Almond oil

Almonds are the edible seeds of the Prunus dulcis tree, more commonly known as the almond tree.

Although almonds are commonly referred to as nuts, they’re actually the seeds found at the center of the almond fruit, which closely resembles a peach.

Almonds can be consumed whole, ground into flour and even made into non-dairy milk.

They are very rich in fat, making them a perfect source of oil.

Sweet almonds are the variety typically eaten and used to make foods, oils and cosmetics.

Meanwhile, bitter almonds are believed to have medicinal properties, though they can be toxic if they’re not properly processed. Moreover, they’re not widely available.

Almond oil consists of 70% monounsaturated fat, which has been researched for its effects on heart health.

Monounsaturated fats have been shown to increase levels of “good” HDL cholesterol.

HDL is a type of protein that carries cholesterol away from the arteries and transports it to the liver, where it is broken down and excreted from the body. Healthy levels of HDL cholesterol have been shown to help protect against heart disease

Both almonds and almond oil have also been shown to lower levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol

High levels of LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol are considered risk factors for heart disease. Lowering these levels can help keep the heart healthy.

In one small study, a diet rich in almond oil significantly lowered both LDL and total cholesterol levels, while raising HDL cholesterol by 6%