Now the name of this oil is associated with famous mushrooms; the product is unfamiliar to the general consumer. However, this is exactly the case when the new turns out to be “well forgotten old.”
The healing and taste properties of camelina oil have been familiar to people for a long time. It is interesting that at the beginning of the last century in Russia it was in constant demand, then it was replaced by sunflower oil.
Today people strive for a healthy lifestyle, and old traditions are making a comeback. Camelina oil has again become in demand due to its many advantages and wide range of applications. It is produced by the best brands.
What is camelina oil made from?
The oil is made from a plant of the cruciferous family. In some countries, this plant is regarded as a weed. The oil itself is made from seeds, which have a slightly pungent taste. It is prepared using cold and hot pressing technology. The first method will allow you to preserve the maximum amount of nutrients. For this reason, it is recommended to pay attention to the production method when purchasing oil.
The plant grows in North America, Asia and some European countries. In our country, the plant can be found in the Urals, in the central regions.
Harm and contraindications of camelina oil
The product is well tolerated and has a minimum of contraindications.
Does not apply if:
- individual intolerance;
- obesity;
- pancreatitis;
- cholelithiasis;
- cholestasis.
Caution is necessary if you are overweight. The refined product can be introduced into complementary foods from 6 months of age; the unrefined product should not be given to children under 3 years of age.
With hypersensitivity and irregular use, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and allergic reactions are possible.
Camelina seeds for oil production
What are the benefits of camelina oil?
The oil stimulates the work of the heart muscle and promotes the process of calcium absorption.
Helps strengthen memory and improve alertness. A large amount of vitamin E has a positive effect on the condition of the skin, eliminates signs of aging and prevents the development of cancerous tumors.
The oil stabilizes blood pressure and normalizes hemoglobin. It helps increase blood clotting.
Oil has a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract, has an antiseptic effect on the intestinal mucosa and prevents the appearance of ulcers. The oil is ideal for cleansing the body, which is facilitated by Omega-3 and 6. It has an antitumor effect, and is also used in the presence of cancer.
Description and composition
To the question “What is camelina oil made from?” Many people, without hesitation, will answer: “Of course, from saffron milk caps!”, meaning the famous mushrooms. And everyone will be categorically wrong: the raw materials for the preparation of this useful product in all respects are the seeds of an annual cereal crop - camelina sativum.
The oil is produced from the seeds by pressing them in two stages:
- The first, cold stage allows you to isolate only 20 percent of the useful product from plant raw materials, but it is cold-pressed camelina oil that is considered the most valuable, since extractive substances containing vitamins and chemical elements important for humans are completely transferred into it.
- The second stage is hot pressing, in which the remaining plant material is highly heated to release the hard-to-extract fractions. During the heating process, most of the beneficial substances are destroyed, harmful impurities are formed, which are removed by refining. The refined product becomes neutral and has virtually no health benefits.
The taste of virgin camelina oil is rich, with a slight pungency. The color is deep yellow and the aroma is subtle, reminiscent of mustard. The refined product has virtually no taste or smell, and the color is much paler than that of the product that has undergone only a cold stage of processing.
Thus, the best camelina oil is unrefined. It is in it that all the healing power of camelina seeds is concentrated.
The biochemical composition of camelina oil includes many important and necessary micro- and macroelements for the human body, including:
- vitamin-mineral complex (vitamins E, K, A, D, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus);
- biologically active substances (chlorophyll, carotenoids, phospholipids, phytosterols);
- polyunsaturated acids Omega-3, Omega-6, Omega-9.
There is much more vitamin E in the product than in recognized sources - linseed and cedar oil. Just 1 tablespoon of camelina seed oil is enough to provide a daily supply of the vitamin in the human body.
Omega-3 and Omega-6 – polyunsaturated acids – are contained in significant quantities. The special value of the product is that these compounds are in a perfectly balanced ratio. Therefore, they most effectively support metabolism, hormonal levels and human immunity at a consistently high level.
Camelina oil during pregnancy and breastfeeding
During pregnancy and lactation, the oil helps normalize hormonal levels.
To improve the formation of the fetus, it is recommended to introduce oil into the diet of the expectant mother immediately after pregnancy. Drink it 1 teaspoon per day. From 8 months the dose increases to 2 spoons.
The oil will help improve blood composition, increase the fat content of milk during lactation and cleanse blood vessels. When feeding your baby, if there is a need to increase the fat content of the milk, drink 1 teaspoon 3 times throughout the day.
Beneficial features
The benefits of camelina oil for the human body are due to its rich biochemical composition. Valuable biologically active components give the product a wide range of therapeutic effects, including:
- Regular use helps normalize blood pressure, cholesterol levels and blood clotting, and helps strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
- Recommended for diseases of the digestive system: stomach and duodenal ulcers, gastritis, colitis.
- Camelina oil for men is an excellent preventative against diseases of the genitourinary system and even impotence due to its high content of fatty acids.
- Useful for women due to its ability to restore and maintain the body’s hormonal levels at the desired level. Helps mature women endure menopause more easily. Phytosterols contained in the product help cure some gynecological diseases and eliminate reproductive dysfunction.
- It has a pronounced antiparasitic effect, which makes it possible to use it in the treatment of various helminthiases.
In addition to the listed advantages, the oil can have bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, wound-healing and other effects on the human body. Thanks to this, it has found application in complex therapy of a variety of diseases.
The medicinal properties of camelina oil are actively used to alleviate obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, atherosclerosis and eliminate vision problems.
Can camelina oil be used for children?
The oil helps get rid of helminths and prevent their appearance. To do this, you can give your child 1 tablespoon every morning, most importantly, on an empty stomach. Literally in 2-3 months the problem will completely disappear.
Oil can be introduced into children's diets only from 3 years of age. For preventive purposes, it is permissible to give your child only 1 teaspoon per day.
In the presence of diaper rash, the oil is used as a skin treatment. It relieves irritation and moisturizes the skin. Rub the oil into the baby's skin with light movements several times throughout the day.
Indications for use
In folk medicine, this oil is used for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes:
- with seasonal vitamin deficiency;
- for cardiovascular pathologies;
- with damage to the gastrointestinal tract, constipation;
- with metabolic and endocrine disruptions;
- in case of hematopoietic function disorder;
- in inflammatory processes;
- at risk of developing neoplasms;
- for diaper rash, minor damage to the skin and mucous membranes;
- for helminthiasis;
- for some skin diseases;
- for hair loss, etc.
It should be used in addition to the main treatment after consulting a doctor.
Benefits of camelina oil for women and men
The oil has a beneficial effect on the reproductive system, increases libido, and is used for complex treatment of infertility. It is useful for men to enhance spermatogenesis, therapy and prevention of prostatitis, adenoma and prostatic hyperplasia.
It is indicated for women for menstrual pain, menopausal syndrome, gynecological inflammatory processes, to prevent the development of fibroids and mastopathy.
Camelina oil is equally beneficial for both men and women.
Benefits during pregnancy and lactation
The oil has no contraindications for pregnant and lactating women. It helps optimize the functioning of the endocrine glands, harmonize the psycho-emotional state, and compensate for the deficiency of vitamins and minerals.
As a result of its use:
- manifestations of toxicosis are eliminated;
- blood supply and nutrition to the fetus improves;
- the risk of early delivery is reduced;
- the quality of milk improves.
Benefits for the elderly
The use of the product is recommended for representatives of the older age group.
Beneficial features:
- Activates lipid metabolism.
- Reduces cholesterol and blood sugar.
- Helps stabilize blood pressure.
- Improves vision and nervous activity.
- Eliminates constipation.
- Fights arthralgia.
For preventive purposes, it is taken to prevent the development of osteoporosis and diseases of the circulatory system.
Camelina oil is an excellent remedy for the prevention of many diseases.
Benefits of camelina oil for children
The active components replenish the lack of vitamins, strengthen the immune defense, and ensure the harmonious development of the child’s body. As a therapeutic agent, it is indicated for indigestion and helminthic infestations.
Externally used to soften the skin, prevent and eliminate diaper rash, accelerate the healing of burns, abrasions, scratches and shallow cuts.
The use of camelina oil in cosmetology
The oil makes the skin elastic, gives it a healthy appearance and nourishes the cells. Allows you to eliminate minor pigmentation and fine wrinkles. To clean your face, you can make a scrub. To do this, the oil is mixed with sea salt and chicken yolk. Gently apply to the face with light movements, then rinse and moisturize the skin.
Using oil you can eliminate acne. Soak a napkin in the oil and wipe problem areas on the face or place it completely on the face and hold for about 15 minutes. This mask can not only treat acne, but also moisturize the skin.
The oil is often used in aromatherapy, used to treat the baby’s skin and for massage.
Camelina oil helps improve hair structure and make it truly shiny. The mask will require an equal amount of the following oils:
- eucalyptus;
- bergamot;
- tea tree.
The oils are mixed with camelina oil and thoroughly rubbed into the scalp. After three hours, you need to wash your hair with regular shampoo.
The oil is used to eliminate stretch marks. To do this, you need to lubricate problem areas with it every day. But you need to be prepared that the course will be long.
Camelina or flaxseed: which is better?
Flaxseed and camelina oils cannot be compared with olive or sunflower oil, but when comparing them with each other, it turns out that the acid composition, the high content of vitamin E, and the calorie content of these oils are the same.
Flaxseed oil does not store well, but its healing properties do not raise any questions. And camelina oil has a wonderful effect on the skin and is suitable for frying, and practically does not smoke. Their prices do not match - flaxseed oil is a little more expensive, but everyone knows the reputation of flaxseed oil, and camelina oil is mostly familiar to residents of cold regions and people of the older generation.
How to store
To preserve all the positive qualities of camelina oil, it must be stored at a temperature of 5 - 15 degrees, in a dark place. High or low temperatures affect the quality of the product, which will quickly begin to deteriorate. It is best to keep the butter in the refrigerator on the bottom shelf.
Camelina oil is one of the high-quality products, the use of which has a positive effect on the body. However, when using it for medicinal purposes, you should consult a doctor.
How to take for weight loss
When it comes to losing weight, of course, our wisdom is needed here, right? Well, how can you lose weight just by introducing one thing, even a super drug? Here we need to change all our eating habits, reconsider our diet and move, of course. But, of course, it can and should be added to our diet, which will help us improve digestion, get rid of constipation, and carry out a comprehensive cleansing of the body.
Camelina oil contains no substances that affect the process of breaking down fatty deposits. Therefore, taking it as a means of losing weight is not rational, and due to its high calorie content, it is even dangerous. Using no more than 1 tbsp. for dressing vegetable salads, you can include it in the diet menu. You can also use the product as a mild laxative, but this technique should be used after consultation with a nutritionist.
And another plus in this oil for everyone who is slimming: thanks to its specific taste, there is no need to use spices that delay the excretion of fluid.
Basic recommendations
- Strictly adhere to a restrictive diet.
- Completely avoid consuming other vegetable oils and animal fats.
- Do not expose to heat, add to prepared dishes.
- Do not take more than 1 tbsp. l. per day.
- The oil can be replaced with other home remedies obtained from camelina seeds.
Reviews
Alekseeva Svetlana Igorevna, 37 years old, Kazan
I came across camelina oil by accident - I saw it on a shelf in a store and decided to try it. From the very first time I really liked the taste and especially the smell - it was as if I was in a freshly mown meadow. Now I regularly add it to salads, and familiar recipes are rediscovered for me.
Grishina Alevtina Petrovna, 56 years old, Vladimir
I always keep camelina seed oil in the refrigerator - whenever it has come to my rescue. You can season your salad with it, take a spoonful for heartburn, and anoint your hands when the skin begins to peel and crack. When my granddaughter was born, they began to lubricate diaper rash and heat rash with this product - and all the child’s irritations went away within a day or two.
Kalinina Olga Sergeevna, 23 years old, Rostov-on-Don
I learned about camelina oil by chance from my grandmother, when I found myself in the village for a whole month without the usual creams and lotions, and my face began to burn and acne appeared. I smeared this product on my skin and it helped tremendously against inflammation. I returned home and bought oil in the store, now I regularly make masks based on it, the result is always pleasing - the skin is clean, soft, and all this without huge expenses.
Are there any contraindications for use?
There are a minimum of contraindications to the use of such a valuable natural product: it should not be used by people with individual intolerance to the components and by patients with the acute stage of cholecystitis or pancreatitis. High calorie content excludes consumption by obese patients. In recommended doses, camelina oil does not put stress on internal organs and does not cause harm or side effects. But care should be taken in treatment in the presence of chronic diseases. It is not recommended to replace other vegetable fats with it and exceed the daily dose, so as not to upset the balance of linolenic acid, which should not enter the human body more than linoleic acid.
Peculiarities
Camelina oil is used in cooking, is present in the structure of medicines, cosmetic preparations, soap making, perfumery, and the production of paints and varnishes.
The by-products left over from oil production are used to feed animals, and the stems of the cereal are used in the production of packaging materials and brushes.
Watch an interesting video about healthy camelina oil.
Benefits for the heart and blood vessels
The composition of camelina oil has a positive effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system. The product is enriched with magnesium, potassium, and vitamin B6, which are essential for the proper functioning of the myocardium. Its use helps strengthen blood vessels, increases their elasticity, and has an anti-inflammatory effect.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids in the oil reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood, thereby reducing the risk of developing vascular atherosclerosis and hypertension.
Cardiologists, as well as nutritionists, recommend including camelina oil in the diet therapy of patients with vascular and cardiac diseases.
Cooking
Unrefined camelina oil has a sharp, spicy taste, slightly reminiscent of radish or horseradish juice.
Therefore, it is used as a component of dressings, sauces, gravy, used for cooking, frying, and added to desserts.
Culinary experts believe that this oil is most suitable for the following products and dishes:
- boiled potatoes (make a salad with the addition of pickled herring);
- beans;
- chicken, lamb, veal (as an additive to marinades and fat for frying);
- mushrooms;
- pilaf;
- bakery;
- muesli, smoothie.
This vegetable fat is used for frying because it is resistant to heat, does not smoke, and does not lose taste and aroma. But the beneficial substances are still destroyed.
Bean salad
To prepare it take:
- boiled beans - 5 tbsp. l.;
- beets, medium-sized carrots, boiled - 1 pc.;
- corn grains - 4 tbsp. l.;
- egg - 1 pc.;
- balsamic vinegar 10 ml;
- dark honey - 10 ml;
- camelina oil - 100 ml;
- salt, pepper to taste.
Cut the beets into cubes, mix with beans, pour in 15 ml of camelina oil, mix. Add diced carrots and corn.
Prepare a dressing from balsamic vinegar, salt, honey, pepper, and oil. Season the salad. The dish is served garnished with egg and herbs.
How is corn porridge beneficial for the body? Read our article.
This material will tell you about the benefits, harm and calorie content of wheat porridge.
You can learn about the beneficial properties of canned green peas from this publication.
Strawberry dessert
To prepare dessert take:
- milk, freshly squeezed orange juice - 100 ml each;
- natural yogurt or kefir - 150 ml;
- fresh or frozen strawberries - 2 cups;
- banana - 2 pcs.;
- camelina oil - 50 ml;
- honey - 30 ml.
First, milk and bananas are mixed in a blender until smooth, then the remaining ingredients are poured in, with the exception of strawberries, which are added at the end.
Sauce
To prepare the sauce you will need:
- 30 ml each of natural pure yogurt and sour cream;
- 15 ml each of camelina, olive, pine nut oils;
- 0.5 tsp. lemon juice;
- 0.5 tbsp. l. Dijon mustard (as much as possible);
- seasonings: pepper, salt - to taste, 2 tbsp. l. parsley and chopped green onions.
In a bowl, beat the ingredients until creamy and add seasonings at the end.
