Last Updated on July 5, 2018 by Marc Seward
The Benefits of Walnut Oil for Your Hair and Skin
As our society continues to learn more about natural substances and the many benefits they can provide for both beauty and health, we often discover things we might never have expected. We sometimes find that the healthiest and most beneficial substances have been right in front of our face the whole time.
Many natural ingredients and food items are often considered to be generally healthy, but it’s so easy to push that fact under the rug, especially when you’re not aware of exactly how beneficial they can be.
With a little research, you’ll discover a whole new world of natural wellness and the many things you can do for your body, by treating it with substances that the natural world has so kindly provided for us.
What is Walnut Oil?
You’ve probably heard of the walnut before, and you’ve probably included or eaten it in several recipes throughout your life. While it may not be one of the most popular nuts out there, compared to almonds, pecans, and others, walnuts are still very popular throughout the world, and generally considered to be rather healthy.
Of course, you probably aren’t aware of the many significant benefits that these nuts can offer, especially when pressed into an oil. However, walnut oil is growing in popularity due to the many benefits it provides for many issues, in both health and beauty.
Walnut oil is a natural oil pressed from walnuts, which are scientifically or botanically named Juglans regia. The walnut tree is thought to have originated in the Himalayas. Today, walnut trees are present in many countries, including the United States, however, they seem to be produced mostly in areas of France.
Currently, there are whole forests dedicated to the walnut trees in Kyrgyzstan, in Central Asia.
Walnut oil may be cold-pressed or refined, depending on the company in charge of the extraction process. Generally speaking, cold-pressed oils tend to be more potent and have higher concentrations of nutrient compounds than their refined, or chemically processed, counterparts. Because of this, if you are looking to experience the health benefits of walnut oil, purchasing cold-pressed oil of any kind, over refined oil, is a better option.
Cold-pressed or refined, walnut oil contains many different essential nutrients, including monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats such as linoleic acid, gamma-linolenic acid, and oleic acid.
These fats tend to have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and they are generally considered to be healthy or “good fats”, as they provide many benefits and help to convert energy quickly.
Other Types of Walnut Oil
The most common type of walnut oil you will find is one that is pressed from the nuts of the common walnut or English walnut tree, Juglans regia. On the same topic, there is also a black walnut oil that can be extracted from the black walnut tree, scientifically or botanically named Juglans nigra.
Although the oils may be similar in origin, black walnut oil has a different nutrient composition and provides many benefits that are different from normal walnut oil. For these reasons, black walnut oil is more commonly used as a medicinal treatment.
Nutrient Composition and Properties of Walnut Oil
Walnut oil is most commonly known for its high concentration of healthy fats, primarily Omega 3 fatty acids. It also contains high concentrations of phosphorus, zinc, calcium, magnesium, iron, and selenium. Walnut oil is also rich in vitamins, including vitamin B2, vitamin B1, vitamin B3, vitamin E, vitamin K, and niacin.
Because of the high concentrations of many essential nutrients present in walnut oil, this natural oil is a source of many beneficial properties, which can help in both beauty and health circumstances.
Walnut oil provides antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, which can help reduce the risk of infection, kill bacteria, and fight against fungi, especially Candida. Walnut oil also has anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, emollient, regenerative, and toning properties that can help promote healthier skin that looks young and fresh.
Keeping this in mind, walnut oil can also be beneficial in treating a wide range of health conditions, ranging from mild to serious. Walnut oil can act as a laxative, as well as an analgesic, which means that it helps to relieve pain.
Walnut oil is also rich in antioxidants that help fight free radical to protect and promote healthy cells. In addition, walnut oil has anti-cancer properties, which is being studied for its ability to help prevent a wide variety of cancers, likely due to the high concentrations of Omega 3 fatty acids, among other powerful phytonutrients, such as ellagitannins.
Health Benefits of Using Walnut Oil
Like many oils, walnut oil is most commonly used in skincare products and treatments due to the many healing properties that it can provide to damaged and aging skin. Overall, the antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties present in walnut oil are most beneficial for the skin.
Antioxidants help to reduce signs of aging, such as wrinkles or fine lines, and the anti-inflammatory properties help treat skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis. The antibacterial properties present in walnut oil are far more beneficial for the overall health of skin, as they help protect against pathogens and other bacteria that are constantly attacking your skin.
The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of walnut oil can also help with more than just the health of your skin. Anti-inflammatory properties help treat and alleviate sore muscles and joints. If consumed, it could also help improve the function of blood vessels in the body. Antioxidants help to reduce the oxidative stress present in the body due to the production of free radicals that could cause apoptosis, cell mutation, and an increased risk of cancer.
What Conditions Can Walnut Oil Help Treat?
Fungal Infections
Because of its anti-fungal properties, you can use walnut oil for a range of common fungal infections such as athlete’s foot, jock itch and even candida. You can apply walnut oil directly to the affected area alone or combine it with an anti-fungal essential oil for even greater effects.
Tea tree oil has excellent anti-fungal properties so try adding a few drops of it to your walnut oil. There are many other excellent anti-fungal oils to choose from and you can read a detailed review by clicking the following link…… Antifungal essential oils.
Anti-Aging Properties
Applying walnut oil to your skin on a regular basis can help prevent many of the premature signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. Walnut oil has outstanding antioxidant properties in the form of vitamins B and E which can help protect against the damage done by free radicals. Vitamin E is especially well known for its benefits on the skin and combined with the other nutrients found in the oil, can help your skin look younger and stronger.
Scars and Stretch Marks
Applying walnut oil to the skin may also help reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks. Research has found that vitamin E can have a positive effect on scar tissue but don’t expect instant results. (1) Again, you can apply your walnut oil alone or combine it with an essential oil for even greater effect. Click the link to read our detailed article about the best essential oils for scars.
Inflammatory Skin Conditions
Walnut oil can also give relief to people suffering from inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Both of these conditions are autoimmune disorders that cause rashes, swelling and irritation.
Applying walnut oil to the affected area of your skin can help soothe redness, irritation and swelling. To treat your skin with walnut oil, either apply it directly to the affected part of your body or add a few drops to your bathtub and let the oil work into your skin. Try combining a skin friendly essential oil with your walnut oil for an even more powerful natural treatment.
Dark Circles
If you are sleep deprived or enjoy a late night on the town, chances are that you are familiar with those dark circles surrounding your eyes in the morning. There are plenty of home remedies that can help give you the confidence to get on with your day without worrying about what other people think.
Most people will know that applying cucumbers to your eyes can reduce swelling and bagginess but walnut oil is another excellent home remedy. Simply massage some lukewarm walnut oil into the areas surrounding your eyes. It should lighten your skin and reduce any inflammation making you look fresher and healthier.
Digestive Health and Inflammation
Massaging walnut oil into your body is not only good for the skin. It can also help ease inflammation caused by conditions like arthritis and rheumatism. Walnuts can also be used to improve your digestive health. They are full of nutritional goodness and dietary fibers that can boost your digestive health and prevent common digestive issues like constipation, indigestion and diarrhea.
Heart Health
According to research, walnut oil is also excellent for your heart. Walnut oil contains no cholesterol and is full of healthy polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats. Studies have found that its nutritional make up can help reduce cholesterol levels and blood pressure while improving the circulation of blood around the body. (2) (3)
Because of these effects, walnut oil could help reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and atherosclerosis.
Blood Sugar Management
Research has also demonstrated that walnut oil can help to regulate blood sugar levels making it suitable for people with diabetes or pre-diabetes. According to studies, walnut oil can help reduce blood sugar levels while also increasing the body’s production of insulin. (4)
Walnut Oil for Your Hair
Like so many plant based oils, walnut oil can also be used on your hair to great effect. You can use it as a general conditioner to keep your hair feeling soft and looking healthy. It is especially effective on dry and damaged hair so give it a go and watch the life return. According to proponents, the nutrients found in walnut oil can also help promote hair growth and strengthen the follicles.
Dandruff
The antioxidant anti-fungal properties found in walnut oil also make it a suitable remedy for scalp conditions like dandruff. As well as treating the condition, its emollient and anti-inflammatory properties can help soothe scalp irritation. Simply massage your walnut oil into your scalp and let it work before rinsing it out with clean water.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can walnut oil be used for?
Walnut oil can be applied topically to the skin to moisturize and hydrate your skin. It can also help treat inflammatory skin conditions and prevent wrinkles and fine lines. As well as skin care, walnut oil may help reduce the risk of heart disease and help keep blood sugar levels in check.
What does walnut oil do for hair?
Walnut oil can help condition the hair and add moisture and life to dry and dull hair. It may also promote hair growth and help treat scalp conditions like dandruff.
How many walnuts can be eaten in a day?
Walnuts are certainly healthy but too many can cause you to gain weight. Most experts recommend eating no more than 7 walnuts each day.
What are the side effects of eating walnuts?
Eating too many walnuts can lead to weight gain but may also cause allergies. Some other potential side effects are nausea, headaches, diarrhea, swelling and skin rashes.
Comedogenic Rating
A comedogenic rating is a score that is given to natural substances for the purpose of helping people determine which substances will be the most suitable for their skin. Substances are rated on a scale from zero to five, with the lowest scores representing substances that are the least likely to cause skin irritation, clogged pores, or worsening of breakouts or acne.
Speaking of which, the ratings are only provided as suggestions, as some people with sensitive skin may not always experience allergic reactions when using highly rated substances.
Walnut oil has been given a comedogenic rating of one or two, which means that it is highly unlikely to clog your pores, worsen acne, or cause irritations on your skin.
In fact, it is often used as a carrier oil to dilute harsher oils and make them more suitable for sensitive skin. If you know that you are prone to irritation and sensitivity, you should try a patch test first to make sure that you won’t react poorly to the use of walnut oil.
Advice for Using Walnut Oil
Before you add walnut oil to your daily skin or hair care routines, you should speak with your doctor to make sure that using walnut oil won’t interfere with any other treatments you may have already been prescribed. While walnut oil is generally safe, there are still some side effects that you should consider before attempting to use it to treat any health conditions.
Generally speaking, side effects may include stomach issues, as well as some issues with cardiovascular health.
If you are already prescribed medication that lowers your blood pressure, the added effects of walnut oil may cause complications. Similarly, you should speak with your doctor before using walnut oil to treat high blood sugar, if you are already taking medication that helps to lower blood sugar. Both of these elements will still apply if you are planning to use walnut oil in meals for its relevant health benefits.
(1) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1748681509006093
(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5436098/
(3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3652880/
(4) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3652880/
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