I haven't quite come across any other ingredient than almonds that play such a holistic role in our daily lives. These brown, oval-shaped nuts don a role that suffices and fits most of our everyday concerns. Almonds are an all-rounder; from making your food more delectable, flavourful and crunchier, to providing you the much needed nutrition boost to combat various ailments. When it comes to incorporating them into cooking, you can use them to create exquisite bakes or simple dishes too. Toss them into your salads, dunk them in your batches of cookies and brownies, or simply blend them along with shakes and smoothies, almonds are fuss-free and hassle-free.
When I say that these nuts play a holistic role, I mean to draw your attention to the goodness of almonds for our health. When added to our regular diet, almonds and its by-products prove to be equally beneficial not only for our well-being but beauty as well. One of our previous articles talked about the latest rage in the fitness circle - almond milk. Not only is it an excellent option for vegans and those intolerant towards lactose, it is enriched with essential nutrients and minerals that fortify the body and also aid in weight management. No wonder, even celebrities can't help but vouch for its wonderful properties. "If I don't have a shake, I'll just have some toast and poached eggs with some avocado. Or millet cereal with almond milk and bananas - it's really yummy, and you can get it hot for the winter months," - Jennifer Aniston.
Almonds are fortified with many vitamins and minerals.
Today's agenda is to bring to spotlight the many benefits of almond oil, apart from it being a good-for-your-hair ingredient. Besides coconut oil, almond oil is also widely used as base or carrier oil by many hair oil manufacturing companies. Pure almond oil is excellent for hair and does wonders to dry and lifeless skin, nourishing it from root to tip. Some of the most noticeable benefits are stated below:
1. Almond oil is excellent for treating dandruff and hair damage.
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2. It also checks scalp infections and inflammation.
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3. It is enriched with Vitamins E and A, which are good for both skin and hair health.
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4. It can be used to treat acute skin infections like psoriasis and eczema.
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5. It acts as a skin nourisher facilitating skin lightening and tan removal.
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6. Its topical application can prove to be the best natural remedy for chapped lips, wrinkles, cracked heels, dry feet and hands.
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7. Sweet almond oil can also be used in cooking.
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8. Almond oil can also be used to massage the body and facilitate muscle relaxation.
Almond oil is very beneficial for healthy hair. Image Credit: istock
How to Use Almond Oil
According to a leading beauty expert Suparna Trikha, "Almond oil is great for dry skin. Massage about a teaspoon of almond oil on the dry areas." A mix of pure castor oil and almond oil is excellent for hair fall, especially during the monsoons.
"Almond oil stimulates collagen. It is enriched with vitamin E which makes it great for both skin and hair. Those who have oily skin can use 2-3 drops of almond oil and apply it on their skin once a week. For dry skin I would recommend a few drops of almond oil massaged onto the skin 2-3 times a week. Also note that topical application of almond oil on facial skin should not exceed more than thrice a week as it can clog pores and trigger acne," notes Dr. Deepali Bharadwaj, a Delhi-based dermatologist and beauty expert.
A blend of rosewater and almond oil is excellent as a skin nourishment. It can be used as a face and body moisturiser as well.
Beauty Tip: Applying almond oil on lashes right before sleeping will make them thicker, shinier and longer.
So put those healthy almonds to good use and get healthy skin and hair.