Sea buckthorn fruits are nothing short of
amazing, as the little orange berries are among the most nutrient- and
vitamin-rich fruits on the planet, no wonder it has a multitude of
health benefits starting with immune-boosting and ending with skincare
properties. Being an integral part of traditional medicine all across
the globe, sea buckthorn comes in many forms, such as oils, supplements,
jams and juices, and depending on your concerns, you will benefit from a
different sea buckthorn product. Learn everything you need to know
about sea buckthorn, its health benefits and uses below.
What is a Sea buckthorn?
Confusingly enough, the plant has no actual
connection to the sea, it is a deciduous shrub that grows naturally in
high altitudes all across Northern Europe, China, and Russia. These
plants are known for being incredibly hardy, withstanding extremely low
temperatures (up to −43 °C (−45 °F)).
For centuries, the berries of the sea buckthorn plant have been
harvested and used in medicine, skincare, and food. Some of the oldest
records of using the berries in medicine come from Tibet and Ancient
China, but even the Greeks knew of the golden sea buckthorn, with
ancient myths describing that the winged horse Pegasus got its ability
to fly from the plant.
The berries of the shrub are edible and
have a tantalizing sweet aroma, but when consumed fresh, they have an
incredibly tart and oily taste, which is why they are rarely consumed
fresh. Most often, the berries are pressed to yield sea buckthorn juice,
which is then filtered and divided into a fatty layer that’s used in
cosmetics and supplements, and a vitamin-rich layer that’s incorporated
in foods.
Frozen berries and sea buckthorn puree used
in foods are also available, as are teas, syrups, liquors, juices, pies
and jams containing the berries. But by far the most popular product
made of sea buckthorn is sea buckthorn oil. These foods are valued for
their high content of vitamin C and carotenoids, whereas the oil is the
only plant-based oil to contain all four healthy omega fats (omega-3,
omega-6, omega-7, and omega-9).
Apart from that, sea buckthorn products are
packed full of antioxidants, folate and vitamin E. Needless to say, the
puree or frozen berries contain all the above-mentioned beneficial
nutrients. All these compounds make sea buckthorn a very potent plant
that has a wide range of uses and proven health benefits, which we list
below:
1. Boosts your immune system and protects from cancer
All the parts of the plant are extremely
high in antioxidants, particularly in vitamin C, which is what allows
the plant to survive in such harsh climatic conditions. For centuries,
the berries were used to make vitamin and antioxidant-rich foods that
can boost your immune system.
Most notably, sea buckthorn is
traditionally featured in preserved foods, such as syrups, jams, and
juices, that were used to keep up the immunity during the harsh winter
months. Research supports sea buckthorn’s capability to help you
withstand illness, with test-tube studies stating that it can prevent
the growth of certain bacteria and viruses.
Apart from that, the antioxidants the
fruits contain are suggested to protect the body from cancer, as they
are particularly rich in quercetin and other flavonoids that are known
to have these effects.
2. Skin benefits
Sea buckthorn oil is among the best
anti-aging oils to use directly on the skin, as the omega fats, vitamins
and antioxidants the oil contains have proven to protect the skin from
sun damage, deeply moisturize the skin and promote skin elasticity.
Apart from that, sea buckthorn oil is
effective at relieving redness, inflammation and skin irritation, even
in patients suffering from dermatitis, razor burns, frostbite, and
burns, so keeping a bottle of this oil in your medicine cabinet just in
case is a pretty wise idea. Keep in mind, however, that the oil is
bright orange in color and you'll need to dilute it with a carrier oil,
such as sweet almond oil, jojoba oil or marula oil if you want to use it
on your face to prevent tinting.
3. Supports heart health
Sea buckthorn oil is also available in
capsules, which are manufactured as a supplement. These sea buckthorn
oil capsules may be useful to those of you suffering from heart disease,
high blood pressure, and high LDL cholesterol levels.
In one longitudinal study, hypertensive patients were given 0.75 ml of
sea buckthorn oil daily for a month, which not only reduced their blood
pressure but also lowered the level of bad cholesterol and triglycerides
in their blood. A different study also found that 5 grams of sea
buckthorn oil supplementation for the duration of a month can decrease
blood clot formation.
4. Promotes Liver Health
The healthy oils, vitamin E and carotenoids
sea buckthorn contains seem to have a beneficial effect on the liver as
well. Namely, supplementation with sea buckthorn extract can protect
the liver from damage and improve its metabolic activity.
In one study, patients suffering from cirrhosis were given sea buckthorn
extract for 6 months, which significantly improved their liver
function. Apart from that, the cholesterol and triglyceride-lowering
effect of sea buckthorn oil discussed above can help your liver
metabolize nutrients better as well.
5. Reduces Symptoms of Menopause
Sea buckthorn oil supplementation has also been found to improve
symptoms of menopause in a study with postmenopausal women who took 3
grams of the oil supplement daily for three months. The study concludes
that the oil supplement is effective at relieving certain symptoms of
menopause.
5. Digestive issues
Sea buckthorn oil and foods that contain
sea buckthorn is their ability to boost digestion and reduce
inflammation in the digestive system. For centuries, the crushed berries
were used in Chinese medicine as a remedy for poor digestion and
stomachaches.
Studies in animal models found a lower recurrence in stomach ulcers as
well. Sea buckthorn is suggested to improve the mucous lining of the
stomach, which makes it more resilient to developing ulcers. The healthy
fats and antioxidants may also boost metabolism, improving your body’s
ability to absorb nutrients from food.
6. May Prevent Diabetes
The last scientifically-proven health benefit of sea buckthorn is its
ability to help prevent diabetes. There is research suggesting that
supplements made of crushed, dried sea buckthorn berry powder may help
reduce sugar level spikes.
Namely, a study looking at healthy individuals found that the
participants experienced fewer sugar spikes after meals containing sugar
when they consumed the sea buckthorn extract, which, as the authors
suggest, can have a positive long-term effect and help prevent the
development of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Knowing how
increasingly common both conditions are, it's definitely worth, at the
very least, giving sea buckthorn a try.
This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.
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Labels: anti-aging, digestive issues, liver cirrhosis, may prevent diabetes, sea buckthorn- boosts immunity, supports heart health & liver health
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