Ingredient Breakdown: Orange Seed Oil
When it comes to good things, let nothing go to waste. Many people use oranges for their juice, peel, and aroma. However, not many people think of using the seeds of this citrus fruit. The seeds of oranges can provide many benefits for the human body and its outer protective layer. You’ve probably seen orange seed oil listed as an ingredient in natural products for skin and hair, but perhaps you have wondered what benefit it provides. We’ve decided to share with you some of our favorites. But first, what is orange seed oil?
Orange seed oil is an essential oil extracted from orange seeds, typically from Navel, Valencia, and Blood oranges. It can be used in cleaning products, recipes, cosmetics, bath products, diffusers, and off-the-shelf or do-it-yourself natural products for skin care such as face masks and anti-aging creams.
Here are a few of the reasons we love orange seed oil for body, skin, and heart health:
Antioxidant
All parts of the orange, including the seeds, contain vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant. Orange seed oil also contains other antioxidants such as palmitic acid and carotenoids. Antioxidants are like nutrient superheroes. They fight cancer and UV damage and extinguish toxic molecules in the body known as free radicals. Antioxidants play an important role in skin care and many beauty products have an EPF (environmental protection factor) rating that measures an antioxidant’s effectiveness and potency.
As an antioxidant, orange seed oil helps to reduce the signs of aging and prevent premature aging of the skin. These signs include wrinkles, dark circles and bags under the eyes, sagging skin, uneven skin tone, and dry skin. The carotenoids in orange seed oil protect the skin, promote healthy growth, lower inflammation, and help to maintain eye health.
Fights Cancer, Infection and Lowers Cholesterol
Orange seed oil contains limonoids, oleic acid, and phytosterols that are effective against various forms of cancer. Limonoids are polyphenols that not only fight cancer, they destroy infectious pathogens that would lead to bad skin. Oleic acid found in orange seed oil is a fatty acid that helps to fight and reduce the risk of breast cancer. Phytosterols are a heart-healthy family of molecules that resemble cholesterol. Oleic acid and phytosterols are part of a holistic health approach and help to lower cholesterol, which reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Lower cholesterol also reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Improves the Skin
Collagen is the main component in connective tissue and is found naturally in the body, specifically in the bones, blood vessels, digestive system, tendons, and skin. Aging of the skin and sun exposure can cause a loss of collagen that leads to the formation of wrinkles and sagging skin. The phytosterols in orange seed extract slow the breakdown of collagen and promote collagen production.
Orange seed oil helps to condition the skin, making a great ingredient in skin care products such as face oils, moisturizers, and anti-aging creams.
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