Someone asked me the other day, 'Emily, what oil are you most excited about?' Certainly a thought provoking question; one that I wouldn't even be able to answer ordinarily. At the risk of sounding like an info-mercial, I'm going to tell you that I am excited about Raspberry Seed Oil.
Oilseeds are processed in huge quantities in commercial processing facilities with significant downtime for cleaning between different kinds of seeds. Because these tiny seeds yield very little oil by commercial standards for oilseeds and need to be processed carefully to preserve their identity, they are only being processed on the very small scale. At this time, manufacturers are making a small profit from something that was once waste material. Some initial laboratory analysis is available and much is pending. I think that this oil will increase in price when the potential for profit is proven.
This oil is truly a nutraceutical. The tiny seeds of Raspberries are from organically grown plants and are cold pressed. The relatively small amount of oil produced is full of good stuff for your skin. This is an oil that I would take as a supplement. I am actually making the yummiest salads using Red Raspberry Seed Oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, sea salt and a drop or two of essential oil of a culinary herb such as Oregano or Basil. It is 83% essential fatty acids. Lenoleic, alpha-lenolenic, oleic, omega 3 and omega 6, tocopherols, tocotrienols, carotenoides, vaccinic, ellagic and steariodonic acids, are all familiar to the health conscious consumer.
The high levels of Vitamin A (carotenoids) give this oil a bright orange color. Vitamin A is essential for healthy skin. It speeds the healing of damaged skin and is used for skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis.
The very high levels of Vitamin E (tocotrienols, alpha and gamma- tocopherols make this oil quite an anti-oxidant. All tocopherols are effective against particular kinds of free radicals. Using a product that contains mixed tocopherols allows for broad protection. The role of Vitamin E in human health has not yet been fully explored. All of this Vitamin E means that this oil is stable and will most likely act as a preservative if added to other vegetable oils that tend to oxidize quickly.
Raspberry Seed Oil has significant anti-inflammatory properties. It is effective when used for dermal conditions such as rashes and eczema. The incorporation of an oil with such properties into the diet could have huge potential.
Red Raspberry Oil contains variable amounts of Ellagic Acid. Initial studies reveal that Ellagic acid concentrations range from 0.06 to 0.32 mg/g in the seed oil. Ellagic acid is an anti-carcinogenic and anti-mutagenic as well as being anti-bacterial and anti-viral.
Most surprising is that this oil actually has an SPF rating ranging from 28 to 50.
Red Raspberry Seed Oil can be ordered from Emily's Oils & Essentials.
Emily
I grew up across the street from the Village Sauna and up the hill from the American River in Fair Oaks, California. Native plants and salves and tinctures were ever present. Victoria Edwards was a massage therapist at the Sauna and lived next door to us on Harmony Hill. Her handmade massage blends of the 70's grew into Leydet Aromatics, a world-wide supplier of essential oils and aromatherapy supplies recognized for quality and customer service. I began working for Leydet in 1995, years of focused learning and growth followed. When Victoria began a sabbatical in Southern France in 2004, there became a need for a restructuring of the business that she had built. Out of this, Emily's Oils and Essentials was born; a company dedicated to continuing the legacy of Leydet by serving customers in the spirit of healing and the rightful use of plants. I intend to provide a seamless transition for loyal Leydet customers and to continue to introduce people to the sensory pleasures and healing properties of nature's gifts.
- Emily