Sweet Almond Oil Benefits
Sweet almond oil is a potent essential oil used for treating dry and sun-damaged skin and hair, lightening the skin, acting as a gentle cleanser, preventing acne, strengthening the nails, and helping with hair loss. Sweet almond oil also has many other health benefits which include promoting weight loss, lowering bad cholesterol, protecting the heart, reducing the risk of diabetes, and boosting the health of your liver and colon.
What Is Sweet Almond Oil?
Sweet almond oil is the essential oil of sweet almonds that is extracted through an oil distillation process but it can also be extracted with an almond kernel press. This concentrated oil is packed with saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats, the latter two in notably higher levels than the former.
Sweet Almond Oil Nutrition Facts
This oil is particularly high in vitamin E, supplying over 200% of your daily requirement in 100 grams. Sweet almond oil is also rich in vitamin K and essential B-complex vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, and folate. It has high levels of omega-6 fatty acids which is excellent for strengthening hair from the roots and for supple skin.
Sweet almond oil is a rich source of minerals like calcium, zinc, manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium. Almonds contain L-carnitine and phenylalanine, the chemicals that improve cognitive function and enhance mood. The phenylalanine in this quick-absorbing oil is carried through the skin to support the secretion of mood-boosting hormones, including dopamine and adrenaline.
Health Benefits Of Sweet Almond Oil
The most important health benefits of sweet almond oil include protecting the skin from damage, moisturizing the face, lightening the skin, reducing inflammation, preventing premature aging, boosting hair health, and strengthening the nails, among others.
Prevents Premature Aging
The regular use of this essential oil can help you look your youthful best. The antioxidant potential of vitamin E, certain fatty acids, and other active ingredients in almond oil neutralizes free radicals before they can cause issues like skin elasticity, wrinkles, and age spots.
Relieves Inflammatory Conditions
If you suffer from inflammatory conditions of any kind – either internally or on the skin – sweet almond oil can be a fast and effective remedy. If you apply almond oil to patches of eczema, psoriasis or rosacea, among other inflammatory conditions, it can quickly stimulate the healing process and mitigate the allergic response in that part of the skin. Similarly, if you consume small amounts of sweet almond oil, it can help to eliminate inflammation in the gut, helping to regulate digestive health.
Boosts Cardiovascular Health
If consumed internally, sweet almond oil can have a major impact on your heart health, as it can help to rebalance your overall cholesterol levels and minimize your risk of certain cardiovascular conditions, such as heart attacks and strokes, thanks to its high omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid levels.
Skin Lightening
Sweet almond oil can work as an excellent skin lightener and treat bad sunburns, skin coloration disorders, under-eye circles, scars or other blemishes that you want to eliminate. Apply a few drops to the affected area and gently massage the oil into the spot. Repeating this process 1-2 times once per every day for a week will give your skin a more even and balanced color profile.
Reduces Puffy Eyes and Dark Circles
Pat some sweet almond oil on the eye area for a wonderful natural solution to crow’s feet and puffy eyes. Do this every night before going to bed, carefully avoiding direct contact with your eyes, and allow it to work as your sleep.
Hair Care
The oil has the ability to strengthen your hair and reduce hair loss. The rejuvenating quality of vitamin E can help boost the health of your hair follicles, and increase the luster and volume of your hair. Replace your hair conditioner with a coin-sized amount of almond oil.
Improves Cognitive Ability
Almonds are well known to boost brain power and improve memory and retention [9], so it comes as no surprise that a concentrated dose of almond oil can have much the same effect. Regularly using a few drops of this oil on your pillow, adding a bit of the oil to your morning tea, or simply using it for cooking can help give you a cognitive edge.
Heals Chapped Lips
Sweet almond oil is an excellent way to treat chapped lips. The oil is rich in vitamins and has moisturizing qualities that make it ideal for use as a natural lip balm. Simply apply a little sweet almond oil onto dry, cracked lips.
Treats Dandruff
Sweet almond oil cures dandruff by deeply moisturizing and removing dead skin cells on the scalp. Massage your scalp with gently warmed sweet almond oil, preferably mixed with olive oil. Leave on for an hour and wash off with a mild shampoo to clear your scalp of flakes.
Improves Nail Strength
The same benefits that this oil imparts to your skin and hair can also be used for your nails. If you want to reduce nail breakage, protect against fungal infections, and stimulate [7] healthy growth, simply apply some of this oil to your nails and nail beds once a day until you begin to see results!
