Babassu Oil is the unknown brother of coconut oil. It is popular in health community like the latter.
Babassu oil comes from the Brazilian palm tree- babassu. This evergreen tree produces light brown fruits similar to coconut. Babassu oil is cold-pressed from the seeds of babassu fruits. (1)
This highly sought after the oil has some unique characteristics such as lightweight, mild flavor and a quick absorption power. These qualities make it superior to other natural oils.
Babassu oil has a myriad of uses in healthcare products, cosmetics, toiletries industry and in culinary.
Let’s dive in and get to know all about this natural oil.
What does Babassu Oil Contain?
The chemical composition of babassu oil (2) includes:
- 70% fat
- Vitamin E
- Lauric acid
- Stearic acid
- Myristic acid
- oleic acid
- Various antioxidants
22 Babassu Oil Health Benefits
1. Anti-Inflammatory
The potent antioxidant properties of Babassu oil includes: lauric acid, phytosterols and vitamin E. (3)
These can effectively heal insect bites, swelling and allergic reactions, eczema and other inflammations of the skin. The oil eases itchiness and irritations of inflamed skin as well.
One of the most important works of antioxidants is to prevent the free radical reactions in your body.
Free radicals are the cause of premature aging, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer. Babassu oil can help your body deal with free radicals. (4)
Also Read: 12 Anti-Inflammatory Herbs That You Should Know About
2. Skin Protection and Healing
Don’t you hate skin products which turn all gluey over your skin as you step out in the sun? Throw away such craps and own babassu oil instead.
Your skin absorbs this oil instantly. The lauric acid in babassu oil provides your skin with factors and refreshing feel. That’s why it’s comforting to curing sunburn. Babassu oil creates a protective shield over your skin to keep away all forms of pollutants as well.
If you are embarrassed about cracked heels or bothered about shallow cuts and chapped lips, babassu oil is the rescue for you. (5)
The anti-microbial properties of this essential oil can regenerate your skin tissues and heal damaged skin.
Babassu oil is an ideal remedy for acne problem too. It is as potent as coconut oil in treating acne but with an extra benefit. Babassu oil doesn’t clog the skin pores as coconut oil does. (6)
3. Promotes Healthy Nails and Cuticles
Healthy nails add grace to your hands. Vitamin E is an essential nutrient for healthy nails and soft cuticles.
Babassu oil is full of vitamin E. A regular application of this magic oil can soften your cuticles and gift you with shining healthy nails. (7)
Also Read: 9 Reasons to Use Coconut Oil for Nails Immediately
4. Prevents Body Odor
A stinking body odor can put anyone off you come across. It can be a great block in your social life, and you don’t want that to happen.
Babassu oil works as a deodorant to help you overcome body odor problem. It has microbial elements in it to reduce odors caused by over sweating and other bacterial elements in the body. (8)
You can try this homemade babassu oil deodorant recipe:
You’ll need:
- Babassu oil ½ cup
- Lavender essential oil 10-15 drops
- Arrowroot powder 6 tbsp.
- Baking soda 2 tbsp.
Process:
- Add all the ingredients and mix them well
- Preserve the solution in a jar
- Apply it on your skin as you go out
5. Treats Stretch Mark
Do you regret those light grey parallel lines on your skin? These are stretch marks caused by either a weight gain or pregnancy. Your skin stretches due to these reasons and leaves those marks. (9)
Babassu oil can improve the elasticity of your skin. A topical application of this oil can heal stretch marks for good.
6. Beneficial for Hair and Scalp
Hair is one of the most important parts of your look. Healthy and strong hair is essential for maintaining your overall physical beauty. Babassu oil can be a healing companion of your hair.
Babassu oil can be a natural conditioner for your hair. A regular use of this oil on your wet hair can treat split ends and breakage of hair. It can strengthen your hair strands and make them more shiny and glossy.
Most importantly, it has all the properties to treat your dry scalp and dandruff as well.
7. Dandruff
Babassu oil has anti-microbial properties to control the Malassezia fungus responsible for dandruff. (10)
You can try the following method:
- Add a few drops of tea tree essential oil to a tablespoon of babassu oil
- Apply the solution to your hair
- Massage the oil into scalp and hair to control dandruff.
Also Read: 11 Essential Oils for Dandruff That Work & How to Use Them
8. Dry Scalp
A dry scalp leads to dandruff of hair. Babassu oil is the ideal remedy for your dry scalp. It can moisturize and soothes the itchiness of the scalp. Babassu oil is non-greasy and doesn’t mess with your hair. (11)
9. Has Anti-aging Property
Babassu oil has active properties such as Phytosterols, Vitamin E, and antioxidants to protect your skin from wrinkles, scars, and blemishes. Thus, it is an effective agent to prevent premature aging. (12)
10. Increases Energy Levels
Babassu oil contains shorter-chain fatty acids. These types of fatty acids are broken and converted into energy in the body.
The conversion process of fatty acids releases ketones as the byproduct. Ketones are fuel for your body and brain.(13)
11. Improves Heart Health
As you already know babassu oil has shorter chain fatty acids which are directly convertible into energy and the body doesn’t store them.
Along with healthy fats, this oil also has lauric, oleic and myristic acids. These properties have beneficial effects on your heart health. Consumption of babassu oil can lower your risks of heart diseases.
Also Read: 6 Essential Oils for Heart Disease & Heart Health
12. Less Messy
It’s uncomfortable to apply skin products that are all greasy on your skin and mess with your clothes as well.
Babassu oil has quick absorption quality. Skin absorbs this oil in no time and leaves no slithery feel.
13. Doesn’t Clog Pores
The major difference between coconut and babassu oil is the fact of clogging pores or not. Babassu oil is lighter than coconut oil and doesn’t clog pores of your skin as the latter does.
This might be a great relief to you if you have oily skin.
14. Mixes Better with Essential Oils
Essential oils can work more efficiently when mixed with a potent carrier oil. Babassu oil is the right choice as a carrier oil. It is better than other carrier oils because of its mild scent and lightness.
It doesn’t overpower the aroma of the main essential oil when used as a carrier oil. It also contributes to its properties to rehab your health problems. (14)
15. Light-Weight
One of the primary reasons to choose babassu over coconut oil is the lightness of the former.
Coconut oil may leave a heavy and greasy feel on your skin and hair. But lightweight and quick absorption qualities of babassu oil make it superior to coconut oil.
Topical application of babassu oil doesn’t leave any slithery feel over your skin and hair.
16. Has a Very Mild Scent
How would you feel if people give you cynical looks for the strong nutty oil smell of your body? Use babassu oil to avoid embarrassing situations like that.
Unlike coconut oil, it has a mild and almost non-existent smell. Like a generous giver, it does all the good works for your skin and hair without ever manifesting itself.
Now flaunt a fresh skin and shiny hair wearing babassu oil the whole day.
17. Locks in Moisture
Babassu oil is a great moisturizer for your skin. A few drops of this oil can keep your body moist and smooth the whole day. It absorbs into the skin so perfectly that you won’t feel any greasiness from it.
A babassu oil bath by adding the oil and a cup of Epsom salt to warm water can be an absolutely refreshing treat for your body. (15)
18. Baby-Soft Healthy Lips
Beautiful lips don’t fail to lose our attention. Petroleum and chemical based lip balms aren’t healthy for your soft lips.
Instead, a homemade lip balm by mixing babassu oil and some Shea butter can soften your lips and add more allure to them.
Babassu oil lip balm is perhaps the best remedy to heal your chapped lips.
19. Healthy Alternative to Other Cooking Oils
Babassu oil works its magic in the culinary world too. You can use babassu oil as an alternative to any other cooking oils. This way you’ll enjoy additional health benefits from your food. The short chain fatty acids of babassu oil don’t give you cholesterol. It controls your blood sugar as well.
How to Eat
- You can use babassu oil as a cooking fat, butter, and margarine.
- Its mild taste is good for baking cakes.
- Babassu seeds are edible as well.
20. Polish Wooden Surfaces
Babassu oil has its practical benefits too.
You can give a new look to your furniture by polishing them with babassu oil. Add a few drops of lemon essential oil to babassu oil and create a personalized polish for your wooden pieces at home. This can restrict bacterial growth on their surface and extend their lifespan.
21. Reduce Inflammation on Bites and Stings
Insect bites can be very painful and leave you with swelling of the stung area. Babassu oil can heal the inflammation of the skin and reduce the pain, rashes or swelling caused by insect bites.
22. Improves Pet Health
If you are a pet lover, you must have a unique concern for its wellbeing. You want to give the best to your pet for its health and good look.
Well, now that you know all about babassu oil’s secret for your health care, don’t be surprised to hear that this oil helps the wellness of your pet as well.
You can give your pet a healthy babassu oil shower to improve its fur.
Add few drops of the oil to your pet’s food for better digestion and dental health.
How to Use Babassu Oil?
There are multiple ways you can follow to get the best out of babassu oil:
- Topical Application: you can directly apply it on your skin and hair as a nourishing moisturizer.
- Essential Oil Blend: add babassu oil to your chosen essential oil to make a potent blend of aromatherapy.
- Babassu Oil Bath: mix a few drops of the oil with your bathing water and get a smooth and moist skin.
Side Effects of Babassu Oil
Your knowledge of babassu oil isn’t complete if we limit only to the oil’s health benefits. It’s equally important to know the side effects of using this oil.
It’s true that the side effects of babassu oil are rare, compared to its impressive health benefits. But anything in excess may pose harmful for health.
Bleeding & Surgery: you have already learned that babassu oil prevents blood clotting and reduces the risks of stroke, heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases. But if you have a bleeding disorder, avoid using this oil. The anticoagulant property of the oil may worsen your bleeding problem. (16)
Hormones: There are reports about babassu oil affecting the thyroid glands of people. But this happened only in the case of excessive usage. (17)
Allergic Reactions: like any other natural oils babassu oil can have the allergic reaction on sensitive skin. That’s why you need to be careful before you go for a topical use of this oil. It may cause rashes and swell on the skin. You should patch test by dabbing a babassu oil-soaked cotton ball on a particular area of your skin and see how the skin reacts to the oil.
Pregnancy: Babassu oil has stimulating effects on hormones. So the health experts prohibit its use during pregnancy.
Bottom Line
Now that you know about all the health benefits of babassu oil, go on and make it a part of your beauty routine. We assure you of its great results on your health. Good happenings are worth sharing. So write your experiences in the comment section.
Read Next: 15 Incredible Tamanu Oil Benefits & Uses (#5 is Wow!)
