What is Shea Butter?
Got from the nut of the shea tree grown natively in parts of Africa, this off-white to yellow fat, shea butter, has been highly versatile
The most discussed benefits of shea butter are its vitamin content, A and E precisely, which makes it fitting for skin care. Unknown to many, shea butter can also be consumed. It is a rich source of multiple antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. What`s it useful for? You wanna know? Then read on.
Shea Butter Benefits
It Slows Down Aging
Shea butter is a rich source of antioxidants such as vitamin E, that reduce the rate of oxidation on the skin and help it maintain a more youthful appearance.
It`s an Effective Decongestant
Shea butter is extremely effective at decongesting the nasal cavity. Applying shea butter topically to the nose and chest brings about an improved breathing and reduces nasal congestion.
It Treats Eczema
Persons with chronic allergies or atopic conditions find shea butter helpful, as it relieves the condition to a large extent.
It Treats Acne
Sebum, a natural oil produced by sweat glands, when produced excessively, brings about acne. Fortunately, shea butter can suppress the production of this oil.
It Prevents Hair Loss
Shea butter is rich in fatty acids, hence it improves the moisture content of both scalp and hair, supporting the strength of the follicles and reducing the possibility of hair being lost as a result. Also, shea butter has got anti-inflammatory properties, which deals with another aspect of hair loss.
It Relieves Muscular Pain
Muscle pains experienced as a result of exercise or an injury can be really annoying, as they cause setbacks in everyday activities. When shea butter is applied to affected muscles after a bath, it relieves pain and inflammation connected with the muscle in question. This was one of the major uses of shea butter in Africa before its commercialization in the West.
It`s Great for the Hair
Any hair that is low in natural oils is likely to lack moisture and have split ends. Shea butter contains high amounts of linoleic and oleic acids, natural oils that protect the hair against effects of sun and dehydration.
It Wipes Scars
As the final visible remnant of the body’s healing process, scars can almost not be done without. They`re found on parts of the skin where a wound or some other hurt on the skin was experienced. Applying shea butter regularly helps to lessen the appearance of scars.
It`s Suitable for Dry Chapped Lips
Did you know that lip balm products contain shea butter? So you can now worry less about cracked lips and its discomfort in dry climates. This is so because shea butter forms a solid barrier that prevents moisture loss.
It Lowers Cholesterol
Shea butter`s stearic acid content is the reason for its ability to decrease triglyceride levels and improve HDL to LDL balance. Are you wondering what stearic acid is? It is a type of saturated fat commonly found in coconut oil.
It`s Useful in Treating Insect Bites
Talk about an excellent natural remedy for insect bites, and shea butter would be mentioned. It suppresses inflammation, and it is antibacterial. It speeds up and able the healing process also. Immediately applying shea butter to the sites of insect bites or allergic reactions can help minimize the reaction outcome.
It Treats Razor Bumps
When shea butter is applied after shaving, it reduces, and even in some cases, prevents the formation of razor bumps because it serves as a moisturizer to the skin, keeping it smooth.
It`s a Diaper Rash Remedy
Moisture and rash accumulate in diapers and permit bacteria to thrive.
Applying shea butter daily on a baby after each day`s bath prevents the occurrence of irritations. It can be mixed in a base of coconut oil to make it more suitable for its application.
Shea Butter Facts!
- Shea butter is not connected with dairy. It’s a fat extracted from the seeds of the Vitellaria paradoxa, or shea tree, that looks like an oak, and native to the West African savannahs.
- The purest form of shea butter is edible. Chocolate makers sometimes use it in place of cocoa butter.
- In Africa, every part of the shea tree is useful: The antioxidant-rich fruit which looks like small, green plums and tastes mildly sweet gets eaten; the fruit and blossoms are used in medicine, and the shea tree’s bark is used for lumber. Interesting, isn`t it?
- Shea butter is great for treating stretch marks, acne scars, dry skin, wrinkles, cellulite, insect bites, eczema, and even frostbite.
- Shea butter provides some sun protection against harmful UV rays.
- Shea butter is still extracted manually in a painstaking process involving collecting, cracking, pounding, roasting, grinding, separating and finally molding the dried nuts into a paste.
- In ancient Egypt, shea butter was highly valued as a protector against brutal desert sun and wind. There are accounts in Cleopatra’s days, caravans took precious clay jars of shea butter to her. And Cleo wasn’t alone: The Queen of Sheba and Queen Nefertiti were also reported to be particular about shea butter.
- Shea butter is similar to an animal fat, due to its stearic acid content of 30-50%. This is why it gets so easily absorbed into the skin and works so well to moisturize.
