The Power of the Sun…flower: 3 Health Benefits of Sunflowers

Wild sunflowers color the earth, bring joy to flower gardens and ornament homes as a cheerful bouquet. The color yellow, especially natural yellow, is proven to be a mood lifter that energizes a space and enlivens your spirits. The health benefits of sunflowers are endless. Here are just a few to point out. 

Mind Body Green shares how bright flowers are a wonderful way to color your life with positive energy, and yellow sunflowers in particular, increase happiness. The bright blooms of these golden annuals offer more value than the color of sunshine and mood-enhancing radiance, though. Our October flower of the month produces seeds that are not only delicious and healthy to eat, but able to be pressed into sunflower oil.

Sunflowers provide confection sunflower seeds (as opposed to non-oil sunflower seeds), which create natural sunflower oil. This oil is an amber, light and healthy oil rich in Vitamin E used for cosmetics and health. Embrace the beauty of the sunflower and welcome the golden oil into your everyday lifestyle. Plus, going au naturel is the de rigueur.

So, What Is Sunflower Oil?

Sunflower oil is a nutrient-dense food that provides healthy fat in moderation. As Livestrong.com explains, it’s a mixture of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats with mostly unsaturated fat levels, which means it’s good for you. (Polysaturates reduce bad cholesterol.) One tablespoon serving of sunflower oil contains 8.9 grams of linoleic acid, an omega-six polyunsaturated fatty acid and an essential part of a healthy diet. Sunflower oil is low in unhealthy saturated fatty acids and naturally free of cholesterol, sodium and trans fats.

Sunflower oil also is an excellent source of alpha-tocopherol (a form of vitamin E), which is a nutrient that acts as an antioxidant (always a healthy buzz term). The Vitamin E found in sunflower oil can strengthen the immune system, lower risk of certain diseases and aid in healthy skin and eyes.

Glowing Skin

First, adorn your kitchen table with a charming sunflower bouquet to make you smile every morning. Yellow flowers elevate moods and brighten spirits, says Gardening News Today, and a happy girl is a beautiful girl.

Next, invite sunflower oil into your beauty regimen. Because of sunflower oil’s nutritious composition, it serves as a beneficial application for healthy, glowing skin. StyleCraze advocates sunflower oil because of its calming and emollient properties, which help retain skin moisture and treat dry, dehydrated skin. Sunflower oil’s high amounts of Vitamin E also protect against skin cell damage, help prevent scarring and smooth wrinkles. Its antioxidant properties aid in the preservation of your skin and prevent signs of aging. You can even mix the sunflower oil with castor oil to use as a cleanser to remove dead cells and impurities.

Lustrous Locks

The beauty of sunflower oil is its versatility, which means you can downsize your cosmetics collection and give your credit card a break. Sunflower oil not only makes a smooth skin moisturizer, but it also hydrates dry hair and gives those tresses a shimmering sheen. Use it as a lightweight natural conditioner to tackle frizz and prevent breakage. For gals with thick hair envy, apply sunflower oil to prevent hair from thinning. Sunflower oil is an excellent source of gamma alpha linolenic acid, which can help treat hair loss.

Home Remedy

For centuries, Native Americans have relied on the sunflower for its medicinal purposes—the golden oil serves as a topical anti-inflammatory and pain reliever. Taken orally, the oil can treat infections, help heal ulcers and relieve constipation. And, it doesn’t end there. Sunflower oil can aid in the treatment of athlete’s foot and soothe symptoms of a sore throat. Called oil pulling, sunflower oil even remedies toothaches and promotes good oral health, according to Natural Society. Slowly swish a tablespoon of the oil in your mouth for about 15 to 20 minutes to relieve pain.

At this point, you may think you might as well drench yourself in sunflower oil to benefit from its beautifying, nutritious and healing properties. Just keep in mind, moderation, like everything in life, is key. Just add a little sunflower oil to your daily routine and a bright sunflower bouquet as cheery home decor. Sunflower oil and a floral arrangement will provide a natural boost in wellness and aesthetically create a happy and blithe energy for your living space.