Hawaiians have been using candlenut oil for centuries while the world just aware of it. It also known as kukui oil, produced from kukui nut tree or candlenut tree with scientific name Aleurites moluccans – the State tree of Hawaii.
Nutrients in candlenut including fatty acids, several minerals, vitamins and natural antioxidants with the benefits to soothe irritated skin even heal wounds or you can read in health benefits of candlenut.
The oil is not only provided from the tree but also the seeds. The seeds also have been used traditionally for different purposes. Oil from the seeds is being oil for lamps while the seeds themselves have been strung up and set alight for use as torches. Furthermore, nutrients value and health benefits of candlenut oil per 100 grams candlenut oil are:
- Energy (kJ) – 1,979.0 kJ
- Energy (kcal) – 473.0 kcal
- Water – 24.4 mL
- Fats – 49.9 g
- Proteins – 7.8 g
- Potassium – 876.0 mg
- Sodium – 14.0 mg
- Phosphorus – 1,060.0 mg
- Calcium – 140.0 mg
- Magnesium – 410.0 mg
- Zinc – 2.7 mg
- Iron – 2.7 mg
- Copper – 6.9 mg
- Cadnium – 0.1 ug
- Thiamine (B1) – 4.2 mg
- Niacin (B3) Eq. – 1.3 mg
Here are the health benefits:
- Makes the skin healthy and glowing
Kukui oil has the benefit to penetrate the skin makes it smooth, silky, more attractive and healthy. kukui It will not make the skin uncomfortably greasy, just like many oils. Moreover, with many of important minerals, antioxidant nutrients like vitamins A and C and E, brings great effect to the skin.
They help prevent cell damage from environmental free radicals and slow down the aging process. In addition, crow’s feet and other skin blemishes can be diminished by taking kukui oil.
- Treats chronic skin conditions
Kukui oil can treat several chronic conditions of the skin such as psoriasis, eczema and acne. But, the proven effect of kukui oil on psoriasis didn’t give positive results.
However, the theory of benefit of kukui oil to prevent eczema and psoriasis is interesting. The oil is rich in linolenic acd, linoleic acid as well as omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 can s believed can reduce the inflammation in the skin while the other acids act as moisturizer.
- Reduces stretch marks
The study regarding effects of kukui oil on stretch marks is still not available. However, due to moisturizing qualities of kukui oil can supports those unsightly marks to diminish. Remove the appearance of stretch marks or just for diminishing them is probably need more times of work. But, taking kukui oil to your skin is worth to try.
- Prevents sunburn
Kukui oil is one of oils that absorbed easily into the skin, even in the deepest layers. A vital protective barrier in the oil that helps in prevents sun damages and other types of environmental damage. It can against sunburn, windburn and chapped skin which often being used in Hawaii Island.
- Treats wounds
One of the health benefits of candlenut oil is to treat minor wounds, burns and bites. The bark of the tree found by a study can promote in heals the damage to rats. The same study also published that the extracts make healing time faster and also improves collagen production.
- Fight bacteria
Kukui tree extracts have antimicrobial effects to fight bacteria and fungi or Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, it improves the healing process of wound as well as prevents bacteria to spread. Kukui oil is also able to against fungal skin infections like jock itch, nail fungus and dandruff, though studies of the benefit are still not exist.
- Supports for healthy hair
While the benefits of kukui oil for skin are well known, it is also being a popular in Hawaii or as its native for hair treatment. Kukui oil being used as a treatment for dry hair moreover for damaged hair by exposure to the dry and hot elements. Moreover you can read health benefits of avocado oil for hair.
Fatty acids and amino acids from the oil make the shafts of the hair easily penetrate for moisturizes, nourished and healthy hair. Due healthy nutrients of kukui oil, it is being remedy for a dry, itchy scalp and dandruff hair.
In addition, the linoleic acid from the oil makes it as an effective conditioner for restoring moisturize, imparting more gloss and shine hair.
Moreover, you can read other oil benefits in health benefits of ocotea essential oil, health benefits of macadamia nut oil and health benefits frankincense oil. Those oils are as well as health benefits of candlenut oil.