Health Benefits of Argan Oil

Argan Oil Health Benefits

Argan oil is rich in essential fatty acids, especially linoleic acid, a precursor of vitamin E giving its moisturizing, strong antioxidant and skin anti-aging properties.
Long observed empirically, the beneficial effects, moisturizers and restructurability of argan oil have since been confirmed and explained scientifically.
By its content of essential fatty acids (EFAs), argan oil makes it possible to correct deficiencies that inevitably occur with age, and which result in dehydration and loss of skin elasticity. Argan oil and combat skin aging. Argan oil is also rich in tocopherols (vitamin E) at the rate of 700 mg per kilogram, or more than twice as much as olive oil (320 mg / kg). The latter, as well as polyphenols also contained in the argan oil, are natural antioxidants and anti-free-radicals.

Argan oil stimulates intracellular oxygenation, neutralizes free radicals and protects the soft tissue. Its skin application restores the skin and increases the nutrient content of skin cells.

Argan oil benefits summary

• For centuries, Argan oil has been used locally for therapeutic, cookware and cosmetic purposes, today the whole world is appreciating this oil.
• Argan oil is highly rich in essential fatty acids oleic and lineoic acids (47%) as well as in vitamin E (60-90mg/1OOg) , which positively boost our skin regenerating capabilities.
• It repairs and protects the skin against droughts and external aggressions, preventing its premature aging thanks to its essential fatty acids.
• Argan oil vitamin E richness, gives its antioxidant qualities
• It protects muscles from degeneration associated with aging.
• It can be used both for internal and external purposes.
• some argan oil internal usages: Massage, for rheumatism, against hair loss, to eliminate dandruff, against acne, burns, wrinkles, to protect against skin drying.
• some argan oil internal usages: positive effect against cholesterol and atherosclerosis.
• some argan oil culinary usage: in dressings, its aroma couples very well with crudites.
• Its nutty after-taste enhances so many dishes: whether with fish or goat's cheese, with puréed sweet potatoes or a salad of carrots and oranges.
• A simple argan oil drizzle will enliven your soups, cooked dishes and even desserts.
• It adds a touch of nut and sesame, bringing an oriental flavor to your cooking,
  

• It enhances the prostaglandins synthesis. Argan oil contains no cholesterol, which makes it very suitable in the context of any cholesterol-free diet.
• It protects the cardiovascular system.
• For a cosmetic use, it softens the skin, revitalizes the tired and wrinkled parts by rehydrating and giving the skin its lost youthful elasticity.
• Argan oil is also highly effective as a relief middle in cases of burns, scars and the like.
• Argan oil has a strengthening effect for nails and hair.
• Argan oil is widely used in the local recipes as well as in traditional medicine as a treatment of skin diseases such as acne and chickenpox (varicella).
• Currently, it is used as a medicinal product and active ingredient in many cosmetics and increasingly used by international and famous beauty specialists.

Related posts:
How is argan oil produced in Morocco?
Argan tree photos-Morocco
Argan oil and women cooperatives story -Morocco
Argan oil women cooperatives - Morocco

GEI Targanine Argan Oil Products Review

Argan oil cooperatives short story:

Intrigued by ancient local claims of the Argan oil's health and nutritional properties, Zoubida Charrouf, a chemistry professor at University Mohammed V in Morocco capital, Rabat, decided to conduct chemical research on the oil in the early 1990s. What she found corresponds with the local traditional wisdom : the substance highly rich with vitamin E and unsaturated fatty acids that can lower cholesterol, reduce wrinkles and juvenile acne, and speed healing of abrasions.

Charrouf's findings renewed interest in the argan tree, as did the decision by UNESCO in the late 1990s that declared the endangered argan forest area a biosphere reserve. Conservationists, development agencies and entrepreneurs all sought ways to protect the tree and encourage the local economy growth.

In the beginning, things didn't go quite as planned. Local women couldn't deliver a high-end product; their homemade oil was often packaged in leftover plastic bottles and sold on the side of the road or in local souqs (traditional markets), or marketplaces.

Charrouf decided to found cooperatives to tackle the problems head on and start employing women who had discovered argan oil's benefits to begin with. The ooperatives now employ approximately 800 women full and part-time, many of them poor, widowed or divorced. The majority of the women work at cracking the stones; for that, they are paid an average of $100 a month and receive a share in the cooperatives' profits. To ensure the quality of the product, Charrouf replaced much of the traditional extraction methods with a mechanized process that extended the oil's shelf life from six months to two years. Women still crack the stones, because no machine can match their dexterity. On the conservation front, each of Charrouf's workers plants 10 new argan trees a year. Most significantly, as the region's economic growth is increasingly tied to the argan, villagers have become much more reluctant to let their goats graze in the trees. In addition, the Amal cooperative in Tamanar received the International Slow Food Award for biodiversity in 2001. Drawn by increasing press coverage, 100 tourists descend upon the Amal cooperative each day, buying edible oil and cosmetics products. In response to increases demand Charrouf recently grouped the cooperatives under one umbrella organization in order to standardize their operation and accounting systems and to expand their bargaining power. This organization is called GEI TARGANINE and it has been created since October 2003. GEI TARGANINE also helps these cooperatives to get in international quality system.

In light of the cooperatives' success, it's hard to believe that Charrouf ever faced any resistance. But at the beginning, men scoffed at the notion that she could realize her plans and that the women were capable of running co-op. But as the men saw the economic benefit of the cooperatives, they began encouraging this project. Rather than tearing the fabric of community apart, the cooperatives created jobs and removed the need of urban migration. Besides offering women jobs paying them a decent wage, Charrouf offers classes in reading and arithmetic. That impacts their children well, because once they realize the issue of education, women are more likely to send their kids to school.

GEI TARGANINE product line, for natural beauty and health

ARGANIUM : a natural beauty serum

• Moisturising and nourishing: with Arganium, a beauty serum made of 100% argan oil, it offers your skin a new vitality and complete beauty care. While regenerating, argan oil is well known for its moisturising, nourishing and protective effect on the skin.
• Regenerating and activating: argan oil is frequently used in traditional medicine in order to heal scars ( e.g. such as those caused by acne ) or to soothe rheumatic pain.
• Diminishing wrinkles : rich in essential fatty acids, argan oil re-vitalizes the skin and activates the cell's vital functions, thus diminishing wrinkles. Furthermore it protects the skin from external aggressions such as the sun while neutralising free radicals.
  

While keeping all its active principles, ARGANIUM is made out of non-roasted almonds and
is thus free from well known hazelnut odour which is noticeable in the edible oil.


ARGANATI : 100% pure argan oil (Certified as organic product)

ARGANATI is exclusively made out of argan almonds. It is produced with ancestral know-how of Berbers women which is transmitted from generation and with modern means in order to fit
international norms. 30 kg of fruits and more than 15 hours of work are required for the production of one liter of argan oil.

• Reduction of cholesterol level : thanks to its high concentration inessential fatty acids ( linoleic acid : 34% ) and its high percentage in unsaturated fatty acids ( 80% ), natural argan oil reduces cholesterol levels and prevents atherosclerosis. It is recommended to all those who wish to lead a balanced and healthy life. ARGANATI is delicious in salad sauce and will give a special taste to your vegetables, fishes and cooked meals.
  

AMLOU BELDI: a tasty spread

Amlou Beldi is a tasty spread made out of almonds, honey and argan oil. It is renowned for its aphrodisiac virtues and its deliciousness on toast for breakfast.










GEI Argan oil Production Process

1. The Argan fruits are mature ( around June ), they are dried.
2. Dried flesh is removed though a machine
3. The resulting nuts are manually crushed between two stones by women in order to
obtain an intact almond
4. These almonds are then slightly roasted for culinary oil only ( Arganati )
- Temperature : 100°C for roasting machine
- 30 kg of almonds need 2 hours for roasting
- Although raw material is heated through roasting and extracting process, the peroxides value are definitely under international norms as mentioned in the here enclosed chemical specifications
5. The almonds are then pressed through a special oil press to give argan oil (the equipment is manufactured in Germany )
- Argan oil is made of kernel of argan seeds without any additives.
- It is 100% pure natural products
6. The oil is then decanted into bottle and finally filtered in a special oil filter

This Argan oil is got solely by using kernels of Argan seeds. The oil doesn't contain any additives. All GEI TARGANINE products are certified by ECOCERT as organic ones.

300 ha of Argan trees to be planted in southern Morocco

Essaouira (south), June 11 - Some 300 ha of Argan trees will be reforested in the south of Morocco, under a cooperation agreement signed in 2002 between Midi Pyrenees regions and the region of Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz, revealed, here Sunday, the Mohammed V Foundation for Research and Argan Tree Preservation.

The foundation, which held its third general assembly, underlined the achievements mainly those pertaining to the notion of the geographical indication, which represents an important step in the process of the protection of the Argan tree.

The Foundation's director general, Ms Katim Alaoui, noted that the agreement also provides for the upgrading and the marketing of the argan oil by women's cooperatives.

She also pointed out that the foundation promoted the use of solar ovens by the population working on argan oil by installing 30 solar ovens in the region.

This project aims at saving firewood through the use of solar energy, given that each solar oven enables to save between 5 and 10 kg of wood a day, according to the project officials who estimate that the setting up of 500 solar ovens results in avoiding a loss of 50 to 100 ha of argan trees per year.

Set up in May 2004, the Foundation aims at guaranteeing a legal protection of the argan trees exploitation, promoting and protecting natural equilibrium, improving the standard of living of the population working on argan trees and guaranteeing the quality of the argan products.

A forest, fruit and fodder tree, the argan tree covers currently some 870,000 ha, that is around 10% of Morocco’s forest areas.

source MAP

Argan oil - The oil of miracles from the land of magics

Argan tree, the geographical exception of being local to southern Morocco, is a tree with a life spreading between 150 and 200 years. Argan tree is very resistant to drought and heat.

Originally uploaded by euanpreston

Argan tree geographical area span over 830,000 ha along the Atlantic coast from Essaouira (Morocco) to Souss valley (Morocco) where it represents 71% of forests. But there are colonies of Argan trees in places where they are not expected witnessing an extension of the old area.

One of the main ecological characteristics of Argan tree lies in its adaptability to all kinds of soils. It's found on clay soils, limestone, and so on. However, it does not grow on sandy soils, hence its absence on the dunes surrounding the town of Essaouira .

It is interesting to note that soil fertility is higher beneath the Argan tree where the soil is always wet and microbial activities are more important. Researchers have identified varieties of plants that owe their survival to the micro-climate Argan tree offers.

Argan tree area expands from sea level up to an altitude of 1500m southern of Morocco, and 700 m on the northern mountains of Morocco.

This ever green and thorny tree is perfectly adapted to aridity. Thanks to its deep root system, Argan tree helps maintain soil fertility, and protect it from water and wind erosion keeping away desertification threat.
Argan tree belongs to the Sapotaceae plant family. It grows in the southwest of Morocco, on dry lands, and plays an important role in the ecology of the area by maintaining humidity keeping the surrounding land fertile.

The Argan tree is characterized by its roots that are so deep (five times the upper part). It can spontaneously get rid of its leaves to minimize evaporation of moisture once traversing prolonged drought periods that may endanger its existence. Argan tree wood is used for construction and its leaves are the daily camels' food as well as that of goats which don't hesitate climbing up the tree to graze the seedlings. Argan fruits, which are concealed within a very hard shell, take two years long to reach maturity and finally be ready for the extraction of the miracle oil: the Argan oil.
Argan nuts enclose one or more almonds (up to three), containing a very thin oil with a light nutty flavor.

Unfortunately, Argan tree is an endangered species due to intensive agriculture and other tree wood usages. However, UNESCO recognized in 1999, the Argan forest as a World Heritage of Humanity.

Argan oil benefits en recipes

Traditionally in Morocco, Argan oil is used in tajines, couscous, salads, grilled tomatoes and other famous moroccan recipes (see how argan oil is traditionally produced in Morocco).

Argan oil contains 80% of unsaturated fatty acids. This acid is essential because it can not be synthesized by our body and must be provided in diet.

Argan's oleic acid content makes it a particularly interesting oil in the regulation of cholesterol. There are some ongoing studies that tend to show that two soup-spoonfuls Argan oil per day for a month could significantly reduce blood cholesterol.

The Argan oil is rich in vitamin E (620 mg / kg for Argan oil compared to 320 mg / kg for Olive oil) which is a powerful fat-soluble antioxidant that captures free radicals and neutralizes destructive oxidation.

Some Argan oil medical properties:

• Anti-oxidant (phenolic compounds)
• Reduces hyper tension
• Reduces cholesterol damage
• Reduces rheumatic an articular pain
• Stimulates brain capacity
• Facilitate digestion by increasing the concentration of pepsin in the gastric juice

Some Argan Oil recipes

How to prepare original Moroccan Amlou:

Purported by native Moroccans to be a natural aphrodisiac and energy booster, argan is mixed into a paste with roasted almonds and honey then spread on rolls or bread. Eaten in the morning, the dip is also cited as an appetite suppressant and dietary aid.

Amlou Ingredients:

• 8 oz. regular almonds, roasted and salted
• 8 tbsp. argan oil
• 4 tbsp. honey
  

Grind almonds in a food processor to desired texture. Place ground almonds in a mixing bowl and slowly stir in argan oil, one tbsp at a time. Slowly stir in honey to a well mixed paste. Serve on Pita bread, croissant, toast or rolls.
You should store Amlou at room temperature in a sealed container for good conservation.

How to prepare Argan and Honey Spread
A delicious spread For a quick, energetic start of your day

Argan/honey spread ingredients:

• 2 tbsp. argan oil
• 2 tbsp. honey

Mix honey and argan in a bowl. Use on bread or pancakes. For good conservation, store it at room temperature in closed container.

Preparing Couscous - Morocco

, originally uploaded by mcprincenw.

The way Argan oil is made in southern Morocco

How argan oil is produced

Argan oil is produced from the fruits of the Argan tree which grows nowhere in the world except in southwestern Morocco. It is believed to date back 25,000,000 years and to have once covered N. Africa wild in semi-desert soil, its deep root system helping to protect against soil erosion.

Originally uploaded by JustinSahibdeen

It was first reported by the explorer Leo Africanus in 1510. Now only 860,000 hectares remain in S.W. Morocco and these are declining at a rate of 50,000h per year. Measures are being put in place to protect this rare and endangered species and in 1999 the argan was listed as a UNESCO Biosphere Heritage.

Originally uploaded by Julie70

Originally uploaded by dianjo

The most labour intensive part of oil-extraction is removal of the soft pulp (used as animal feed) and the cracking by hand, between two stones, of the hard nut. The seeds are then removed and gently roasted.

Originally uploaded by carolynalicedaly

This roasting accounts for part of the oil's distinctive, nutty flavour. The traditional technique for oil extraction is to grind the roasted seeds to paste, with a little water, in a stone rotary quern. The paste is then squeezed between hands to extract the oil.

Originally uploaded by Aceduline

The extracted paste is still oil-rich and is used as animal feed. Oil produced by this method will keep 3-6 months, and will be produced as needed in a family, from a store of the kernels, which will keep for 20 years unopened.

Dry-pressing is now increasingly important for oil produced for sale, as the oil will keep 12-18 months and extraction is much faster.

Originally uploaded by easyondeuxize

Goats like the pulp of argan fruits and often try to climb the trees to get at them. They will digest the pulp, but shed the undigested seeds in their feces.

As these have shells that are somewhat softened and easier to crack, they are occasionally used to produce oil for non-culinary purposes. An urban legend has it that all argan oil is produced this way. This myth seems to be based on the fact that occasionally, shrewd traders would have sold (and may still try to sell) such "non-food grade" argan oil to ignorant travellers or tourists.

Originally uploaded by Maria McCann!

The fact that the nuts acquire a foul aroma in passing through the animal's digestive tract makes it easy to tell this oil apart from food-grade produce with its rich, walnut oil-like flavor.

Argan oil trees

Originally uploaded by Julie70.

Originally uploaded by With A Jacket For My Pillow: the journeys of Mike.

These beautifully twisted trees dot the hills and valleys of much of southern Morocco. People here have been producing an oil for eating and as a skin cream for generations and only recently has it become a high end export (see the photo later of women grinding for more of the story on argan oil). The tree itself is a work of art and they can get fairly large. I could do a whole project just taking portraits of these trees with their distinctive personalities.

by With A Jacket For My Pillow: the journeys of Mike

Originally uploaded by euanpreston

Argan Trees in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco

by euanpreston

Originally uploaded by Robbie's Photo Art

These goats love the fruit from the Argan Tree.

by Robbie's Photo Art

Goats climbing argan tree

Originally uploaded by s_st.

The inner nuts of the fruits of the argan tree can be pressed to make oil that can be used in cooking or cosmetics. This process is possible even if the nuts have been through the digestive systems of climbing goats like these.
Morocco, March 2007

by s_st

Argan almonds through the handmade mill

Originally uploaded by Aceduline.

The argan almonds are added to this handmade mill through its hollowed top part.

Originally uploaded by corv.

Moroccan women preparing argan oil

, originally uploaded by Aceduline.

Women extracting oil from Argan seeds

Originally uploaded by Julie70.

Originally uploaded by Julie70.

Roasting argan almonds

Originally uploaded by dianjo.

Originally uploaded by kp-snaps

Argan Oil Co-operative

Originally uploaded by dianjo.

Argan oil production

Argan oil production
Originally uploaded by The Brentford Tailor

Breaking argan nuts shells

Originally uploaded by dianjo

Originally uploaded by kp-snaps

Originally uploaded by dianjo

Argan Oil salesman between Essauoira and Agadir - Morocco

Originally uploaded by paul.emms

Grinding and persing argan almonds

Originally uploaded by corv

Originally uploaded by ImAzIr

Originally uploaded by ImAzIr

Goats grazing argan tree

Originally uploaded by Miss Eudoxia

Originally uploaded by Aceduline

Goats like the pulp of argan fruits and often try to climb the trees to get them. They will digest the pulp, but shed the undigested seeds in their feces. As these have shells that are somewhat softened and easier to crack, they are occasionally used to produce oil for non-culinary purposes. An urban legend has it that all argan oil is produced this way. This myth seems to be based on the fact that occasionally, shrewd traders would have sold (and may still try to sell) such "non-food grade" argan oil to ignorant travellers or tourists. The fact that the nuts acquire a foul aroma in passing through the animal's digestive tract makes it easy to tell this oil apart from food-grade produce with its rich, walnut oil-like flavor.

By Aceduline

Originally uploaded by atsjebosma

Argan Tree Morocco

Originally uploaded by Alarabesque

Tree argan, which exists only in the area of the South of Morocco. A very rich oil is extracted from the fruits of this tree: oil argane, very appraisal by the companies of cosmetic. In 1999, UNESCO, declared the argan universal inheritance, and this, in order to protect it by the means of the World Network of the Biosphere (World Biosphere Network Reserve). Photo catch with Has Baamarane, tribe Berber of the South of Morocco.

Arbre arganier, qu'on ne trouve que dans la région du Sud du Maroc. Une huile très riche est extraite des fruits de cet arbre : huile d'argane, très prisée par les sociétés de cosmétique. En 1999, l'Unesco, a déclaré l'arganier patrimoine universel, et ce, afin de le protéger par le biais du Réseau Mondial de la Biosphère (World Biosphere Reserve Network).

Photo prise à Ait Baamarane, tribu berbère du Sud du Maroc.

By Alarabesque

Peppers and Argan oil

Pimientos en aceite de Argán, originally uploaded by escribirconlacabeza.

Argan is an endemic tree of the zone of Essaouira (Morocco), in barren zones occupies more than 650,000 has. in form of clear forests that they do not exceed the 1,500 ms of altitude. Tree of great vitality, of twisted trunks and foliage persistent of small and extended leaves, its fruits, nuts similar to the olives, that have a hard bone that contains almonds of which an orange oil very perfumed is extracted: argan. Its persistent foliage offers to the cattle a true hanging grass, to the goats it enchants to them, and they do not doubt in climbing for upper ramonear in of the tree, offering a singular image that does not happen unnoticed to the step visitor. The nuts are harvested of form similar to the harvesting of olives, of the almonds that there are inside the bone is extracted the perfumed oil, is an oil of strong flavor, that is used as much in the Moroccan gastronomy within the kitchen as in crude. Also curativos powers are attributed to him, reason why we found it in herbolisterias and the stores of homeopatía. The almonds of the bones are extracted and they are ground in stone mills of small size that there is in the Moroccan rural houses. They do lack 100 kg of mature fruits and ten working hours with a homemade mill to obtain a liter of oil.

By escribirconlacabeza

Argan Oil and Tree

moved to: How argan oil is produced

Morocco to create 3 biosphere reserves including Argan

Agadir (southwest), Feb. 28 - Morocco is due to create three biosphere reserves, part of a national strategy for protected natural areas, revealed, here Monday, Water and Forest Commissioner, Abdeladim El Hafi.

The reserves include an Argan reserve (RBA), an oases reserve, south (RBOSM) and an intercontinental Mediterranean Reserve (RBIM), El Hafi told MAP at the end of a workshop on sustainable tourism, adding that the RBIM, which enjoys the UNESCO backing, is a unique in the world as it links Africa and Europe.

He said that the geographic, climate and cultural similarities between southern Spain and northern Morocco were behind the creation of this reserve, which covers an area of 1.000.000 ha, noting that the project aims at enabling the two countries share experiences and cooperate in managing and protecting natural resources.

A plan to set up a Cedar Biosphere Reserve in the Middle Atlas is also being devised to safeguard this tree, due to its important role in regulating the water cycle, in an area that contains more than 40% of water resources in Morocco, he said.

El Hafi recalled that Morocco ranks second -after Turkey- in the Mediterranean in terms of biodiversity richness, its natural resources remain however "Fragile and not protected enough, which requires the setting up of a national network to protect natural areas."

The national strategy for protected natural areas revolves around three axes, namely restoring and developing polluted environments, and promoting eco-tourism products.