Almonds, or Prunus dulcis as they are scientifically known, hail from southwest Asia and the Middle East. They are widely known for being rich in nutritions, bringing much health benefits for your skin, heart and colon. There are actually two types of almond oil - the sweet almond oil and the bitter almond oil. The most common form of almond oil would be the sweet almond oil, which is the focus of this article as well.

It is mostly used for the skin and haircare and it comes exclusively from the edible almonds that are cultivated for its sweet taste. However, it has many other uses and benefits besides augmenting skin and hair health. In fact, it has been commonly regarded as an all-rounder food, as it plays a holistic role in the wellbeing of our bodies, on top of beauty benefits.

Did you know that 100g of almond oil contains 60 international units of vitamin E? That is 200% of the daily recommended amount! And other than that, small amounts of vitamin K, other vitamins, minerals, fibre and unsaturated fats also make up almond oil. Generally, its health benefits come from the abundance of unsaturated fats content in the oil. Read on to find out more!

Health Benefits of Sweet Almond Oil:

1. Protects the Heart

Sweet almond oil exhibits cardioprotective benefits, as seen in how it can help lower cholesterol levels. You may be wondering how an oil can actually help lower cholesterol levels? Almond oil, as has been abovementioned, contains unsaturated fats which basically raises HDL cholesterol levels, the “good” kind of cholesterol, while it lowers LDL cholesterol levels, the “bad” form of cholesterol that can clog up your arteries and potentially increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, notes a 2002 journal study published in The Journal of Nutrition.

As such, the oil allows oxygen and nutrients to flow freely through the bloodstream as it lowers cholesterol levels naturally and helps prevent arteries from becoming clogged. In fact, a 2014 study published in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences found that an almond-enriched diet resulted in greater reduction in LDL cholesterol and systolic blood pressure and an increase in HDL cholesterol levels. As such, it led to greater weight loss and better improvements in studied cardiovascular disease risk factor.

2. Helps Regulate Blood Sugar Levels

Besides managing cholesterol levels, sweet almond oil also helps to regulate and manage blood sugar levels, so as to alleviate diabetes.

A 2011 study conducted by researchers from Purdue University in the US found that when volunteers consumed whole almonds as part of their diet, it provided the greatest daylong feeling of fullness, meaning it made the volunteers feel full easily. In fact, the researchers also found that almond oil decreased blood glucose levels and elicited greater insulin response. As such, they concluded that inclusion of almonds in breakfast meals helps to decrease blood glucose concentrations and increase satiety in adults, therefore helping to manage blood sugar levels.

Another 2007 study conducted by researchers from the Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Centre from the St Michael’s Hospital in Toronto found that the addition of almonds to carbohydrate-rich foods like white bread resulted in a progressive reduction in the glycemic impact of carbohydrate foods, therefore helping those with insulin resistance or at risk of diabetes to regulate their blood sugar levels.

3. Promotes Healthy and Smooth Skin

One of the most well-known benefits of almond oil is its ability to promote a much smoother skin complexion. Firstly, it a mild, hypoallergenic oil, which means it is great for sensitive skin, even for baby skin. When it is gently rubbed on the skin, it gets fully absorbed into the body. For enhanced absorption, you can try warming the oil to body temperature before applying. You can even mix it with essential oils like myrrh and rose essential oil to keep your skin glowing and healthy.

Additionally, its rich vitamin and mineral content, specifically vitamin E, makes the oil an excellent natural antioxidant agent that is designed to protect your skin against free radical damage and oxidative stress as well as damage from harmful UV rays, thus keeping your skin soft and supple.

A 2007 study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology found that almond oil reduced the effects of UV light-induced photoaging on the skin and it had a photoprotective effect on the skin, thus it is capable of preventing structural damages caused by UV irradiation and in decelerating the photoaging process.

Besides that, its lightweight nature means it is readily absorbed into the pores of the skin, without clogging up your pores. As such, it can help dislodge and clear out debris, dirt and bacteria from deep within the skin pores and even hair follicles. As such, it helps prevent blackheads and acne. With the presence of vitamin A, it can even mitigate and prevent acne breakouts from happening.

If you are suffering from dark eye circles and puffy eyes, then almond oil can also be applied to manage its appearance and if you are suffering from eczema, red skin rashes and psoriasis, almond oil can come to your rescue as well. It moisturizes your skin and soothes dry and red spots on the skin, thus helping to reduce the itching as well as the inflammation. You can even use it as a makeup remover too!

4. Supports Digestive Health

Sweet almond oil has also been studied for its digestive effects and its efficacy in reducing some of the renal and colon-related diseases. With reference to a 2004 study published in the European Journal of Pediatric Surgery, phenol in almond oil helped to treat rectal prolapse in children, without causing any complications.

Another 1990 study conducted by a researcher in Cairo University from Egypt notes how an injection of phenol in almond oil helped to treat idiopathic pruritus ani, which is an unexplained itching of the anal region which can’t be cured by medication. 92.5% of the patients were cured and the remaining patients were cured after a second injection.

As such, this reveals how almond oil helps in bowel-related movements, as it also serves as a mild laxative to help relieve constipation. Therefore, you can also rely on almond oil to help treat rectal and colon disorders.

5. Promotes Hair Health

Just as how almond oil is great for the skin, it also has numerous benefits for the hair too! Firstly, it is able to help alleviate bouts of dandruff and dry, flaky scalp because the oil nourishes and moisturizes your scalp. Not only that, if your hair is constantly tangled due to lack of smoothness, almond oil can be relied upon to detangle your hair so that you can comb it easier and prevents hair loss.

It is also great for controlling hair loss brought about by other factors and deficiencies and for optimum results, try using a hot oil treatment for healthy, luscious hair! Simply warm the oil and massage onto the scalp. Cover the scalp with a shower cap and leave it on for about 2-3 hours. Proceed to wash off with cool water after that. This provides deep conditioning to your hair, thus making them look soft and healthy.

Overall, if you have brittle and dry hair that makes it look dull, try applying almond oil to the whole length of your hair after after washing it to nourish and moisturize the hair so as to prevent breakages. Just ensure that you dry your hair first with a towel to remove the excess moisture. This will undoubtedly make your hair much healthier, shinier and much more radiant.

How to Use Sweet Almond Oil?

Almond oil is a mild, carrier-based oil that is safe enough to be applied onto the skin and hair, even if you have sensitive skin due to its hypoallergenic nature. As such, you can actually apply it directly onto the skin, face and even on your hair/scalp area. You can even make a nice facial scrub consisting of the oil and fine sugar which is safe and mild enough to be used on your skin, even for those who have sensitive skin.

However, it is not recommended to use almond oil as a daily facial moisturizer as it can cause excessive oiliness on your face, making it particularly problematic for those who have oily skin.

Another way in which you can use sweet almond oil is by taking it internally by adding a drop of it into a glass of water or into a cup of tea. You can even take it directly from a warm tablespoon! Alternatively, drizzle it on your salads, vegetables or potatoes, or you can add it into your protein drink too. This is especially so as to reap the internal benefits of the oil.

Another popular way to use this oil is through essential oils dilution. Because sweet almond oil is considered a carrier oil, it is used to dilute essential oils so as not to make them too concentrated and thus, safe for direct skin application. It has a mild smell and it does not evaporate easily, thus making it a good carrier agent for essential oils dilution.

Safety Precautions:

• Sweet almond oil is generally safe for external and internal use but those who have nut allergies should definitely avoid using sweet almond oil at all.

• Almond oil might also interact negatively with alcohol, notes a 1990 study published in Toxicology Letters.

• Those who have pancreatitis might also want to avoid consuming almond products.

• If you are looking to consume the oil internally to treat or prevent some medical condition, please consult your doctor prior to consumption for his/her professional medical advice. This is especially so if you are under prescribed medication because of the oil might interact with these medications.

• If you are pregnant/breastfeeding, it is wise to consult your doctor first before using the oil.

References:

Hyson DA, Schneeman BO, Davis PA, “Almonds and almond oil have similar effects on plasma lipids and LDL oxidation in healthy men and women”, The Journal of Nutrition (2002); 132(4)

Abazarfard Z, Salehi M, Keshavarzi S, “The effect of almonds on anthropometric measurements and lipid profile in overweight and obese females in a weight reduction program: A randomized controlled clinical trial”, Journal of Research in Medical Sciences (2014); 19(5)

Mori AM, Considine RV, Mattes RD, “Acute and second-meal effects of almond form in impaired glucose tolerant adults: a randomized crossover trial”, PubMed (2011); 8(1)

Josse AR, et al., “Almonds and postprandial glycemia -- a dose-response study”, PubMed (2007); 56(3)

Sultana Y, et al., “Effect of pre-treatment of almond oil on ultraviolet B-induced cutaneous photoaging in mice”, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (2007); 6(1)

Sasaki Y, et al., “The treatment of rectal prolapse in children with phenol in almond oil injection”, European Journal of Pediatric Surgery (2004); 14(6)

Shafik A, “A new concept of the anatomy of the anal sphincter mechanism and the physiology of defecation. XXIII. An injection technique for the treatment of idiopathic pruritus ani”, PubMed (1990); 75(1)

Messiha FS, “Effect of almond and anis oils on mouse liver alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase and heart lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes”, Toxicology letters (1990); 54(2-3)