By Valerie Orsoni
I discovered Argan oil while on holiday in Morocco a few years ago. Now you may have heard of this oil as a natural cosmetic which is great for your skin, but Argan oil is also manufactured as a food product, and carries incredible nutritional properties.
When dining out, I sensed an interesting, delicate flavor in my salad – different to usual dressings – and I quite liked it. When I found out there was Argan oil in my salad, I simply had to research this tasty oil to find out more.
Argan oil is made from the fruit of the Argan tree which is found in southwestern Morocco. The fruits resemble large olives and contain nuts from which oil is produced.
Unfortunately, the Argan tree is a threatened species. It is vital to the local economy in Morocco, as every part of the tree is usable and provides a source of income or food: the wood is used for fuel, the leaves and fruits provide forage for goats, and the oil extract is used in cooking and traditional medicine. The Argan tree thus provides support for some three million people.
Argan Tree
By consuming Argan oil, whether for food or cosmetics, you are supporting fair trade terms, under which Moroccan women harvest the nuts and produce the oil, in addition to reforestation projects to help preserve the Argan forest.
This is good news, because LeBootCamp is about bettering the universe!
From a dietetic point of view, Argan oil is a champion. Just like olive oil, it is very rich in unsaturated fatty-acids (good for your health) but it also has an added benefit over olive oil, as it is rich in essential fatty-acids that the body cannot produce on its own, such as linoleic acid (Omega 6).
Regular consumption of Argan oil has been shown to significantly lower cholesterol levels, and is also rich in Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that quenches free radicals and neutralizes destructive oxidation.
So don’t hesitate to splurge on some Argan oil, either in your favorite organic store, or over Internet. Bon appétit!
Valerie is an entrepreneur, wellbeing expert, celebrity coach, author, contributing editor, mom and survivor. She created LeBootcamp, a fitness and weight-loss website. She is also the worldwide image of the Nintendo Wii My Body Coach, which launches in the US in spring 2010. She lives with her husband of 20 years and her teenager in the Silicon Valley.
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