almond Oil?
Almond Oil can be consumed in many ways. First of all, always ensure that the almond oil you are going to consume is labeled as ‘edible’ or ‘food grade’. The almond oil which is labeled as ‘forest essentials’ would be a better choice compared to normal almond oils; as forest-essential food products are usually natural and organic food products.
The first way to consume almond oil is by having it directly from the spoon. A spoonful of almond oil every day is the simplest and easiest way to incorporate almond oil in your diet. A spoonful of almond oil is enough to enhance vitamin E, vitamin K, polyunsaturated fat, and phytosterols along with other minerals in your body.
The second way to incorporate almond oil is to use refined almond oil for cooking purposes. You can use it either to cook, sauté or fry any food item. You can also drizzle it in salads and use it as salad dressings or marinades. You can also use it in smoothies. As smoothies contain a lot of other ingredients, the prominent taste of the almond oil will be disguised by other flavors and necessary vitamins of the almond oil will also go into your body. A win-win situation.
Last way to consume almond oil is to take almond oil supplements or capsules. Only use almond oil capsules or supplements after consulting with your Dietician or Doctor.
Benefits OF Almond Oil For Your Hair
1) Reduces Dandruff
Many people confuse psoriasis with dandruff. The main difference between these two scalp issues is that psoriasis is a serious scalp infection that may require a consultation and treatment by the doctor.
Dandruff, on the other hand, is a common scalp condition where one suffers from extremely dry scalp and flakes of dry skin on scalp and hair.
It can also cause itchiness on your scalp and hair. Rubbing dandruff affected areas with almond oil can help reduce and even vanish dandruff after some time.
2) Increases Hair Growth
Oiling and massaging your hair with almond oil has always been a very common practice that has been practiced since olden times. It is a very effective way to increase hair growth.
Massaging your scalp and hair with almond oil increases blood circulation in your hair and helps the hair follicles grow rapidly thereby increasing hair growth.
Continue the ancient practice of oiling and massaging your hair with almond oil and see the rapid growth of your hair.
3) Prevents Spilt Ends
Almond Oil contains a lot of vitamins, minerals, and proteins that help in treating the damaged condition of your hair. Almond oil consists of Stearic acid, Oleic acid, Linoleic acid, Alpha-Linoleic acid and some other fatty acids that benefit your hair massively.
These fatty acids help in repairing your damaged hair from within. It also strengthens your hair, prevents breakage of hair, thereby preventing hair loss.
As it strengthens your hair, it reduces the possibility of split ends and makes your hair strong. Rub almond oil on your palms and apply it on your hair and scalp, this will help them retain the original non-damaged, healthy and nourished look.
4) Makes Your Hair Healthy And Shiny
As mentioned above, the almond oil prevents breakage of hair, prevents hair loss, prevents split ends and strengthens your hair; almond oil also makes your hair healthy and shiny.
The vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and proteins in almond oil seem to work like magic while healing damaged hair and making it healthier, longer and shinier. Gently applying almond oil on your hair will make it shinier while applying it on your scalp will make it healthier.
Almond oil will nourish, hydrate and moisturize your hair from within and make it regain its lustrous state.
5) Heals Scalp Infection and Inflammation
Our scalp suffers from many unknown infections that may even become harmful in the long run. Scalp infections are caused by external bacteria and fungus entering your hair. Some common scalp infections that people suffer from are psoriasis, impetigo, folliculitis, scalp eczema, and other such infections.
Symptoms of scalp infections include itching in your hair and scalp, redness on the surface of your scalp, pus-filled boils on the surface of your scalp and even slight bleeding from your scalp if you scratch your scalp hard or roughly. Scalp inflammation also known as folliculitis is a condition where your scalp develops small red bumps that are very itchy. It can also cause temporary hair loss.
The treatment of such common scalp infections and inflammations has been simplified by using almond oil. Almond oil has vitamin E, vitamin K, omega-9 fatty acids and anti-oxidants that help treat and heal infections caused by external bacteria or fungus.
Just taking a little bit of almond oil and then rubbing it on your scalp will help treat scalp infections really quickly. Massaging your scalp and hair with almond oil will also increase blood circulation in your head. This also relieves stress and makes you feel at ease. Regularly applying almond oil and then washing your hair will help the scalp infections and inflammations disappear in no time. It will be better to consult a doctor if the scalp infections and inflammations don’t go away even after trying the almond oil treatment.
Benefits OF Almond Oil For Your Skin :
1) Removes Tan
Almond oil has many beneficial properties that help in removing tan from your skin and it also protects your skin from the harmful Ultraviolet Rays (UV Rays). Almond oil has natural properties that act as an organic sunscreen which makes you want to discard all your chemical-laden store bought sunscreens.
Why use a chemically made sun cream when you can use a naturally made organic sunscreen? The next time you step out of the house, remember to apply a light layer of almond oil on your face. It will not only protect you from the sun but also give a beautiful glowing sheen on your face.
2) Treats Skin Rashes
As almond oil has a lot of anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant properties, it is great for healing skin rashes or any kind of skin infections. Psoriasis and Eczema are the very common skin infections or skin issues that affect numerous people all year around.
These skin issues or infections and skin rashes are normally caused when the skin is not receiving a lot of moisture and is extremely dry. This is where when almond oil comes to help. Almond oil is very nourishing and moisturizing and will hydrate your dry skin and will heal your skin rashes or infections.
Apply and rub almond oil gently on the parts affected by rashes or infections. Repeat twice a day to see visible results.
3) Moisturizes Your Lips
When winters arrive, it brings along the annoying issue of dry and chapped lips. Some people face the issue of dry and chapped lips even in summer due to the hot and dry weather.
Not to worry because almond oil is one such moisturizer that helps your lips regain its original soft and supple state. Almond oil also makes your lips pink, removes dead skin cells and makes it supple and soft. Just rub a bit of almond oil twice a day, once in the morning and once during bedtime, and you’ll notice the change in the texture of your lips soon.
4) Helps Brighten Your Skin
Almond oil is filled with beneficial properties like vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin E, fatty acids, zinc, and other minerals. These qualities make almond oil the perfect oil to be used on your face.
Your face has really sensitive skin and requires gentle treatment. And almond oil does exactly that. It is different from other oils and doesn’t make your skin greasy. It neither clogs the pores on the surface of your skin nor makes your skin oilier.
Instead, almond oil makes your skin brighter, radiant and maintains a balanced complexion. It also works as an anti-aging tool and reduces wrinkles and fine lines. Applying a light coat of almond oil before you go to bed every night, can do wonders for your skin. You shall be able to notice visible changes in no time.
5) Helps Reduce Acne and Pimples
We already are aware that almond oil is full of antibacterial properties along with vitamin E which help in controlling the spread of acne and pimples on your face.
Vitamin E prevents sebum (excessive oil) production on your face, which in turn helps in controlling the eruption of acne and pimples. Unlike other oils, almond oil doesn’t clog your pores and instead removes the dead and dry skin cells from your pores to prevent the growth of acne or pimple-causing bacteria.
6) Can Also Be Used As a Makeup Remover
Lastly, instead of using chemical-laden makeup removers, it is better to let your skin be free and use natural make up removers. Almond oil works great as a makeup remover. The fatty acids in the almond oil work well as a makeup remover and simultaneously also moisturize your skin in order to prevent your skin from being too dry and dull.
Just dab some almond oil on to a cotton pad and wipe your face using that cotton pad. Wash with some lukewarm water to get rid of any leftover makeup and pat your face dry with a clean towel. Lastly, finish off by applying a light layer of almond oil to add that hydrating and healthy sheen to your skin.
Side Effects Of Almond Oil :
As almond is a natural component, the risks of getting side effects are extremely low. Beware using almond oil in any form if you have any kind of nut allergy.
Also, using any product excessively can naturally cause issues for you.
Using and consuming almond oil in excess quantities can lead to:
• Nausea and puking
• Stomach ache
• Itching
• Diarrhea
• Shortness of Breath
Be aware while purchasing Almond Oil and choose the right type of oil. Don’t buy or use bitter almond oil for consumption. The people with pancreatitis are advised not to consume almond oil as it might disrupt their system.
Don’t use almond oil excessively as it might lead to problems. Always consult your doctor or dietician before consuming it.
We hope this article helped you in knowing more the numerous benefits of almond oil. Make good use of this beneficial oil and treat your health, hair, and skin in myriad ways so that they all regain their original healthy states.