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20 Reasons Why You Should Add Sea Buckthorn to Your Pantry
Sea Buckthorn, Hippophae Rhamnoides, produces a highly nutritious berry that has gained super fruit status. The fruit and seed oil are full of Omega 3, 6, 9, and 7, a rare fatty acid recently discovered. The fruit contains a host of antioxidants and healing nutrients, and is a superior source of vitamins and minerals. It has been touted as being particularly good for the skin and brain function, including memory.
The fruit grows naturally on a shrub or small tree in the Himalayan Mountains, but is adaptable to growth in the US in zones 3 to 8. It is a nitrogen fixing plant that grows well in barren soil and possibly in your garden. The berries can be canned or dried for use year-round.
. They can be used with sugar or natural sweeteners to make a wide variety of jams, jellies, desserts, and flavored drinks. Some people like to eat them straight off the bush, but most prefer them sweetened.
After learning about these nutritious berries and stocking my pantry with them, I wondered if I even need those highly refined vitamins I have stashed. Here are just some of the nutritious and medicinal benefits of sea buckthorn:
#1. Nutrition Benefits
One tiny berry contains 12 times the vitamin C of an orange. Sea buckthorn is considered one of the most vitamin-packed foods on the planet. It is rich in protein, fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
#2. Fights Inflammation
The berries lower levels of C-reactive protein associated with inflammation and fight inflammation in all parts of the body.
#3. Treats High Cholesterol
Sea buckthorn berries and oil have properties that are naturally heart healthy. It lowers cholesterol levels naturally.
#4. Promotes Healthy Bowel Function
The fatty acids in sea buckthorn help lubricate the bowel and promote regular elimination, preventing and treating constipation.
#5. Dry Eye Relief
Internal use of sea buckthorn oil helps reduce the inflammation and irritation of dry eyes, including itching and burning. It also increases fluid production, which helps relieve dry eye symptoms.
#6. Has Anti-oxidant and Antibacterial Properties
Oral use of sea buckthorn is good for your skin and has anti-oxidant and antibacterial properties as well.
#7. Prevents Excess Fat Storage
The omega-7 oils in buckthorn seeds have been shown to prevent the storage of excess fat and help with weight loss.
#8. Treats Symptoms of Menopause
Eating sea buckthorn berries and oil treats symptoms of menopause. It lubricates the body from the inside out.
#9. Protects the Liver and Pancreas
Sea buckthorn oil helps the body normalize liver enzymes and bile, and reduces the accumulations of fat in the liver that cause a fatty liver.
It also helps reduce the number of aflatoxins in the liver and reduces their damage on the body. Aflatoxins can damage both the liver and pancreas, or other body systems. Sea buckthorn oil fights the damage caused by these toxins and can prevent future liver or pancreas diseases.
#10. Boosts the Immune System
The nutrients, anti-oxidants, and other healthy substances packed into these berries give the immune system a powerful boost. They also help the immune system deal with inflammation and invasions from bacteria.
#11. Calms Inflamed Skin and Treat Wounds
Sea buckthorn is therapeutic for inflamed or irritated skin. Use it to relieve burning, itching, and scarring on damaged skin. Use the oil to treat burns, sunburns, wounds, and skin marks.
#12. UV Protection
Sea buckthorn is known to protect the skin against UV rays.
#13. Reduces Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Sea buckthorn is beneficial for the heart and the circulatory system. The anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of the oil reduces symptoms of heart problems.
#14. Treats Gastrointestinal Disorders
These tiny berries are good for the entire body, including the gastrointestinal system. The oils lubricate the system while the berries reduce inflammation and calm upsets. They treat a large number of gastrointestinal problems, including ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
#15. Treats Gout
The nutrition packed berries reduce the causes of gout and treat the disease.
#16. Cures Infections
The berries are loaded with anti-infectious compounds that kill bacterial infections. Taken orally or applied topically, the berries and oils fight harmful bacteria and speed healing.
#17. Soothes the Nervous System
The berries and seeds are packed with omega fatty acids that improve brain and nervous system functioning, including the rare omega-7 oil.
#18. Treats Asthma Symptoms
By lowering inflammation and lubricating the body, sea buckthorn naturally reduces the symptoms of asthma.
#19. Prevents and Fights Diabetes
Sea buckthorn oil impacts the insulin levels in the body and helps keep the blood sugar levels in a moderate range. It also reduces the C-reactive protein and inflammation in the body which reduces the risk of developing diabetes.
#20. Improves Brain Functioning and Mental Clarity
Another benefit of the omega fatty acids found in the oil of the seeds and berries, along with the vitamin B-12 present, is improved brain function and mental processes. Reduced inflammation is also helpful to brain function and mental clarity.
How to Get the Health Benefits: Dosing and Best Use
Eating a small serving of sea buckthorn berries daily is a good practice for getting the full benefits of these wonderful berries. It takes time for your body to show the full effects, so expect to see the full effects in about 30 days. Don’t give up too soon, it really does work and it’s incredibly nutritious in the meantime.
Alternately, you can take one or two capsules of sea buckthorn oil 1000 mg per day, as a supplement. You can make your own oil by grinding the seeds or berries and using steam distillation, or you can purchase prepared oil supplements from a reputable source.
Both the seed oil and the fruit oil can be used internally or externally, however, the seed oil has the best benefits when taken internally. Fruit oil works best for external use.
While sea buckthorn oil has been used for centuries, it is always best to consult your doctor before use especially if you have a medical condition or take prescription medications.
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