Sweet almond oil is a lipid extract made by warm pressing sweet almonds. It is clear and yellow and has a sweet and nutty smell.
Where can you buy it?
It is not hard to find a source to buy sweet almond oil. It can be purchased many places online, as well as from cosmetics supply stores or natural holistic type stores. Sweet almond oil should be stored in a cold, dry place and depending on if it has added preservatives, it has a shelf life of between six months and about two and a half years. It should be refrigerated after opening it.
How is it used?
Sweet almond oil has many different benefits, including usage in cosmetics, skin care, hair care, food flavoring and as massage oil. It has a high content of many vitamins, including A, E, B1, B2, and B6.
Medical uses for sweet almond oil
It also has been used by holistic medical advocates to treat problems such as heartburn, stomach issues, and nephritis. It has also been used to treat sore throat, hoarseness, bronchitis, to remove ear wax and as a laxative. In India, it is also used as a pain reliever and to fight high cholesterol. It has also been found to have helpful properties in nourishing the brain and nervous system when it is massaged into the skin. It also is said to enhance memory and endurance.
Food uses for sweet almond oil
Almond oil has high amounts of monounsaturated fats, omega-3 and essential fatty acids, which makes it a healthy alternative for cooking. This versatile oil is also used to flavor things like baked goods, candy and other foods. It can be employed as cooking oil due to its high flash point at 49 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes it good for frying foods. It can also be used for salad dressings and believe it or not, this oil is considered to be an aphrodisiac.
Skin uses for sweet almond oil
This oil is considered to be hypoallergenic and can be used by any skin type. Almond oil has high content of oleic and linoleic essential fatty acids, which makes it great for the skin. It is found as an ingredient in things like soap, cream, and lotion. It is said to be useful in getting rid of acne, for lubrication, to remove hair dye that has spilled onto the skin, or to help dry or itchy skin problems.
It is also used in aromatherapy in the form of massage oil and is good for soothing sore muscles, removing eye makeup, as a facial scrub and to get rid of dark circles under the eyes and age spots. It is also good for getting rid of or preventing stretch marks during pregnancy.
Hair uses for sweet almond oil
Sweet almond oil is also good for your hair and scalp. Just put a few drops on your fingertips and use it to massage the scalp. It can help make the hair strong and shiny and prevent hair loss.
Possible side effects or other problems
Sweet almond oil does have a few usually mild side effects including an allergic rash, hives itching. Plus, if you are allergic to nuts, you should not use sweet almond oil as it could cause anaphylactic issues such as problems breathing, loss of blood pressure, and swelling in the throat.
In addition, it someone is under a doctor’s care and taking medication to treat low blood sugar then they should not use or consume sweet almond oil.
Some of the research done with sweet almond oil
There have been several research studies done on sweet almond oil. Here are the results of a few of them:
A study done on sweet almond oil used for high cholesterol gave evidence of how well it does the job. A six week long random crossover trial with some patients discovered that those who were given this oil had a decrease in triglyceride and LDL cholesterol, as well as a rise in the good type of HDL cholesterol levels.
A study printed in a 2007 issue of the Journal of Perinatology was done to evaluate a case where 33 infants in a neonatal ward in France got a bacterial infection after sweet almond oil was used on them. It was determined that once a bottle of this oil is opened, it is no longer sterile and can be contaminated with bacteria.
A study done in 2002 to test whether or not sweet almond oil helped lower cholesterol was done with 27 men and women with high cholesterol. This random crossover study had them eat muffins with either a full or half dose of almonds over a period of four weeks. At intervals of zero, two weeks, and four weeks, their fasting blood levels were taken. It concluded that the patients eating the full dose muffins had the best decrease in blood lipids and the best rise in HDL levels.
The bottom line is that sweet almond oil is very versatile oil that has many beneficial uses in culinary, medical, skin, hair and other areas. Some research has been done to show these benefits, but more is needed to determine its complete value. If you are allergic to nuts, you should not this oil. As with any product, consult your doctor or physician before using it.
