VALENTINE'S DAY: It's History, The Rose Connection and Celebrating It via Organic Body Care

 

On February 14th, many individuals across the globe celebrate a romantic tradition known as Valentine's Day. It is a day to express and indicate how much love you have for certain family members and friends (I do believe this is something we should do everyday, I'm just saying.....). Have you every asked yourself how this tradition come to be and/or how did roses become part of its history? And, what does organic body care have to do with all of this? Let's start by chatting about its history.

THE LEGEND OF ST. VALENTINE

The history of Valentine's Day and the story of its patron saint is shrouded in mystery. One thing is certain, February has long been celebrated as a month of romance and St. Valentine's Day is known to contain vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient ritual?

The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome when Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families so he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine saw this as an injustice and decided to go against the decree and continued to perform secret marriages for young people in love. When this was discovered, Claudius had Valentine put to death.

There are other stories that say Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons. One particular legend states that Valentine sent the first "valentine" greeting after he fell in love with a young girl, who could have been the jailor's daughter (thought to have visited him during his imprisonment). Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a signed letter stating, "From your Valentine, " an expression that we still use today. The truth behind the legend is a bit murky, but all the stories show a sympathetic, heroic and romantic individual.  One thing is for certain, St. Valentine has become one of the most popular saints in England and France dating back to the middle ages.

THE ROSE CONNECTION

There are several theories on how roses became a love symbol, one comes from early ancient Egypt. Ancient stories state that Cleopatra would scatter rose petals over her floor in an effort to welcome her lover Mark Anthony. However, Roman myth tells a story of Cupid spilling a sweet nectar that was part of an offering and it is said that roses grew forth from the ground where the nectar spilled. While the history of Valentine's Day is hotly debated, there's no one to date questioning that roses have come to symbolize love and romance. The Victorians began this tradition through floriograph, also known as the language of the flowers, a way to communicate feelings we find difficult to express by giving certain flowers to indicate what we are in fact feeling. For example; using red roses to express passion and romantic feelings associated with love and admiration.

ORGANIC BODY CARE

Over the years the perfume and body care industry have tapped into this tradition and found that roses not only provide an intoxicating smell for the senses but also have amazing healing properties for the hair and skin which are excellent for including in organic body care formulations (please keep in mind we are talking about pure essential oil from the roses, not chemically produced ingredients). So this Valentine's Day, why not give the gift of roses that won't wither or fade within a few days? Allow yourself, your friends/family and whomever that special someone is to fall in love with either your body or theirs this Valentine's Day. Try the following rose products at https://www.lovelyladyproducts.com at a discounted price (coupon code below).

1. Everlasting-Argan Immortal Rose Oil
2. Everlasting-Argan Neroli Rose Body Butter
3. Everlasting-Argan Geranium Rose Solid Lotion 
4. And Our Glorious Garden Bath Bar for Fresh Smelling Bathing Experience
5. All other products sitewide can be purchased using the coupon code as well (see below)

Use coupon code STVALENTINE for 25% off at checkout. Sale ends 2/14/2016.

BEAUTY

What does this word mean and how does it affect your life, your views, your health and the well being of the planet. Once you take a moment to ponder on this, it's kind of deep, isn't it? My opinion is that it all depends on what you're pouring on and into your body to influence your efforts at beauty. I also believe it to be a mental state as well as something visual.

Let's start with the standard explanation for what beauty is. 

Wikipedia states: 

"Beauty is the quality of being pleasing, especially to look at, or someone or something that gives great pleasure, especially when looking at it."

Webster's 1913 Dictionary states the following:

1. An assemblage of graces or properties pleasing to the eye, the ear, the intellect, the æsthetic faculty, or the moral sense. The old definition of beauty, in the Roman school, was, "multitude in unity;" and there is no doubt that such is the principle of beauty. - Coleridge.
2. A particular grace, feature, ornament, or excellence; anything beautiful; as, the beauties of nature.
3. A beautiful person, esp. a beautiful woman.
4. Prevailing style or taste; rage; fashion. She stained her hair yellow, which was then the beauty.
- Jer. Taylor.  Beauty spot, a patch or spot placed on the face with intent to heighten beauty by contrast.

 WordNet Dictionary States:

1. Beauty - the qualities that give pleasure to the senses. Antonyms: ugliness - qualities that do not give pleasure to the senses.
2. Beauty - a very attractive or seductive looking woman. Synonyms: lulu, mantrap, knockout, stunner, looker, peach, ravisher, smasher, sweetheart, dish
3. Beauty - an outstanding example of its kind; "his roses were beauties"; "when I make a mistake it's a beaut"

 Lovely Lady Products' Explanation on this word, Beauty:

 

Beauty is all encompassing; it's really not for one individual to interpret. It's in the eyes of the beholder and it's not singular in description. I can only explain it from my personal opinion on what I believe it's meaning is and my views on how we should be responsible with this powerful word and how it influences our lives.

To me beauty is anyone who strives to make their life meaningful by caring for others, making decisions that are based on how it will affect others, their health, the well being of the environment, their environment. Excepting ownership and responsibility for the word, not allowing others to dictate what it is and it's meaning to you and your individuality. It is a knowing, a confidence and the ability to care about things other than the superficial or just ones self. You see, I believe beauty thrives in those who shine from the inward out. A kind spirit, a loving heart and a generous and honest nature.

Yes, Lovely Lady Products create products that enhance the skin, but we do this by producing products that are created with your health in mind. We produce these products with a consideration for the planet. I believe that when one thinks of beauty, he or she should consider the effects of their efforts to attain it. How does your view on beauty affect your life, your views, your work, your career, and your treatment of others?

Beauty is within everyone's grasp and the best way to attain everlasting beauty is to aspire for greatness through love and light. Shine by being a good person and you'll find the true depth of beauty. The truth of it is to be lovely from within and everyone will see your beauty radiating outward. Beauty is As Beauty Does!

WINTERIZE YOUR SKIN WITH ORGANIC BODY CARE

Winterize Your Skin Organic Body Care Giveaway

Sign up on Lovely Lady Products Newsletter for a chance to win one of our lovely winterize your skin organic body care skin sets. During the first week of October 4th, 4 winners (a winner each week during September) will be selected to receive their customized organic body care skin set for upgrading their beauty routine with the intent to improve and keep the skin healthy during the winter months and beyond. After reading our tips on winterizing your skin, please remember to click the link at the bottom of the blog to signup for a chance to win an organic body care winterize your skin set (Facial Cleansing Bar, Facial Nutrient, Night Serum, Toner, Shampoo Bar and your choice of for a lotion, body butter or a solid lotion). 

Tips for Winterizing Your Skin With Organic Body Care

 

Hello Lovely Fans, right now you are probably scratching your head and saying, "Isn't it a bit premature to be discussing winterizing your skin since we still have a bit of time before fall hits. Not really my friends, depending on where you live, the changing of the seasons can catch you off guard. Hear in Colorado, you can find yourself shoveling snow in September, so I think it's a good idea to at the very least arm yourself with knowledge about how cold weather can effect your skin and what to do about it. 

 

Why the concern about cold weather and the skin?

During winter temperatures and humidity drops can affect skin dryness, the strong harsh winds can cause dry, parched and cracking skin (winter weather can pull the moisture from your skin). Humidity below 30% does a number on the skin, especially our lips and hands if your more than a bit over thirty something.  BIG SMILE! The winter months and its low humidity dries out your skin and if you're using harsh soaps, you can look forward to it stripping away the natural oils in your skin. The ability to produce more natural protective oils (that area called the sebum) declines with age. Please note that it's also a good idea to stay away from the toxic chemical soaps, they do a lot more than dry out your skin. Winter temperatures are also known for making your skin feel dry, especially our hands and feet. Rough!

So what are we to do, below is a list of tips for your skin and a few suggestions to help you avoid trouble during this time of year:

What not to do:

1. Avoid toxic soaps, as I stated above, they dry out your skin and the chemicals are horrible for your health (try our Everlasting-Argan Facial Cleansing Bar, the performance speaks for itself).
2. Avoid taking baths in very hot water, soaking in a Jacuzzi and taking long hot showers (I sure miss the hot baths during this time of year, love the hot water, but my skin is always lovely during this time, go lukewarm). Yes, leisurely hot baths and showers are so wonderful but too much of it is bad for the skin. Inundating skin with water breaks down the substance that keeps skin cells intact. Keep your showers and/or baths short and not too hot during the winter months.
3. No astringents during the winter, they dry out your skin. Please stick with clean ingredient toners. You might try our Helichrysum Hydrosol Skin toner.
4. Avoid wearing wool and other scratch textures next to your skin because they irritate it and can lead to itching. If you must, wear cotton camisoles or undershirts underneath wool clothing.
5. Avoid exfoliating too much. Yes, that's what I said and here's why. Exfoliation might cause more skin sensitivity in the winter months. So if you are exfoliating more than once a week, you should only do this once a week even if your skin isn't sensitive. Try using just honey and a bit of brown sugar to exfoliate or try applying lemon juice to the skin for about 5 minutes to dissolve away the dead skin.
6. Not a good idea to wash your hair every day during the winter months due to cold winds, your hair and scalp are left very dry.

What to do:

1. Drink plenty of water, its helps your skin to shine; however drinking it from the bottle can cause your lips to chap, so be armed with a lip balm. We do not make an organic lip balm because our Facial Nutrient is a multifunctional product; it's a facial moisturizer, eye cream, nail cuticle nutrient and lip balm all in one. 
2. Use a humidifier to replenish moisture to the skin's top layer
3. Do eat fat, the good ones. Try adding avocado to your salad and/or cook with olive oil, it's very healthy and beneficial so do incorporate these healthy fats into your diet, hydrating your skin from the inside out.
4. Natural sun-screens (read your labels and make sure they truly are natural). You are trying to avoid cancer from the sun, not soak it up from a product.
5. Do use serums under your moisturizer. Serums are important in the winter months, try adding it prior to your normal moisturizer for that added protection. Our immortal rose oil and the night serum are extremely light so no concerns over changing the consistency of your moisturizer. They also absorb into the skin very quickly leaving no oily residue.
6. Do keep your skin, especially your hands clean and healthy in an effort to avoid the spread of winter illnesses (colds and flu). Not a good idea to use too much antibacterial soaps gels and wipes because they are usually full of alcohol and will most likely dry out your skin. This strips away your skin's natural oils. Just note that plain soap and water will kill most germs and keep you from getting sick. 
7.  Invest in a high quality and pure shampoo and conditioner to get a healthy shine. Do wash your hair once or twice a week and use lukewarm water to avoid frizziness and to maintain maximum moisture (read about our Everlasting-Argan Neroli Shampoo/Conditioning Bar). 

Our suggested products for keeping your skin healthy during the winter months:

1. Everlasting-Argan Facial Nutrient - traditionally known as a natural medium level SPF,
2. Everlasting-Argan Immortal Rose Oil - Amazing for dry, red, irritated and aging skin (also exceptional for a deep conditioning of hair).
3. Helichrysum Hydrosol Skin Toner - wont dry out your skin during the winter and is multifunctional, serves as protection from bacteria and germs without drying out the hands and skin. Great aftershave for men too.
4. Everlasting-Argan Solid Lotion Moisturizers - All variations but Geranium Rose and Helichrysum are exceptional for dry and irritated skin.
5. Everlasting-Argan Body Butter - Neroli-Rose for very dry and aging skin and Helichrysum for problematic and sensitive skin. Lavender is helpful for itchy and dry skin. Cracked dry feet and hands are not sexy and can be very uncomfortable to whom every your bed partner is, so butter up.  :-)
6. Everlasting-Argan Neroli Shampoo and Conditioning Bar. After cleansing the hair once or twice with the bar, lather again and leave in hair for about 10 to 20 minutes for deep conditioning. If your hair is thin, perhaps not as long. A hair conditioner is a must, apply a suitable conditioner each time you wash your hair, focusing only on the strands of hair, avoiding the scalp. This provides a shine to your hair and prevents it from breakage. A hair treatment mask once a week to your hair care routine to keep your locks healthy (use our Everlasting-Argan Neroli Rose Shea Butter for this treatment). Avoid using a hairdryer. Although ideally, it is always good to let your hair dry naturally. If you are using a hairdryer, don't over dry your hair, as it will leave it frizzy and damaged. Try to set your hairdryer on the 'cool' mode, as it is gentler, although it might be a little time consuming. Try not to leave the house with wet hair. The cold weather can freeze the hair at the cuticle and cause it to break.

So as we head into the fall and winter months, it is our hope that the above hydration, protection and repairing treatments will be very useful and effective for you as the temperature starts to drop during the holiday season (one less thing to worry about during those hectic months).  Please sign up for the newsletter for a chance to win the products listed above.

Lovely Is As Lovely Does

Rules:

By subscribing to our newsletter, you are also agreeing to receive news on other Lovely Lady Products and Services. The promotion is open to new customers who sign up for the Lovely Lady Products Newsletter.  Current registrants can also enter the promotion, by re-entering their details. By submitting these details and entering for the change to win one of the organic body care skin sets, you consent to your personal details being used by Lovely Lady Products to send your our campaign, promotional and informative emails.

If You're Celiac or Gluten Intolerant, Should You Use Gluten Free Body Care?

The reason we use organic body care is to take care of the skin, so it’s a good assumption made by many that “what goes on goes in.” Naturally, any substance place on the skin is absorbed by the body into its bloodstream. Hence, using products that contain gluten is a risk to those with Celiac Disease and Intolerance. If the body does not tolerate gluten on the inside, most likely, there’s a good chance that gluten won’t do much good for the body on the outside either. Studies have shown that gluten has been the culprit in causing acne, rosacea, eczema, hives dermatitis herpetiformis, and psoriasis for many with intolerance to this protein. If someone who suffers from any of these and gluten sensitivity, there’s a very good chance the cosmetics, body and hair care products could be the source of the problem.

Personal care products can be challenging when going gluten free. The existence of gluten in cosmetics and organic body care (as well as none organic) products, including lotions and shampoos is backed up by the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center. And, According to a study by George Washington University, gluten is pervasive in cosmetics, and it is rarely labeled which may cause a threat to those of us with Celiac Disease and gluten sensitivities. The George Washington University study found that people sensitive to gluten could react negatively to things like wheat germ oil, which is often used to produce naturally-derived Vitamin E, which is commonly found in commercial brand cosmetics and body care. In the United States, the labeling of Cosmetics and Personal Care Products is the responsibility of the FDA. Unfortunately, these products do not have to adhere to the same labeling standards as the foods we eat; even though we are applying them to the largest organ of our body....our skin. Often, those of us with gluten intolerance are accustom to looking for gluten in food, but one should also be aware of the gluten lurking in their cosmetics and toiletries, researchers stated during a national meeting of gastroenterologist in Washington, D.C.

Food labels almost always say whether or not a product contains gluten, a type of protein found in wheat, barley, and other grains. But the packaging of body lotions and other beauty products rarely provides that information, even though many such products contain substances derived from grain, says Pia Prakash, M.D., a resident in internal medicine at George Washington University. The Doctor, who helped conduct the research, also stated that lipsticks, powders and foundations are probably the ones they worry about most and one never see ingredient lists on those products. She and her colleagues surveyed the websites of 10 leading makeup companies, Prakash says, and found that "none actually provided any information on products that contained gluten.”

At the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology, Prakash and her colleagues presented a case report on a 28-year-old woman with celiac disease who had successfully controlled her symptoms for several years by restricting the amount of gluten in her diet. After starting to use a new body lotion, however, the woman developed an itchy, blistering rash on her arms, as well as abdominal bloating and diarrhea—all of which disappeared once she stopped using the lotion.Pretty much anyone who's sensitive to gluten could experience a similar reaction, says Marie Borum, M.D., the lead author of the study and a professor of medicine at George Washington University. Gluten can't be absorbed through the skin, but people may accidentally ingest small quantities of lotion, lipstick, or other products if they have the product on their hands or use it around their mouth.

There are many doctors and scientist in the US and Internationally would argue against the statement that the skin doesn’t absorb gluten. Dr. Vikki Petersen, a Chiropractor and Certified Clinical Nutritionist is co-founder and co-director, of the renowned HealthNow Medical Center in Sunnyvale California (who’s gluten intolerant), has often chatted about the argument in this arena. From a scientific viewpoint, we are told that the gluten molecule is too big to permeate in our skin, so unless we’re swallowing it, there shouldn't be a problem. Dr. Petersen, states that there are those individuals who have NIGE response to gluten, meaning evening a topical application is going to bother them. These are some individuals who have an immediate reaction to gluten; similar to someone who might eat strawberries and breaks out in hives almost immediately, so it is that kind of immune immediate response, which is quite quick. There are others who don’t have that kind of topically problem, but may use a lotion and get their common gluten response as if they ate gluten. So they didn’t eat it, but they placed it one their skin and had the same reaction. So science is telling us that the gluten molecule is too big, yet people are having reactions and so it might be akin to those of us who are gluten sensitive are told because we don’t have a positive biopsy of our small intestine that shows eradication of our villi, then we’re fine to eat gluten and those experience this all know that’s not the case.

Below is a video of the doctor chatting about this issue: 

 

Health care providers and consumers’ alike need to be aware of the potential for this type of inadvertent gluten exposure, Borum says. "If you're just focusing on food intake, you may be missing something that's very important and could make a difference in someone's life." So how can celiac patients avoid hidden gluten in organic body care and cosmetics? More companies are starting to make gluten free body care products (stating that they are gluten-free is different from testing to ensure they are by a third-party organization). However, it’s a good idea for consumers to contact manufacturers directly to find out which of their products contain gluten. An informal survey of online forums for celiac patients shows that many companies are forthcoming with this information.

When products do list their ingredients, careful label reading is a must, but simply looking for the word "gluten" isn't sufficient, the researchers say. For instance, the vitamin E found in beauty products may be derived from wheat and contain gluten, even though the label just lists "vitamin E," Borum says. Another way to avoid hidden gluten in body care and cosmetics, is to learn about the many hidden gluten, products that are derived from wheat and contain gluten, similar to what Dr. Borum states about vitamin E. Symptoms for the gluten intolerant varies and it’s important to know and understand you body and what triggers create a problem for you. We believe, it’s significant to ensure that there is no exposure to gluten in any shape or form. For that reason, it’s also important to know which ingredients could indicate that gluten is present in said products. Please that we have created a list outlining the hidden glutens that are commonly found in organic body care (as well as non organic) and cosmetic formulations (we will also give you a list of hidden glutens commonly found in food too) so, how do we move forward to ensure a healthy lifestyle living with gluten intolerance? Educate yourself because knowledge is power. So do your research by starting at the store level, ready your labels. If you are confused by something you read on the label, contact the manufacturer for the details. Be diligent and thorough with your product selections (and dinning out). Investigating for your health! If it looks and sounds suspect, well....... When in doubt, best to use caution when it comes to your wellbeing (make sure that your gluten free body care products are actually gluten free). Lovely Is As Lovely Does.

Pressure Growing on Whole Foods Market Over New Produce Labeling Scheme

WOW. We stand by our decision to remove our products from the shelves of Whole Foods Market back in July of 2014. We took the high road and bailed out gracefully without indicating why we really pulled out (since then we have been subjected to industry abuse but still feel great about our decision). One must stand for something or fall for anything. The Universe/God is Good! All things work together for the good for those who love the Lord/Universe and are called according to his purpose. Basically, the Universe has a way of protecting itself and those who truly love it. Reveal, Expose and Remove!!!! 

Please click on the links below to learn more on this subject via the Cornucopia Institute and the Huffington Post. In addition to these concerns, Investigations discover that Whole Foods Market overcharges customers, to learn more, see final Huffington Post below.

The Cornucopia Institute 

Specialty Grocer Meets Growing Blowback from Organic Farmer/Consumers. More organic farmers and organizations sign on to a letter to John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods, asking for a moratorium on the grocer’s new produce rating system that disadvantages organic growers. Weathering a dramatic 14% drop in shareholder value, the iconic grocer Whole Foods Market now faces consumer fraud accusations. read more at  http://www.cornucopia.org/2015/06/whole-foods-faces-ftc-mislabeling-investigation/

Fox News

New York City says Whole Foods is overcharging customers. NEW YORK –  Whole Foods supermarkets have been routinely overcharging customers by overstating the weight of prepackaged meat, dairy and baked goods, New York City's consumer chief said Wednesday.

The price on a package of coconut shrimp at the upscale market was too high by $14.84, said Department of Consumer Affairs Commissioner Julie Menin. A package of chicken tenders was overpriced by $4.85, and a vegetable platter by $6.15, the department said. Click link to learn more - http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/06/25/new-york-city-says-whole-foods-is-overcharging-customers/

The Huffington Post

Has Whole Foods started an Organic Food Fight

Fruits, vegetables and flowers face a new rating system at Whole Foods and it's angering some farmers. The "Responsibly Grown" program ranks produce on factors from soil health to working conditions. But does it undermine organic farming standards?

http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/whole-foods-organic-responsibly-grown/5578997e2b8c2a6764000104

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Whole Foods will pay about $800,000 in penalties and fees after an investigation found the grocery retailer was overcharging customers in California.

State and local inspectors discovered that purchased foods weighed less than the label advertised and the weight of salad bar containers wasn't subtracted at checkout, prosecutors said. In addition, the grocer sold prepared foods like kebabs by the item rather than by the pound as mandated by law.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/24/whole-foods-overcharging-overpricing_n_5527255.html

Essential Oils & Plants Are Essential For Organic Body Care, Here's Why!

Essential Oils and Plants

Since biblical times, essential oils and plants have been widely used traditionally for bactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal, antiparasitical, insecticidal, medicinal and cosmetic applications, especially nowadays in pharmaceutical, sanitary, cosmetic, organic body care, agricultural and even the food industries. So for those of us looking for humane and truly natural solutions for our skin, hair and body issues, it’s a good bet to stick with what God has created, instead of man’s altered versions of it. Scripture states that the leaves from the trees are for the healing of the body, who could argue with this. Lets face it, when we do and science interferes by genetically modifying God’s creations, there’s plenty of solid evidence that results have been less than stellar.  Actually, very damaging with lasting effects on our health and the wellbeing of the planet. There’s only one creator, it’s wise for us to remember this.

With this being said, Below is a lovely outline describing some of our ingredients and why we use them as the foundation of our organic body care brand. Just below there is another chart with some other useful information about our products. 

As always thank you for your continued support in our efforts to create and offer both clean and effective products that we believe make a difference in your life and the wellbeing of the planet.

Lovely Is As Lovely Does.

Notes on Organic Body Care

Notes on Organic Body Care

Buy organic, this is what's being said to the consumer nowadays and it's usually in connection with food.  

However; the movement to buy organic body care is growing too. Many people are starting to pay more attention to their health which has resulted in concerns over what their placing inside and on their bodies. And they should, it's very scary out there in terms of the FrankenFood that's being produced and all the chemicals being placed in our products.  

As consumers learn more..... 

about what's being used to produce their food and body care, a growing movement is taking place to protect the integrity of food, preserve the environment, create sustainable cultivation, produce cruelty-free products and most definitely preserve your health. Yes, consumers are starting to understand why going organic is so important and there is more demand for organic body care products, which consequently has made it more financially accessible to the mainstream consumer. After all, there is an ancient quote that states, "the leaves from the trees are for the healing of nations."  When this was written, there were no pesticides and chemicals being used on the trees, nor were there any sinister characters out there trying to reproduce what the Universe/God has created. 

So jump on board..... 

with the organic movement, you only have one body and it's your temple so honor it.  We only have one home, it's the planet, so change your life and support the environment by using clean food and organic body care.  

Lovely Is As Lovely Does !

What Is Argan Oil, The Origins of the Tree and How It Supports Your Skin

We wanted to discuss the orgins of The Argan Tree and to explain why we choose to build our brand around this amazing oil and the nutrients it provides, which comes from the nut of the Argan Tree. The tree is a relic of the Earth's Tertiary Period and can only be found in Southwestern Morocco now. This gift from nature can grow between 7 to 10 meters high and is believed to be a blessing due to its amazing characteristics. The Argan Tree can live from 150 to 200 years, longer than the olive and requires no cultivation. Should it die, it can lay dormant and revive itself in 7 years. It is tenacious, withering and fruitless during extended droughts; can handle very high temperatures, manages well at preventing erosion due to its strong root system, thus preserving fertility of the soil and definitely is great at dealing with the harshness of the desert. The appearance is often twisted and gnarled, allowing goats to clamber along its branches and feed on the leaves and fruits. Its fruit has a green exterior and reminds you of the olive, but it's large with a hard-shelled nut inside. The goats value this tree and they love to eat the fruit, the fleshy part is digested but the nut remains. These nuts are what the farmers use to extract oil from.

In the traditional Berber pharmacy, this noble and rich oil is intended for everyday use - for internal as well as external treatment. It is used also on babies to protect against external influences. Body oiling is also an ancient Indian ayurvedic medical treatment, providing energy to the body and enhancing one's wellbeing. The massage using argan oil, which needs to be gently applied, is considered to be helpful in losing weight, improves the firmness of the skin and relaxes the spine. Argan oil is easily absorbed into the skin, leaving greasy residue on the skin. It is also one of the most important oils for making the skin look younger and is used also for the treatment of various skin diseases. The high content of vitamin E (twice as high as in olive oil) has strong antioxidant properties. Vitamin E is important for the development and maintenance of the functions of the nerve and the muscle systems. Argan oil contains more than 80% mono-and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which have beneficial effects on rheumatic conditions and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, they neutralize free radicals, protect connective tissues, stimulate oxygen in the body, improve brain capacity and have a beneficial influence on the liver and digestion. The high content of linoleic acid helps to regulate the blood levels of cholesterol. Studies have shown that 16 g (2 table spoons) of argan oil satisfies the body's daily needs for essential linoleic acid, which is said to help to regulate the blood levels of cholesterol.

UNESCO, and enthusiasts excited by the oil's reputed anti-aging qualities have helped by creating a global market for the exotic oil, the unlikely alliance hopes to raise awareness about the inherent value of the trees, encouraging more careful grazing and stopping the local population from chopping the trees down for firewood. The people in the area are poor; as they now understand the value of the tree, they are protecting it. It has declared a 25,900-square-kilometer of land (between the Atlantic and the Atlas Mountains) an Argan reserve and provided money to manage the trees' preservation. Chefs and society matrons took up the cause, praising the culinary qualities of the oil and its anti-aging effect on the skin. There is also a ban against grazing in the trees from May to August, when the fruit ripens to a bright yellow and eventually the goats climb the trees, eat the fruit and expel the pits, which locals continue to collect.

At the Cooperative in Tiout, Berber women sit on the floor with rough rectangular stones between their knees cracking pits with rounded rocks.  Each smooth pit contains one to three kernels, which look like sliced almonds and are rich in oil.  The kernels are then removed and gently roasted.  This roasting accounts for part of the oil's distinctive, nutty flavor. It takes several days and about 32 kilograms of fruit, roughly one season's produce from a single tree, to make only one liter of oil.

The cosmetic industry love’s that it’s rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids and is used for massage, facials and as an ingredient in anti-aging cream. The edible oil is extracted from roasted kernels. Most of the oil is bottled pure for cooking, as a dressing on salads, meat or fish or simply as a dip for bread. The Tiout cooperative produces about 5,000 250-ml bottles of the edible oil a year.

Sustaining Communities and Supporting Women of Morocco through the Berber Women Cooperatives: All argan sold today is produced by a women's cooperative that shares the profits among the local women of the Berber tribe. The cooperative has established an ecosystem reforestation project so that the supply of argan oil will not run out and the income that is currently supporting the women will not disappear. The money is providing health care and education to the local women, and supporting the entire community as a whole.[5]  According to the Department of Water and Forests, Argan oil provides income for 3 million people in the southern part of the kingdom. The oil provides a total of 20 million workdays per year. Its operation is an income-generating activity and has always had a socio-economic benefit.

The vast majority of the production of argan oil passes through the women's cooperative of Argan oil. This program focuses on improving the working conditions of rural women’s economic activities, generating additional income and sustainable management of argan areas in the southwest of Morocco.

Co-sponsored by the Social Development Agency (SDA) with the support of the European Union, the UCFA (Union des Cooperatives des Femmes de l’Arganeraie) is the largest union of cooperatives for argan in Morocco. It comprises twenty-two cooperatives that are found everywhere in the region (e.g., Coopérative Al Amal, Coopérative Amalou N'Touyag, Coopérative Tissaliwine, Coopérative ArganSense, Coopérative Maouriga). These women come together to be better organized and thus guarantee a fair income through cooperatives, allowing them a better living environment and a dynamic local. Women cooperatives in Morocco work within a biosphere protected by UNESCO, which ensures its protection and reforestation.

An Outline of the Composition of Argan Oil

Fatty acids

Unsaturated fatty acids: %

Palmitic acid 14

Stearic acid 5

Polyunsaturated fatty acids: %

Linoleic acid 37

Alpha-linolenic acid < 0.6

Monounsaturated fatty acids: %

Oleic acid 43.5

Sterols %

Schottenol 48

Spinasterol 42

Delta 7 Avenosterol 5

Sigmastra-8, 22-dien 5

Proportions mg/kg

Tocopherols 720

Polyphenols 60

Sterols 3200

Triterpene alcohols 1800

Press-extraction

Now increasingly important for oil produced for sale, as the oil will keep 12–18 months and extraction is much faster. Using mechanical presses, mixing of the dough and water is unnecessary and the dough can be directly pressed. All other steps remaining unchanged, the oil is obtained in about 43% yield (calculated from the kernels) and only two hours are needed to get one liter of oil that preserves correctly.

References

"Biosphere Reserve Information". UNESCO. Retrieved 2007-10-11.

Morocco: Argan trees

Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (1880). The Pharmaceutical journal. J. Churchill.

"Argan Oil Ailment Treatment". DietOBio. Retrieved 2006-10-09.

"Is Argan oil miraculous?". Care2. Retrieved 2009-07-17.

General references

* Rachida Nouaim: L'arganier au Maroc: entre mythes et réalités. Une civilisation née d'un arbre, une espèce fruitière-forestière à usages multiples. Paris, L'Harmattan (2005) ISBN 2-7475-8453-4

* Multilingual taxonomic information from the University of Melbourne

Disclaimer:
 

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.