Do you want to achieve glowing skin and support your skin from the inside out, including protection from UV rays and acne-causing bacteria? Would you say you want better hormone health (for example, relief from symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome and even support for menopause, including hot flashes)? If so, you would probably benefit from evening primrose oil. Read on to learn more about this beneficial oil.
What is Evening Primrose Oil?
Fats are a source of energy. They’re also essential for the health of your skin, hair, and brain. They help maintain healthy hormones in the body and support joint function by lubricating cartilage (the tissue that surrounds joints).
Evening primrose oil (also known as “EPO”) is derived from the seeds of the evening primrose plant, Oenothera biennis. It’s a pale yellow liquid that smells faintly like lilacs and can be used as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant supplement.
Evening primrose oil is one of these unsaturated fats that has been proven to have many health benefits. It contains gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which is believed to be helpful for treating skin conditions such as eczema because it helps regulate certain hormones in your body that affect the skin’s condition.
There are two main types of GLA: gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA). Both of these fatty acids have been found to be helpful in reducing inflammation in the body, lowering blood pressure, and improving heart health by reducing cholesterol levels in the bloodstream.
Health Benefits of Evening Primrose Oil
Evening primrose oil is a natural source of GLA, an omega-6 fatty acid that helps to promote healthy skin and hair by reducing oxidative stress from free radicals, including those caused by UV rays from sunlight exposure, and fighting acne-causing bacteria. In one study evening primrose oil was studied for its benefits for skin health. This study gave one group evening primrose oil; and the other group a placebo (supplement with no medicinal benefits or effects). By the end of 12 weeks, the group treated with 1500 mg of evening primrose oil showed a marked increase in skin health in moisture, water loss, firmness, elasticity, fatigue, and a decrease in roughness.
Evening primrose oil can also support hormone health. Studies have shown that GLA can help to balance and regulate the production of hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. This may be especially beneficial for women who are experiencing symptoms of menopause or pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS). Evening primrose oil has also been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes in studies, and can help to reduce breast pain during the menstrual cycle.
Evening Primrose Oil Supplements
Typical dosing of evening primrose oil ranges between 1000 and 3000 milligrams per day, although your health practitioner may recommend a higher dose based on your goals.
Before you buy an evening primrose oil supplement, check the label to make sure that heat was not used. This will ensure that your evening primrose oil provides maximum nutritional value without creating free radicals that can promote cardiovascular disease. A good supplement should also contain some vitamin E to prevent rancidity. Natural Factors Ultra Prim Evening Primrose Oil is a quality supplement that’s highly purified and chemical free. It contains 500mg of primrose oil in every softgel, 50mg being Gamma-Linolenic Acid and 360mg being CIS-Linoleic Acid. The softgels are encapsulated with 14.9IU of vitamin e and the primrose oil is cold pressed and extracted at a low temperature without the use of solvents to keep the integrity of the oil in tact.
The body needs dietary sources of GLA for health purposes and evening primrose oil doesn’t have any known adverse reactions after supplementation unless you already have pre-existing conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or other auto-immune disorders such as lupus erythematosus or multiple sclerosis. It is also worth pointing out that evening primrose oil has an estrogenic effect; therefore it should be avoided by anyone suffering from estrogen receptor positive tumours. In these cases, use black currant seed oil for its GLA content.
We hope this article helped you understand what evening primrose oil is, why it’s important to your health, and how it can benefit you. The bottom line is that fats are an essential part of a healthy diet, but some fats are better than others. In particular, you need GLA in order to maintain good hormone balance and protect our skin from damage caused by environmental toxins. It is highly recommended that you take professional consultation from a qualified healthcare practitioner before taking any supplements.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your practitioner prior to taking herbs or nutritional supplements.