Sea buckthorn is a plant with bright orange berries that grows in Europe, China and parts of Europe. Sea buckthorn extract contains a variety of essential fatty acids and antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin E and anthocyanins (1).
- What you need to know
- Benefit
- Contraindications
- In cosmetics
- How to choose
- Expert commentary
What you need to know about sea buckthorn
Sea buckthorn grows in almost all countries of the world, but East Asia is considered its homeland
Sea buckthorn berries contain 190 biologically active nutrients. These are vitamins A, B1, B2, C, D, E, flavonoids, amino acids, phenols, beta-carotene, folic and organic acids. It also includes 20 mineral elements.
Sea buckthorn leaves, flowers, seeds and berries are used in teas, oils or concentrates to treat health problems.
Sea buckthorn calorie content and nutritional value
Sea buckthorn is a low-calorie product that contains a large amount of vitamins. The glycemic index (GI) of sea buckthorn is 30, which classifies it as a low GI food (2). 100 g of sea buckthorn contains (3):
- kilocalories – 50
- proteins – 0 g
- fat – 0 g
- carbohydrates – 10 g.
One of the main vitamins in sea buckthorn is vitamin C. There are about 400 mg of it per 100 g of sea buckthorn (4). In addition, berries contain carotenoids and polyphenolic compounds, especially phenolic acids and flavonoids. These are the main bioactive and antioxidant components of sea buckthorn.
Benefits of sea buckthorn: 4 properties
In herbal medicine, sea buckthorn is used to improve digestion, heart and liver health, and treat skin diseases.
Sea buckthorn oil is popular in skin care. It relieves irritation, can treat acne and slow down aging (5).
Today there is insufficient data on the effect of sea buckthorn on specific diseases. However, preliminary research suggests it may have health benefits.
1. May promote wound healing
Sea buckthorn helps heal wounds. In a 2009 experiment, scientists found that topical application of sea buckthorn seed oil helped speed up the healing of burn wounds in rats. (6).
2. May improve dry eye syndrome
Some studies show that sea buckthorn supplements reduce redness and burning in the eyes. Eye spray with sea buckthorn relieves dryness (7).
3. Reduces blood pressure
One experiment found that taking sea buckthorn for eight months could reduce high blood pressure as effectively as special medications (7)..
4. May Reduce Psoriasis Symptoms
Research has proven that using sea buckthorn oil on the skin helps reduce flaking in people with psoriasis (7).
The vitamin C content of sea buckthorn is higher than that of oranges, peaches and mangoes.
Contraindications to sea buckthorn
Sea buckthorn supplements, ointments and cosmetics may not be suitable for everyone
In small quantities, sea buckthorn is quite safe. But people with blood diseases should treat it with caution: the berry has a thinning effect, which increases the risk of bleeding. It may also cause low blood sugar in people with diabetes.
Anti-burn ointments with sea buckthorn extract can cause an allergic reaction.
Sea buckthorn can affect the effectiveness of some medications that treat gastrointestinal, autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases, and oncology.
Before taking any sea buckthorn extract supplements, you should consult your doctor.
Sea buckthorn in cosmetics
The compounds found in sea buckthorn oil are beneficial for the skin. The oil can stimulate regeneration, helping wounds heal faster (8). Animal experiments also show that it can reduce inflammation after UV exposure, protecting the skin from sun damage (9). Scientists believe this is due to the omega-7 and omega-3 fatty acids found in sea buckthorn (10). But more research is needed.
How to choose sea buckthorn and add it to your diet
Fresh sea buckthorn should be bright yellow, dry, and firm to the touch. Also, the berries should not be wrinkled. They should be stored in the refrigerator and washed immediately before eating. Another option is to freeze for the winter.
- Berries can be eaten in their natural form, as well as prepared from them into juice, fruit drinks, compote, and made into jam.
- You can make tea with sea buckthorn leaves.
- Sea buckthorn seeds produce a concentrated oil that becomes an ingredient in skin care products.
Expert commentary
Why is sea buckthorn considered beneficial?
Sea buckthorn can be called a vitamin bomb due to its high antioxidant content. These are our defenders that allow us to cope with inflammation and resist free radicals. Sea buckthorn will help cope with oxidative stress and maintain health.
Can sea buckthorn be considered a source of beneficial substances for the body or is it still not enough vitamins and minerals?
Can. But if we want to get the maximum vitamins and minerals from food, the diet should be varied. There is no unique product that will compensate for all the deficiencies at once, if the rest of the time we eat processed foods and do not get enough protein and healthy fats.
For which diseases is sea buckthorn useful, and for which is it better to refrain from using it?
Sea buckthorn can be useful for cardiovascular diseases, symptoms of acute respiratory infections, and simply as a source of useful antioxidants on our table.
You should be careful when using sea buckthorn for any diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in the acute stage. Including, but not limited to, gastric and duodenal ulcers, cholecystitis and pancreatitis. In addition, sea buckthorn may not be beneficial for urolithiasis.
Does sea buckthorn retain its beneficial properties if, for example, it is frozen in the summer and made into compotes or fruit drinks in the winter? Or is it better to eat immediately after purchase? What and how is it best to use it with?
Freezing is the best way to preserve the maximum benefits of sea buckthorn during storage. In winter it can be added to tea. If you are not overweight and have no contraindications to consuming sugar-containing products, homemade sea buckthorn jam can be an excellent alternative to store-bought jams with sometimes questionable composition. As for fruit drinks and compotes, it is worth remembering that sugar is added to them and should not be consumed uncontrollably.
