In past traditions, women would collect seeds from the tree and press them to extract the oil. The process was time-consuming and sometimes lasted up to 20 hours just to produce one liter of argan oil! Fortunately, high levels of vitamin E help keep the oil useable for up to 6 months, which made the 20-hour process more worthwhile. Now that we’ve covered the basics of argan oil, let’s move on to some of the ways you can benefit from using it.
Healing Benefits
Triterpenoids are naturally occurring substances found in argan oil which protect your skin. That said, the oil can help heal scars and work as an anti-inflammatory, sun protectant and disinfectant. The vitamin E that’s found in it is great for those with cardiovascular disorders and also for regulating heart functions.
Argan is sometimes compared to olive oil because they are both used in similar ways. However, one major difference is that argan oil contains 80% unsaturated fatty acids and is less affected by oxidation than olive oil. This vegetable oil helps improve your skin’s moisture retention while also reducing any inflammation you may experience in most areas of your body. One more big healing benefit is that argan is known to be anti-cancerous.
Age Fighting
Women and men can certainly benefit from the anti-aging perks the oil offers. As previously mentioned, it is known for its high level of vitamin E, which is why it’s considered one of the best anti-aging oils available. Using argan as a skin treatment helps excavate damages caused by free radicals in the dermis, softens skin and treats inflammation. All of these factors help to slow aging by keeping your skin strong and healthy. Argan oil will also help you avoid premature signs of aging like crow’s feet and wrinkles, and it defends against ultraviolet rays from the sun.
Medicinal Benefits
Using argan for medicinal purposes is effective because of the plant seterols found inside that aren’t in other oils. Going further, other vegetable oils do not contain both plant sterols schottenol and spinasterol – though they may have one or the other.
The oil can assist in blocking cholesterol from being absorbed into the intestines while also helping the body’s digestion stay fluent. This oil is especially beneficial for those suffering from various types of arthritic issues due to the natural occurring flavonoids that reduce inflammation in most areas of the body.
Argan is able to reduce the speed of degenerative processes that cause harm to bones in the body. You can also use this vegetable oil topically to reduce irritation caused by acne, dry skin, eczema, psoriasis and chickenpox. Additionally, pregnant women with stretch marks find that argan reduces the appearance of these imperfections.
Argan oil is said to increase sexual desire and ability in a person, making it an all-natural aphrodisiac with more than one benefit. It’s also used on hair, skin, and nails to create a youthful appearance while strengthening all three of them. Assuming you have burns or bruises, apply the oil topically to heal them faster and help relieve the pain.
When cooking with it, you can enhance the flavor of multiple dishes and give your food an oriental flare. Some of the foods that are popularly prepared with the use of argan oil are sweet potatoes, salad, fish, soup, goat cheese as well as some desserts. It offers a nutty flavor when added to food and is often used in salad dressing. Besides adding flavor to food, increasing blood circulation, lowering cholesterol levels, and boosting your body’s immune system are just a few more benefits of using it for cooking.
How to Use
- Your skin will thank you after gently massaging a small amount of argan onto your dermis; the oil is quickly absorbed and creates soft and supple feel. As mentioned before, you can also use it for acne and scarring when applied topically. Apply it once or twice a day in place of your normal skin creams and lotions to improve the quality of your skin.
- Also use it to strengthen your nails by mixing together one part lemon juice with one part argan oil. Soak your fingernails up to the cuticle in the mixture for 3-5 minutes. The same method can also be used on toe nails; after you’ve soaked them, trim your cuticles to keep the toenails clean.
- To treat your hair with the oil, massage it onto your scalp and throughout the hair 20-30 minutes before showering. Wrap your hair up with the oil in a warm towel to open the hair cuticles; shampoo and continue with your normal routine. You can also use small amounts of argan to remedy dry hair at the ends.
As you can see, argan oil not only offers a wide range of benefits, but it’s also fairly easy to use. So if you want to look younger, stave off medical problems, and heal skin problems, give it a try!
Benefits of Argan Oil is a post from: Beauty Blog