With its multitude of important ingredients, sea buckthorn is a real superfood and also an extremely potent medicinal plant that, among other things, benefits skin health, inhibits inflammation and can help protect heart health.
Sea buckthorn is an oil willow plant native to northwestern Europe and Central Asia, whose fruits are particularly rich in vitamin C. The fruits also contain beta-carotene, tannins and vitamin B12 as well as polyunsaturated fatty acids, flavonoids and free amino acids.
How is sea buckthorn used?
To benefit from all these healthy ingredients, sea buckthorn can be used in different forms. Sea buckthorn is not only used as tea or jam, but also in skin creams, for example. The fruits of sea buckthorn have been used as medicine for centuries and various current research studies demonstrate their beneficial health properties.
Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
For example, one study reports that sea buckthorn fruits inhibit inflammation, improve skin healing and also reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases thanks to bioactive compounds such as vitamin C, flavonoids, free fatty acids and carotenoids.
Anti-inflammatory and anti-cardiovascular effects
A study this year showed that raw extracts and individual compounds from sea buckthorn have various health benefits. The team found that sea buckthorn has, among other things, anti-inflammatory effects and cardiovascular benefits, confirming the results of the study mentioned above.
The experts add that sea buckthorn also has antioxidant, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, neuroprotective and antibacterial properties.
Reduces symptoms of metabolic syndrome
In another study, the effect of sea buckthorn against the so-called metabolic syndrome was examined in particular. The experts involved report that in vitro and in vivo tests have shown that sea buckthorn has positive effects on the symptoms of metabolic syndrome.
Sea buckthorn can lower blood fat levels, blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Sea buckthorn also regulates important metabolic products.
Phytochemical components have a cardioprotective effect
Research work from this year also confirms that the bioactive phytochemical components of sea buckthorn have, among other things, cardioprotective effects.
The researchers come to the conclusion that sea buckthorn has great potential as a dietary supplement and, in the form of pure extracts, can also be used to treat and prevent various diseases. In particular, sea buckthorn offers a natural and effective way to strengthen heart health. (as)
