Have you been hearing a lot
about argan oil recently? Have you been wondering: What is it? Why is
it so popular all of a sudden? And, why so expensive? Well, argan oil
is one of the things we are going to explore on the Vegan Fusion
Feast for the Senses Moroccan trip in May. Here's some information to
get you filled in and in the know about this amazing oil.
Argan oil iis an oil that is
pressed from the nuts of the Argania spinosa tree.
These endangered trees are native to, and grow almost exclusively in
the Atlas mountains of southwestern Morocco. The tree is important
for economic, environmental, and ecological reasons, it is a tree
that serves many purposes. It supports local populations and
livestock during drought periods; The fruit sustains goats, the
leaves provide forage for camels and sheep, whilst cattle live off
the press cake that remains after the oil is made and the casings are
used as kindling or as fuel in clay bread ovens.
The
Argan tree grows wild in arid, semi-desert conditions. There it also
plays an essential ecological role by protecting the soil against
heavy rain and wind induced erosion. It provides shade while its
roots bind the soil helping to protect against further
desertification. During times of very low rainfall it has the ability
to lie dormant, and to regenerate when the rains come also surviving
temperatures of up to 120°F. Because of the recent popularity of
argan oil these endangered trees are now protected.
The
Argan forests are integrated into the life of the Berbers who live in
this part of Morocco. They are typically divided up into small
sections amongst the Berber families that live in the area. Almost
all of the oil processing is done by hand through women's
cooperatives. It takes 10–12 hours to crack enough nuts to obtain
sufficient seeds to yield one liter of oil but this provides good
jobs for the women and money for educational programs, schools and
health programs.
Argan
oil is used for both cosmetic and culinary purposes. It contains
twice as much vitamin E as olive oil and is rich in antioxidants and
EFA's. It is 80% unsaturated, containing eight essential fatty acids
and is more resistant to oxidation than olive oil. Argan oil also
contains rare plant sterols not found in other oils, which have
anti-inflammatory properties, beneficial for arthritic or rheumatic
conditions.
The nuts
are roasted for the culinary oil which has a rich nutty flavor and,
in Morocco, is used for dipping bread, as a finishing touch for
cooked food especially grilled and roasted vegetables. It also makes
an excellent salad dressing. A traditional dip for bread known as
amlou is made from argan oil, almonds and peanuts, sometimes
sweetened by honey or sugar. The unroasted oil is traditionally used
as a treatment for skin diseases, and it has recently become the rage
of the western skin and hair care market.
According to various
sources its high vitamin E content helps to reduce wrinkles by
restoring the skin's water lipid layer and it cools and soothes
inflammation. Its antioxidant properties contribute to the
neutralization of free radicals. The oil is also good for your hair
as a moisturizer and conditioner. It revitalizes hair making it
smooth and shiny. Traditionally the oil is used in Morocco to
soothe dry eczema, chicken pox, acne and psoriasis, it can also help
to reduce scarring and prevent stretch marks. It is a light oil that
absorbs readily without feeling greasy.
Information
take from Wikipedia, an article by Dr. Mark Nesbitt and Ruth Hajioff,
and argan oil direct website.