Health Benefits of Almond Oil

Almond oil offers health benefits, both internally with a healthy diet and externally with a topical beauty routine. Whether you cook with almond oil or use it on your hair and skin, here are some the benefits you may see:

1. Increased Heart Health 

Your heart works hard to spread oxygen and nutrients throughout your body via your bloodstream. The condition of your heart directly impacts how efficiently your body functions, which makes heart health a high-stakes topic. Fortunately, consuming almond oil has been linked to increased heart health. 

The driving factor between this connection is monounsaturated fats. Some types of fats — like saturated and trans-fat — negatively impact your overall health. However, monounsaturated fat is considered a good fat that positively influences your health in moderate quantities. A majority of the fat in almond oil is monounsaturated fat, meaning it is better for your heart than other cooking alternatives. In fact, 1 serving size (1Tbsp.) of Almond oil provides 10g of monounsaturated fat.

Studies have shown that in a healthy diet, substituting carbs with monounsaturated fats can lower blood pressure, improve lipid levels and reduce your risk of cardiovascular issues. Monounsaturated fats can also decrease harmful LDL cholesterol and increase good HDL cholesterol. These almond oil benefits contribute to a healthy heart when paired with a healthy lifestyle.

2. Good Source of Vitamin E

Your body needs a variety of vitamins and minerals to carry out daily tasks, including vitamin E, which refers to a group of fat-soluble compounds with antioxidant properties. As an antioxidant, vitamin E helps to protect your cells on the molecular level by fighting "free radicals." 

Free radical molecules cause damage to cells and may contribute to cardiovascular disease and cancer. Antioxidants stop free radicals from inflicting this damage, which may help prevent or delay chronic diseases. In addition, antioxidants like vitamin E support immune function.

Vitamin E is essential to help your body function well, and almond oil is a great way to add it to your diet. In fact, just one tablespoon of almond oil contains 27 percent of your recommended daily vitamin E intake. When you utilize almond oil in your cooking, you can help protect and nourish your body with powerful vitamin E.

3. Blood Sugar Control

The term "blood sugar" refers to the glucose in your bloodstream that helps supply energy to your cells. Keeping your blood sugar levels in check is crucial to help your body function well and to prevent your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Healthy blood sugar levels are especially important for individuals with diabetes.

Studies show that the monounsaturated fats in almond oil can help stabilize blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. Making simple diet changes like adding almond oil to your cooking, can help keep your blood sugar stable and healthy.

4. Healthy Weight Maintenance

When it comes to weight loss, it seems counterintuitive to add fats to your diet. While it is true that a diet high in unhealthy fats is linked to weight gain, healthy fats have the opposite effect. One study showed that a diet high in monounsaturated fats promotes benefits in weight loss and body composition.

Monounsaturated fats like those in almond oil support several important functions, including:

Providing energy for your body.

Providing crucial fatty acids your body cannot make on its own.

Building cell walls.

Helping your body absorb vitamins A, D, E and K.

Insulating your body and protecting your organs.

Weight loss is multifaceted, and diet changes alone often are not as effective. However, substituting almond oil for other saturated and trans fats in your diet can play a part in overall weight loss, weight maintenance and wellness.

5. Moisturizing Properties

When applied to the skin, almond oil has emollient properties. These properties allow almond oil to soften and smooth skin over time. Accordingly, many bath oil, lipstick and skin cleansing products include almond oil to help moisturize your skin. Using products with almond oil as an ingredient or applying the oil directly to your skin can support smooth and supple skin.

Because of its moisturizing properties, almond oil has also been used to treat dry skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis for centuries. Common topical treatments for these conditions include steroid creams, which have concerning long-term side effects. Many have turned to almond oil as a natural supplemental solution. The fatty acids in almond oil help to repair the skin's natural barrier, lock in more moisture and reduce irritation. Regardless of your skin type, incorporating almond oil into your skin routine can help increase moisture and improve your skin's appearance.

Here are some simple ways to use almond oil for your skin: