Pequi, Caryocar brasiliense Camb, is native to Brazil but could be found on Caatinga, Amazon, Atlantic Forest, and Cerrado. The oil is extracted from seeds of the plant Caryocar brasiliense which could also be used as a cooking oil. This oil contains 51.7% of oleic acid and 44.2% of palmitic acid. It has copper, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. It has 17% linoleic acid, 54% unsaturated oleic acid, 25% of stearic acid, and 27% of palmitic acid. It has a high content of carotene level about 274.9 μg/g. It has a high content of phenols as well as phytochemicals such as quinic acid, gallic acid, and quercetin.

Health Benefits of Pequi oil

Pequi oil has the following health benefits:

1. Cardiovascular function

Pequi oil has mono-saturated fatty acids that could lower the level of cholesterol found in blood and also protects heart health. It builds up blood vessels and artery walls by preventing the chances of coronary heart diseases, heart attacks, and strokes.

2. Maintains blood pressure

Pequi oil helps to control blood pressure. It contains the nutrients such as potassium and also possesses anti-inflammatory properties. It relaxes blood vessels because the inflammation could tighten the blood clots that could worsen complications and heart problems.

3. Promotes eye health

Pequi oil helps to promote vision health. It is an abundant source of Vitamin A that is rich in carotenoids that perform as antioxidants. It prevents the chances of macular degeneration and promotes clarity in vision. It improves eye health by eliminating free radicals.

4. Digestive health

This oil has a high content of fiber that promotes digestive health, lowers diarrhea, bloating, cramps and constipation. It also assists to eliminate bad cholesterol from the system. It helps to improve heart health.

5. Smoothen hair

Pequi oil could be used as serums for making the hair shiny, soft, and radiant. Pequi oil should be used to massage hair thrice a week

6. Treat split ends

Pequi oil is helpful for the treatment of rough, brittle, and damaged hair. It could be used as a deep conditioning treatment to eliminate split ends.

7. Treat skin problems

Pequi oil counteracts the skin infections such as chronic dry skin conditions and eczema. It possesses fatty acids that could moisturize skin and keep the skin hydrated and nourished.

8. Moisturize skin

This oil could be used for moisturizing skin. It also speeds up the healing process of wounds and increases hydration of the skin. It should be applied twice a day before sleep.

9. Massage oil

Pequi oil could be used as a body massage after mixing it with rosemary oil, coconut oil, and extra virgin oil. It could be applied with cotton on the face and wash it after 20 minutes.

Health Benefits of Pequi

1. Assists With Skin Issues And Builds Stronger Hair

Pequi oil is becoming wildly known for its benefits in keeping skin clear, glowing, and blemish-free. The compounds tocopherol and vitamin A, in pequi, have antioxidant properties and it’s because of these properties that pequi can help reduce signs of premature aging, scarring and decrease the severity of blemishes. Everyone wants glowing, vibrant skin. Daily use of pequi oil will give you that.

For people with dry, weak, or thinning hair, pequi oil would undoubtedly reverse the damage done to your hair from years of hair dye, weather, and just general wear and tear. The compounds mentioned above would help protect your hair and give it its vibrant, beautiful volume back. (rx)

2. Helps Improve Skin’s Health

As mentioned before, pequi oil is great for reducing the presence of scars and blemishes. However, it’s also amazing for treating certain irritating skin conditions, like eczema and chronic dry skin. The fatty acids, present in pequi, work as a moisturizer for your skin. You would not need to worry about under-nourished or dehydrated skin again.

3. Improves Cardiovascular Health

Because pequi consists of mono-saturated fatty acids, daily use of it would improve your heart’s functionality. Pequi would help reduce the amount of cholesterol in your blood. Hence, protecting you from heart attacks, strokes, and heart disease. Not only that, pequi strengthen your artery walls and blood vessels.
(rx)

4. Decreases Blood Pressure

Because pequi has a slew of vitamins and minerals, it’s not surprising that it would also help maintain a healthy blood pressure level. Potassium is a key player when working on lowering blood pressure and pequi has high levels of potassium. When blood is flowing smoothly, you are less at risk of blood clots or other heart diseases.

5. Decreases Cholesterol

Because of its beneficial effects on blood pressure, it’s no surprise that pequi is effective at decreasing cholesterol. There are two types of cholesterol to monitor; HDL and LDL. HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, is considered the “good cholesterol”, so we want to increase that number as much as possible. LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, is considered the “bad cholesterol”. Pequi helps to reduce bad cholesterol and get your cholesterol levels back to a healthy ratio.

6. Helps To Improve Vision

It’s only natural that with age, our vision becomes less focused and a little more blurry. Luckily, since pequi is rich in vitamin A, a key micronutrient for healthy vision, consuming this oil would greatly improve your eyesight. A little goes a long way and with improved vision, your quality of life would increase dramatically.
(rx)

7. Relieves Joint And Muscle Pain

There is nothing more frustrating than dealing with achy joints. Perhaps it’s just the general decline as you age or maybe you’re an athlete that needs to take some precautionary measures; either way, if you consume this oil/fruit, you would feel a marked difference in how your joints feel. This is also a great supplement to ingest after a particularly growling workout. Because pequi has inflammatory properties, you won’t feel as sore after your workouts. (rx)

8. Improves Digestion

You may not think of it often, but a healthy digestive system is crucial when maintaining your overall health. Because pequi is high in fiber, it would greatly improve how your digestive system operates. If you suffer from bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or even cramps, this oil would surely make those symptoms, if not disappear, then greatly reduce them. Fiber is also key in removing LDL from your system, so you are subsequently improving your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and overall health.

9. Helps Heal Wounds

As mentioned before, this oil is great for keeping the skin healthy, vibrant, and moisturized because of the fatty acids it boasts. It’s also for this reason that it can help heal wounds quicker. When applied twice a day, you would notice a huge difference in how quickly your wounds and/or cuts heal up. (rx)

10. It Can Be Used As An Antibacterial Ointment

Because of this oil’s numerous antiseptic and antibacterial constituents, it is effective in inhibiting numerous harmful bacteria or microbes. So it’s no surprise that people can use pequi oil to make soap! (rx)

11. It Can Be Used As A Massage Oil

We’re not at all surprised that pequi oil would be an effective massage oil. Between what it can do for your joints, your skin, and any blemishes you may have, this would be the go-to for when you are planning on having a massage.

12. It Can Be Used For Aromatherapy

Never underestimate the power of smell. We don’t often think about how the smells around us affect our moods, right? Luckily, pequi oil has a very soothing, calming smell. So when you are stressed, this is a great way to calm your nerves. Not everyone likes incense or candles. This is a wonderful substitute.

13. It Can Be Used As A Cooking Oil

It’s not shocking that many would use this as an oil base in their recipes. Because of its numerous beneficial effects, why wouldn’t you use it on a daily basis with your food? When you use pequi oil as your cooking oil, you are inadvertently improving the health of your family as well, and that’s just a good day for everyone!

14. It Can Be Used In Cosmetics

It’s gentle enough so that you can combine this oil with your cosmetics. Manufacturers add this oil to soaps, creams, hair products, and nail products.

15. It Helps Prevent Arthritis

As mentioned before, using this oil would greatly improve your joint and muscle health. Because it reduces the stress in the blood vessels, it is great for treating arthritis and even preventing it from occurring. (rx)

16. It Improves The Respiratory System

Whether you have a sore throat, asthma or something really crippling like bronchitis, taking this oil a few times a day would greatly improve your respiratory system. Not only that but the pulp found in this fruit has been used to effectively treat the common cold.(rx)

17. It’s Organic!

The pequi fruit is actually native to Brazil! And while it’s not readily available outside of that area, it is a dime-a-dozen when you visit Brazil, as common as apples and bananas to us! But its popularity is spreading, due to all the reasons we just discussed above!

Traditional uses

• It soothes cracked, dry, problem and damaged skin.
• It helps to condition and nourish the hair, restore lifeless hair, and lower frizziness.
• It assists in the healing of scars, showing blemishes, and also prevents premature signs of aging.
• It is used to treat skin lesions and eczema.
• It maintains skin elasticity and also lightens the age spots.
• It helps to prevent the symptoms of psoriasis such as scaling and dryness.
• It evens out skin tone and also smoothens wrinkles and lines.
• It is used to cure the skin problems such as psoriasis, cracked skin, and eczema.
• It softens brittle nails if applied to feet and hands.
• It is used as a treatment for mild dermatophytosis.
• This oil lowers total cholesterol levels and LDL cholesterol in men.
• It could cure cancer ailments such as sarcomas.
• It lowers inflammation as well as blood pressure.

Precautions   

• It could cause sleeping problems, mild fatigue and stomach upset.
• People with health problems should use after consulting the doctor.
• Avoid excessive use.

Other Facts        

• It is used as cooking oil.
• It is used for manufacturing creams, soaps, emollients, lotions, moisturizers, and balms.
• It is also used in hair care products such as hair oils, conditioners, and serums.
• It is also used for the production of cosmetic products.
• This oil could be used as biodiesel

References

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