Almond oil is made from the almonds that grow on the almond tree or Prunus Dulcis. Nowadays the almond is grown in different places. The nut is immensely popular and very versatile. Enough reason to bring the tree, which once only grew in Central Asia, to the west. But how healthy and versatile is almond oil really?
Almond tree, the origin
The almond tree once only grew in Central Asia (particularly the western area), but we now find the almond tree, officially Prunus Dulcis, in the Mediterranean region. Particularly in Italy, southern France and the northern countries of Africa. Finally, you can also find the almond tree in the United States, California to be precise. The almond tree does well in the dry soil around wine and olive areas.Source: Makamuki0, PixabayBasic Almond oil consists of monounsaturated fats, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, alfal inolenic acid and linoleic acid. It contains vitamins A, D and E. The sweet almond oil*, which is what we are talking about here, is extracted by means of cold pressing. The almonds are knocked out of the tree with sticks, while they are still green. However, if you wait a while, the almonds will automatically fall from the tree.* The counterpart of the sweet almond is the bitter almond. However, it contains amygdalin, which is a toxic substance.
Cost
Almond oil is widely available and inexpensive. In any case, every health food store has almond oil on their shelves. If you take a large bottle with 500 ml, you will spend around 12 to 20 euros. The amount also depends a bit on the brand. Almond oil is usually also available in smaller bottles of 100 ml or 200 ml.Source: Romi, Pixabay
Almond oil for internal and external use
Internally
Almond oil can be delicious as a cold oil to flavor a green salad, with or without goat cheese and nuts, or potato salad. But you can also spice upa plate of lightly grilled courgette slices or cucumber slices with a little almond oil sprinkled over it. However, do not bake or roast with it. When the almond oil is heated, it loses the vitamins and the effect of the polyunsaturated fatty acids. However, if you take the almond itself, it is also good for your blood sugar level. So less insulin is needed and the cholesterol level remains stable by eating almonds. Finally, it helps with the development of bones, improves your resistance and can give you more energy.
Externally
Almond oil has the advantage that it is almost odorless, which means it can be added to all kinds of products. Almond oil can be found in several cosmetic products and it is also an excellent oil to use as a massage oil. Among other things, it stimulates blood circulation in the skin and it is also extremely good for young children as baby oil. If you have a mild burn, almond oil can even soothe the pain and the same applies if you have muscle pain.Almond oil can also be used for the scalp. It prevents irritations on the scalp, stimulates growth, soothes tense skin and makes hair shinier.Source: Pau Noia0, PixabayIt also has a multiple effect on the body skin. It can be processed pure and the oil is good for various things, such as:
- Combating chapped skin.
- It soothes slightly irritated skin.
- It hydrates the skin.
- It slows down the aging process of the skin.
- It makes dark circles a bit lighter.
Contrary to what is often said about oil, almond oil can be used to treat acne. Make a mask from 30 ml almond oil, one egg tbsp and one apple. Mix everything until it becomes a paste and apply it to the skin. Let it sit for half an hour and rinse with cold water.
Finally
Almond oil is a great product to always have at home. If not for the kitchen, then certainly for the bathroom. It is a widely available product and it is certainly not expensive.