Extra virgin olive oil is not only popular added to food and for it's health benefits, it is also popular as an inexpensive and simple beauty aid.Whether for use in the kitchen or as a beauty aid it is important to use organic, cold pressed, extra virgin, olive oil which comes from the first pressing of the olives. This is produced by physical means with no chemicals or heat used and maintains it's health benefits. It is also important to store it in a cool dark place as olive oil is sensitive to heat and light.
Olive Oil contains both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids which are important in preventing cardiovascular disease. It is rich in Vitamins A, D, E and K. The flavenoid polyphenols in olive oil are natural anti-oxidants which have many beneficial effects from healing sunburn to lowering cholesterol. It is very easy to digest.
There are many wonderful recipes on the internet for using extra virgin olive oil in the kitchen like The Olive Oil Source website . A simple salad dressing can be made with 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, 1 to 2 tbsps. lemon juice, 1 finely minced garlic clove with black pepper and sea salt to taste.
For hundreds of years Mediterranean women have used olive oil for a wonderful complexion and healthy, shiny hair. Here are some of the ways it can be used as part of your beauty regime:
Skin: 1) Massage a small amount of olive oil into skin as a moisturiser. 2) Dab dry lips with olive oil. 3) Mask : Mix 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup cider vinegar and & 1/4 cup water. Dab onto your face, sit back and relax for 15 minutes then wash off. The vinegar will remove dead cells and killed bacteria and the olive oil makes your skin soft and smoothe.
Hands: 1)For soft hands, rub with olive oil and cover with gloves and keep on overnight. Excellent for dry chapped hands. 2) For brittle nails and ragged cuticles soak nails in a small bowl of warmed olive oil for 30 minutes.
Hair conditioner: Massage hair and scalp with half a cup to a cup of olive oil (depending on hair length). Make sure to massage the scalp well to get the circulation going. Cover with plastic wrap and leave on for an hour. Then shampoo hair. Will make the hair soft and shiny and prevent split ends. Also excellent if you have a dandruff problem.
Heels and Elbows: Cut lemons in half, pour olive oil on both halves, rest elbows and heels in the lemons and relax for 15 minutes.;
Bath Oil : Pour 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil and a few drops of lavender pure essential oil, or any other essential oil you have on hand, into your bath then lie back and relax. Your skin will be wonderfully smooth afterwards.
After Sun Bathing: Rub virgin olive oil into your skin. It will moisturise the skin plus research has shown that it repairs some of the damage done by UV rays. It is advisable not to sunbathe with olive oil but to use a good suntan lotion with a sunblock 20+ or more.
All in all a very useful and necessary oil to have in your home.
"Italians...seemed never to die. They eat olive oil all day long...and that's what does it." William Kennedy
Tags : virgin+olive+oil beauty+tips olive+oil
3 comments:
When I was a teenager, I had a friend who came from an Italian background. I stayed for dinner often, and I got used to seeing my friend's mother,after she did the dishes, take a dab of Olive Oil and rub her hands, arms and elbows with it.
And she had the softest hands. This woman worked on the family farm,growing vegetables. Her hands were constantly covered in soil, etc.
My massage therapist also uses Olive Oil as a massage Oil.
I go through a huge bottle of virgin olive oil by myself every month as I use it for so many things, especially my dry skin.
I'd never thought of it as anything other than an ingredient!
Post a Comment