Omega 7 is an essential and rare fatty acid. Omega 7 is found in plenty in sea buckthorn. Omega 7 is known as palmitoleic acid. Omega 7 has gained popularity in recent years due to its many health benefits such as:
Omega 7 beneficial in weight management
Scientific studies have shown that omega 7 prevents calories from being stored as excessive fats by sending signals to the brain. Thereby stop weight gain of body and helps to reduce weight.
Omega 7 for healthy hair, skin and nails
Omega 7 is excellent for dry skin. It provides nourishment and moisture to cracked skin and retains moisture, by which skin, nails and hairs become healthy and shiny.
Beneficial in gastrointestinal health
Omega 7 helps to lubricate mucous membrane of gastrointestinal tract, thereby, relief in many problems related to stomach such as digestive problems, acidity and ulcers that cause worst problems like pain and burning in the stomach.
Omega 7 for a healthy heart
Proper cholesterol level is essential for cardiovascular health and omega 7 is best to maintain the proper level of cholesterol. Omega 7 can smooth the arterial insides and strengthen the walls of the arteries. Like omega 3 it helps to reduce bad cholesterol (LDL). In fact, omega 7 helps in reducing bad cholesterol as well as enhancing good cholesterol (HDL).
Beneficial in maintaining normal level of diabetes
Omega 7 helps in reducing glucose levels by improving insulin resistance and proves to be beneficial in diabetes.
Omega 7 for healthy eyes
Omega 7 eliminates the dryness of the eyes and maintains moisture in the eyes. Reduce fatigue and pain in the eyes. Eliminate redness and irritation in the eyes.
There is a belief in the world that only fish is the rich source of omega 3, but unlike this perception, the sea buckthorn is also a permanent and rich source of fatty acids omega 3, 6, 9 as well as rare omega 7.
Omega 3, 6, 7 and 9 occur in a balanced proportion naturally in sea buckthorn, which is directed by many institutes for better health and their consumption is essential for a healthy body. Therefore they are called essential protective nutrients or essential fatty acids. They have many health benefits such as:
These also help in keeping the cells healthy by strengthening the outer membrane of the cells.
Seabuckthorn fruit and leaves have been found rich in antioxidants like superoxide dimutase enzyme, vitamin C and E, carotenoids and flavoniods. (Yang and Kallio 2002).
ORAC value (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) is a way to know the antioxidant capacity of any food. Seabuckthorn has more than approximately 100000 ORAC value.
Why do we need antioxidants?
When our body cells use oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals. Smoking, alcohol intake, poor digestive system, pollution, sun rays, mobile rays, unbalanced diet and stress increases the origin of free radicals. Free radicals damage the cell, which is known as oxidative stress. This further proves fatal for our health. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and protect us from the pitfalls of cellular ageing and degeneration. If we don’t neutralize the free radicals then damage of cells and alteration of cells genetic qualities can be fatal. Antioxidants are required to avoid such damage.
Sea buckthorn provides SOD (Super Oxide Dismutase) 5 times more than ginseng
Sea buckthorn also has a very good amount of SOD (Super Oxide Dismutase). It is a type of enzyme, which repairs the cells and protects the cells from a radical named as super oxide. SOD acts as catalyst. It converts the super oxide radical into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide and prevents cell damage.
12 Times More Vitamin-C than Orange
Vitamin-C in form of ascorbic acid prevents us from chronic diseases like cancer and scurvy. Vitamin C boosts our immune system, reduces high blood pressure, protects from cataract, cardiovascular disease, maintains elasticity of skin, helps in wound healing and controls symptoms of asthma. Vitamin – C has also been shown to be essential to the creation, stability and maintenance of collagen, the substance that keeps skin looking plump and youthful. However, Vitamin C can be difficult for the skin to absorb, it can oxidize very rapidly and you need a high concentration to reap the benefits. Sea Buckthorn contains of the highest concentrations of Vitamin C in the plant kingdom.
Studies have proven that the vitamin C content of Seabuckthorn is 4 – 100 fold higher than many other fruits or vegetables.(Lu Rongsen 2003)
Sea buckthorn is the main source of Vitamin-B Complex
Actually Vitamin-B complex is the group of eight B Vitamins, and these are dependent on each other. Every part of the group of vitamin-B needs the other parts of vitamin-B in order to efficiently provide benefits to the body. That’s why it is called vitamin-B Complex. Vitamin-B helps to convert food into glucose in the body. It helps to keep a healthy nervous system, enhance immunity and produce certain hormones in the body. Vitamin-B12 is the most important B vitamin and it is believed that only sources of vitamin-B12 are non-veg and dairy food. Scientifically it has been proved that sea buckthorn is also the richest plant source of vitamin B12.
Sea buckthorn is the richest source of 5HTP (Hydroxytryptophan)
The important nutrient 5HTP found in sea buckthorn is helpful in increasing the level of serotonin in our brain. 5 HTP is a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin, popularly known as the “happy molecule”. Serotonin helps to regulate thoughts and behavior. Serotonin has a positive effect on sleep, mood, anxiety, appetite and pain sensation.
Sea buckthorn is the richest source of Vitamin-A in the form of carotene. Out of all Carotenoids known in nature 39 carotenoids more than any other have been identified in sea buckthorn. Carotenoids improve the metabolic normalization and regenerate the injured tissues. Deficiency of Carotenoids in human foods leads to eyes disease. These have protective effect on mucous membranes of various body tissue including tissues in the eyes. Mucus membranes are protective in nature and are moisturizers and give lubrication. This reduces inflammation and has shown benefits in treating eye disease like trachoma, protruding eyes goitre, keratitis bubble, eyelid burn and conjunctivitis etc. Deficiency of these in human foods lead to poor growth, weak eyesight, decreased intolerance to diseases and affects the mucus membrane of gastrointestinal tract. Vitamin-A raises physical and physiological capacity to work in stress conditions.
Vitamin-E boosts immune system. It keeps skin and eyes healthy. It protects the skin from wrinkles by keeping the cell membrane healthy. Vitamin-E is extremely beneficial for cardiovascular health.
Protein is most important for our body. Protein is present in every part of our body like hair, nails, skin, muscles and blood. This is the second most important compound found in our body.
Many amino acids are required to synthesize protein. 21 amino acids are most important to synthesize protein to build muscles in the body. 9 of these amino acids cannot be produced by our body. Essential amino acids have to be obtained from our food, which unfortunately due to poor diet and lifestyle, these are amino acids are not found. Most people believe that only eggs contain all the 9 essential amino acids. But due to the majority of people being vegetarian, they are deprived of these amino acids. In the plant Kingdom sea buckthorn contains 18 essential amino acids. That’s why sea buckthorn can be called the source of complete food.
There are many minerals available in sea buckthorn such as: – Calcium, Iron, Potassium, Magnesium, Copper, Sodium and Phosphorus. Minerals help in physical growth and strengthening of the bones, as well as strengthen the immune system.
Sea buckthorn the main source of Flavonoids
Although there are many types of flavonoids in Sea Buckthorn, the four main ones are isorhamnetin, quercitin, myricetin and kaempferol. Each of these has powerful benefits for the human body. Flavonoids have been studied extensively and have been found to possess strong anti-viral and antioxidant properties, which allow them to attack free radicals and protect cells from their damaging effects, boost the immune system to protect the body from infection and help in the process of cell regeneration, leaving the body stronger and healthier than ever before. Recent research shows that flavonoids may even prevent or greatly reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and degenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s and dementia) that increase as we age. Since it increases the strength of the immune system, it helps ease allergies, and prevents the occurrence of general illness and delays ageing.
Polyphenolic compounds of Seabuckthorn possess anti oxidant properties. They inhibit the growth of tumors and exhibit a radioprotective action, which protects our body from the side effects of radiation.
Lycopene present in Sea buckthorn is considered to keep prostate and colon cells healthy.
Sea buckthorn has plenty of protective components along with phytosterols, zeaxanthin, malic acids and B-sitosterols. Sea buckthorn gives us almost all the nutrients that our body needs.