Grapefruit is a hybrid of pomelo and sweet orange. Grapefruit essential oil is extracted from the fruit's peel by compression.
With its antioxidant, diuretic, antiseptic, and appetite suppressing properties, grapefruit essential oil is not only useful in bath and body and household cleaning products, it also has numerous health benefits.
Here are 14 healthful uses of grapefruit essential oils will impact your life:
Weight Loss
If you're trying to lose weight, grapefruit essential oil can aid you in the process. After we have eaten a sufficient amount of food, our brains release chemicals that suppress appetite. However, this process takes time, and we can overeat before we begin to feel full.
Grapefruit essential oil acts as a good appetite suppressant because it directly affects the satiety center in the brain. According to a study done at the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, researchers found that grapefruit essential oil worked at controlling calorie intake better than any other method studied.
To reap its benefits, put a drop of grapefruit essential oil on one of your palms. Rub the palms of your hands together, and breathe in the smell for two to five minutes. For best results, do this 15 to 20 minutes before mealtime.
Fights Sugar Cravings
Grapefruit essential oil can also help you beat your cravings for sugary snacks. Carry a bottle of the oil with you. Take a sniff of it whenever you start craving a sugary treat.
Grapefruit Oil as an Antimicrobial
Grapefruit oil is great for disinfecting cuts and bruises on the skin due to its antiseptic and antimicrobial properties. It can also be effective at preventing gastrointestinal infections as well.
Research has shown that grapefruit oil is effective against bacteria, such as E. Coli and Salmonella. In addition, when inhaled, grapefruit oil vapors have been shown to help treat nasal and respiratory infections.
Grapefruit oil can also help protect against fungal infections caused by Aspergillus niger, Candida, and Penicillium.
Fights Inflammation
According to Natural Living Ideas, grapefruit oil's antioxidant properties decrease the oxidative stress that is caused by reactive radicals that can lead to cellular damage.
Damage to the body's tissues and organs by reactive radicals are a major cause of inflammation throughout the body.
Grapefruit oil can reduce or prevent inflammation in the body and may protect you from degenerative conditions associated with inflammation, such as dementia and macular degeneration.
Fights Acne
Overproduction of sebum by the skin's oil glands as well as clogged pores cause pimples. Grapefruit oil can decrease the production of sebum.
Grapefruit oil also cleanses the skin of dirt, oil, and dead skin cells, allowing the pores to stay open. The oil can also help fight infection and prevent acne scarring.
Studies suggests adding three drops of grapefruit essential oil to a cup of water to use as a face wash for preventing acne. The site also recommends dipping a cotton ball in grapefruit essential oil and dabbing it on existing acne to shrink pimples and prevent infection.
Hair Tonic
Grapefruit oil can help decrease the grease in your hair. If you color your hair, the essential oil may be able to protect it from sun damage. The essential oil promotes healthy hair follicles and treats dandruff.
Dr. Axe recommends adding a few drops of the essential oil to your shampoo or conditioner to reap these benefits.
Energy Booster
Inhaling the vapors of diffused grapefruit oil increases alertness and focus. It also reduces headaches, "brain fog," and sleepiness. The oil is even beneficial to those suffering from adrenal fatigue symptoms, such as lethargy, aches, and a lack of motivation.
Mood Booster
The aroma of grapefruit oil can improve mood and relieve depression. You can either diffuse the oil or sniff it directly from the bottle to reap these benefits.
Alternatively, try dabbing a few drops on the bottoms of your feet, on your wrist, or behind your ears. If you are already taking anti-depressants, talk with your doctor before using grapefruit essential oil.
Fights Cellulite
According to Style Craze, grapefruit essential oil is a good cellulite buster. The essential oil helps flush out free radicals that form cellulite.
Mix one or two drops of grapefruit essential oil into coconut oil, and massage it into your body every night to reap this benefit.
Diuretic
Grapefruit oil acts as a diuretic, promoting urination. It aids in the removal of sodium, excess water, uric acid, fats, and toxins from the body.
Grapefruit oil removes uric and calcareous deposits and protects the kidneys from infections and renal calculi. Frequent urination helps protect the urinary tract from infections as well.
Lymphatic System Booster
The lymphatic system aids in the removal of toxic and unwanted substances from the body. Grapefruit oil helps ensure healthy functioning of the lymphatic system, helping cleanse the body of toxins and fight against rheumatism, gout, cellulite, and arthritis.
Relieves Symptoms of PMS
According to Dr. Axe, the blood dilating effects of the essential oil are effective for relieving PMS cramps, muscle pain, headaches, fatigue, and bloating. Try adding a few drops of the oil to a nightly bath to relieve PMS symptoms.
Alternatively, dab a few drops on your wrist or on your shirt collar for symptom relief.
Stress Relief
Grapefruit essential oil has been shown to reduce stress. You can diffuse it or put it in your bath water to help you reduce stress.
Alternatively, you can add several drops of grapefruit oil and coconut oil to a cotton ball, and dab the mixture onto your chest, neck, or wrists.
Assists digestion
The essential oil also promotes the production of bile and gastric juices, which aid in digestion. Dr. Axe asserts that grapefruit oil also fights microbes in the gut, intestines, and other digestive organs.
You can mix some grapefruit essential oil with jojoba or coconut oil, and massage it into your stomach.
According to Mercola, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved grapefruit essential oil as a food additive, and the FDA has given the oil a, "generally regarded as safe," rating.
Even though the oil has a generally regarded as safe rating, the oil should not be taken without the advice and supervision of a physician.
Additionally, the oil may cause an allergic reaction when applied to the skin. To determine if you have an allergic reaction to the essential oil, apply a drop to a small area of your skin, and watch for any reaction.
Grapefruit essential oil may also cause photosensitivity and sensitivity to ultraviolet rays from the sun. The oil may make you more likely to develop skin problems, such as freckles, skin discoloration, and brown spots. It is recommended that you do not use grapefruit oil before sun exposure.
Pregnant and nursing women should check with their physicians before using this essential oil. Children should not use grapefruit oil due to their sensitive skin. The oil is safe around pets except for cats; grapefruit oil is toxic to them.
Try Grapefruit Essential Oil For Yourself
Grapefruit oil has numerous benefits. Whether you want to improve your mood, lose weight, or fight acne, this essential oil can help. Try it out for yourself. Start small.
Try adding it to your bath to reduce stress after a hard day at work, diffuse some in your office to improve your focus at work, or massage a little into your stomach to aid with digestion.
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