Babassu oil has recently gained popularity and is becoming an important ingredient in natural health and beauty products. Thanks to its high nutrient content and lightweight composition, it is probably one of the best superfoods in the industry. It is much like the coconut oil that has numerous health and skin benefits but babassu oil has a greater fatty acid profiles, which means it fosters higher benefits. So, if you are looking for something that is better than coconut oil, this oil is just for you. Read on to find what is babassu oil and its health and sustainability benefits.
Babassu oil
Also known as babassu seed oil, the oil is obtained from a palm fruit growing in the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil. The local workers who collect these nuts and process it to extract the oil named the babassu tree as the 'Tree of Life'. It is because they get almost everything from the tree such as oil, medicine, food, building material, animal feed. They also find the tree as a good source of income.
The oil obtained from the babassu seeds has a clear to light yellow color and is used in food and skin care. It contains fatty acids which are considered great for health and skin. It has a deep moisturizing action and helps in preventing dry skin and scalp. Besides, it is extensively used in cooking and cleaning.
When used for cooking, it fosters similar health benefits as coconut oil but is more versatile in the sense that it does not add the coconut flavor. So if you do not like the coconut flavor in your food, switching to babassu oil will be a wise move. Its flavor is non- detectable, and therefore, it enhances the flavor of the ingredients used in the dish.
Babassu Oil- Health and sustainability benefits
Babassu oil has been used to prevent as well as treat a number of conditions such as blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, fatigue, hormone imbalance, dry and damaged skin, weak hair and many more. Here is how using babassu oil can help you attain long-term benefits for your health, skin, and hair.
1. Prevents heart problems
Babassu oil contains healthy fats that foster powerful benefits for your heart. The presence of oleic acids, myristic acid and lauric acid aids in lowering blood pressure, thereby reducing the chances of cardiovascular diseases. It also reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood and improves your heart health in an incredible way. To reap the maximum benefits of babassu oil for heart, avoid using it for frying as high heat neutralizes the beneficial compounds.
2. Fights Inflammation
Babassu oil is composed of a high amount of lauric acid which has a powerful anti-inflammatory action. When topically applied on the skin, babassu oil helps in reducing swelling and redness. It can also be used in soothing bug bites, burns, and other skin irritations.
3. Enhances brain functioning
The presence of lauric acid along with high amounts of myristic acid helps in enhancing the brain functioning. The oil has a high ability to neutralize free radicals formed in the neural pathways. In turn, this action helps in preventing the deposition of plaque and increases the functioning of the brain. It is also helpful in increasing focus and concentration.
4. Improves hormone balance
Babassu oil can greatly affect your hormone levels and balance them in a natural yet effective way. When used in the right way, it may help in elevating your mood and preventing unwanted mood swings. However, special care must be taken as a higher amount of this oil may lead to thyroid imbalance.
5. Boosts energy levels
One of the most interesting ability of babassu oil is boosting your energy levels. It works by converting the short chain fatty acids into energy instead of fat. Ketones is released during the conversion which provides the body with enormous energy and keeps you active all day long.
6. Treats dry skin
Babassu oil is has a non-greasy characteristic which may help moisturize dry skin in an excellent way. The best part is it gets easily absorbed by the skin that keeps it moisturized for longer. If you have dry and flaky skin, a regular usage of this oil may help in making your skin soft and supple. Unlike coconut oil, it does not leaves your skin greasy. Besides, babassu oil has a natural ability to balance the skin's natural oil.
7. Prevents wrinkles
Wrinkles are developed as we age, however, we can delay aging and stop wrinkles from appearing sooner by using babassu oil. Its antioxidant nature prevents the free radicals damage keeping your skin looking younger. It contains phytosterols and vitamin E which makes your skin smooth and radiant. The fatty acid content is also great for a younger looking wrinkle-free skin.
8. Non-comedogenic
Besides providing a great nutrition and moisture to the skin, coconut oil tends to clog the pores of the skin which may lead to a breakout. This is the reason why many people are not able to use coconut oil for their skin. On the other hand, babassu oil is non-comedogenic, which means, it does not clog your pores while providing all the nutrition. This makes it a great choice for your skin, especially if your skin is sensitive.
9. Fights Acne
Besides preventing acne, babassu oil is extremely helpful in treating breakouts. It not only prevents the skin from drying out excessively but also fosters antimicrobial action. It kills the bacteria that leads to acne. In addition to it, its non-comedogenic property keeps acne at a bay and makes your skin clean and radiant when used on a regular basis.
10. Prevents dry scalp
Dry scalp is a common problem which may gradually lead to hair fall. The active ingredients present in babassu oil not only prevents dryness but also helps in restoring the health of your scalp. It prevents hair loss and makes hair soft and nourished. Since it has an anti-microbial action, it also aids in reducing dandruff and other infections.
11. Reduces split ends
Our hair tends to sustain damage in lack of proper care and split ends is one such problem. Fortunately, babassu oil can rescue your highly damaged hair due to its powerful hair conditioning action. It seals the damaged split ends and prevents them from growing up through the hair shaft. Being lightweight and non-greasy, it does not weigh your hair down. Instead, it gets easily absorbed after some time after its application conditioning the hair in a natural way.
In addition to the above health and sustainability benefits of babassu oil, it may also be used as a great carrier oil. Since it gets easily absorbed and has a high penetrative action, it helps in transporting other oils deep in the skin. Babassu oil offers the same nutrition to your health, skin, and hair as fostered by coconut oil but it is better in many ways. Babassu oil is lightweight as compared to coconut oil. It has a non-greasy effect which makes it score over the coconut oil. It gets absorbed very easily and while being gentler on your pores. This leads to lesser breakouts. It does not have a detectable flavor as present in coconut oil, hence it is a great oil for cooking too.