Castor oil has long been considered a natural wellness essential, valued for its ability to improve digestion, nourish the skin, relieve pain, and detoxify the body. Castor oil comes from the seeds of the Ricinus communis plant and has ricinoleic acid in it. Ricinoleic acid is a powerful anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and detoxifying substance. While many people recognize it as a natural laxative, a recent study has revealed that its promise extends far beyond gastrointestinal health. There is solid evidence that its advantages vary from joint relaxing and skin health promotion to detoxifying and menstrual pain reduction.
What is castor oil?
Castor oil is a pale yellow, scentless vegetable oil known for its remarkable therapeutic properties. Due to its significant ricinoleic acid content, which constitutes approximately 90% of its fatty acids, castor oil offers numerous health benefits:
- Relieves constipation
- alleviates discomfort in joints and muscles
- Moisturizes skin and fortifies hair
- It aids in detoxification and stimulates lymphatic drainage
Before proceeding, it’s important to clarify a common misunderstanding: castor oil is not the same as Castrol motor oil. Indeed, there have been instances of this confusion, with unfavorable results. Let’s explore the science behind these advantages and how you can safely include castor oil in your wellness routine.
Benefits of Castor oil
Castor oil promotes gut health and digestive support
Castor oil promotes gut health and digestive support
Multiple studies on castor oil and constipation in adults and the elderly have consistently shown that it is beneficial in alleviating constipation with little negative effect. Castor oil is a laxative stimulant that has been approved by the FDA. It works by stimulating receptors in the intestines, which leads to peristalsis, the wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the gut naturally. By gently activating this process, castor oil can help restore regular bowel motions and improve digestive comfort.
When dietary fiber or osmotic laxatives (like PEG) aren't enough to help, castor oil can be a good short-term solution that gives quick relief without having to be taken regularly. Studies on laxatives, particularly those for childhood constipation, show castor oil's ability to treat a variety of digestive disorders when administered correctly and under supervision.
However, hormonal fluctuations and physical stress may worsen constipation, making postpartum recovery particularly difficult. A 2014 Cochrane review stressed the importance of greater study into targeted treatments for postpartum constipation, stating that while castor oil may provide relief, consultation with a healthcare provider is essential during this delicate period to ensure safe and effective use.
Usually, a single 15 mL dose suffices to alleviate occasional constipation, but it is not advisable to use it for extended periods without advice. As with any laxative, prolonged or excessive usage can cause dehydration or electrolyte imbalances, so consult with your doctor before using it internally.
Relieve's joint discomfort and muscle tenderness
When dietary fiber or osmotic laxatives (like PEG) aren't enough to help, castor oil can be a good short-term solution that gives quick relief without having to be taken regularly. Studies on laxatives, particularly those for childhood constipation, show castor oil's ability to treat a variety of digestive disorders when administered correctly and under supervision.
However, hormonal fluctuations and physical stress may worsen constipation, making postpartum recovery particularly difficult. A 2014 Cochrane review stressed the importance of greater study into targeted treatments for postpartum constipation, stating that while castor oil may provide relief, consultation with a healthcare provider is essential during this delicate period to ensure safe and effective use.
Usually, a single 15 mL dose suffices to alleviate occasional constipation, but it is not advisable to use it for extended periods without advice. As with any laxative, prolonged or excessive usage can cause dehydration or electrolyte imbalances, so consult with your doctor before using it internally.
Relieve's joint discomfort and muscle tenderness
Ricinoleic acid serves as a powerful anti-inflammatory, positioning castor oil as a natural remedy for alleviating joint stiffness, arthritis discomfort, and muscle pain. Research indicates that the topical application of castor oil can diminish swelling and enhance mobility. Clinical research has found that oral castor oil is equally effective as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen in alleviating symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.
Beauty for Skin and Hair
Castor oil serves as a fundamental component in numerous skincare and haircare regimens due to its properties as a natural emollient. Renowned for its ability to moisturize, reduce inflammation, and combat microbes, it is highly effective in hydrating dry skin, alleviating irritation, and supporting the healing of wounds. Researchers have found that ricinoleic acid, which is the main ingredient in castor oil, reduces skin inflammation and speeds up tissue repair in advanced hydrogel formulations by controlled release. Although the evidence supporting hair growth is largely anecdotal, castor oil's capacity to deeply moisturize and enhance scalp health may help reduce dandruff, decrease breakage, and promote overall hair vitality. To achieve softer skin, apply a small amount of castor oil directly to dry areas or blend it into your preferred moisturizer. Massage it into the scalp for hair and leave it overnight before washing.
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Many factors affect the health and appearance of your skin and hair. Big ones are UV light, chemicals like smoke and air pollution, and how you take care of your skin and hair. But these are outside factors.
A lot also depends on your genes, the normal aging process, and the way you live your life (“beauty sleep” is a real thing). And so does what you eat. These are the things you eat and the nutrients you take.
What foods will make your skin glow and your hair stay healthy? Let's jump right in!
The best vitamins and supplements for skin care
Using hydrating creams and serums on your hair and skin can make you look great, but they only work on the surface. Vitamins for skin care, when taken orally, provide your body with the necessary nutrients to enhance your appearance from the inside out.
Ceramides
Ceramides are healthy oils that help your skin keep its wetness, which is important for keeping your skin soft and looking young. Ceramides are also a big part of your skin's barrier, which helps keep the cells on the surface together. But as we age, our ceramide levels naturally drop. This makes it harder to keep our skin smooth and healthy. Using a ceramide product, which maintains skin hydration and promotes healthy ceramide levels, can enhance the appearance and feel of your skin.
Collagen
Do you want to have healthy, beautiful skin that is free from wrinkles? The collagen in your food may be hard to absorb because its molecules are so big. However, collagen is important for healthy, smooth skin. Your body can more easily utilize smaller pieces of hydrolyzed collagen, known as collagen peptides. Studies have shown that it helps make collagen and elastin. In fact, a study of women aged 35 to 55 showed that taking hydrolyzed collagen every day for eight weeks made their skin much more stretchy.
Vitamin C
Your skin keeps you safe from the weather. But all of those attempts to keep people safe cost something. To keep your skin healthy, vitamin C can help keep its structure and function in excellent shape. It can also keep your skin looking smooth and beautiful and protect you from toxic stress in the environment. This vitamin C formula will keep your face in great shape because it helps your body make collagen and protects your cells. It has a mix of rosemary, olive leaf, lemon verbena, and Japanese sophora that can help your skin look younger and smoother. It also has highly concentrated rice ceramides that help your skin keep its moisture.
Vegan Collagen
Are you a vegetarian? Are you a vegan? Are you just trying to eat fewer foods that come from animals? You can be beautiful and eat plants at the same time. Support healthy skin and lessen the look of wrinkles with a vegan collagen replacement that helps your body make its own collagen. This vegan skincare formula has the same amino acid profile as type I collagen, which is the most common type of collagen found in skin. Clinical settings have tested vitamin C, gotu kola, and ginseng root extracts in this formula. Studies have shown that it promotes healthy collagen density and skin hydration and lessens the look of wrinkles and fine lines.
What Is Kombucha?
Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage that has grown in popularity. Fermentation happens when microbes such as yeast and bacteria break down carbohydrates into simpler molecules. Beer, wine, bread, kimchi, yogurt, and, of course, kombucha are all produced using this method.
You can buy it in a bottle in a variety of flavors at most grocery shops or create your own at home. Aside from its wonderfully acidic flavor, kombucha has health advantages and is high in bacteria and antioxidants.
Kombucha is manufactured from a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY), which is also known as the "mother" and is similar to the "mother" found in vinegar. The SCOBY is added to brewed black or green tea with sugar, fermentation occurs, and kombucha tea is created! While homemade kombucha isn't often carbonated, many store-bought versions are for a fizzy soda pop-like feel.
Kombucha was first used for its medicinal benefits in Northeast China circa 200 B.C. Kombucha gained popularity and expanded throughout Russia, Eastern Europe, and Germany before arriving in the United States in the early twenty-first century. Kombucha is now available at practically every grocery shop!
5 Kombucha Health Benefits
The health advantages of kombucha are mostly attributable to fermentation, which results in a probiotic-rich beverage. Kombucha's health advantages originate from the fact that it is a tea-based beverage. While kombucha may be brewed with any caffeinated tea, including white, black, oolong, or green tea, research indicates that green tea kombucha provides the most advantages.
The evidence-based health advantages of consuming kombucha are listed below.
1. High in Probiotics
Kombucha, like many fermented foods, is high in probiotics.1 Probiotics are bacteria and yeasts that, when taken, provide health advantages. Consuming probiotic-rich foods like kombucha, kimchi, sauerkraut, and sourdough might help promote microbial diversity in your gut and general gut health. Gut health is important because it affects immune health; in fact, 70 to 80% of immune cells dwell in the gut. A healthy stomach also promotes regular bowel movements, digestion, cognitive function, and immunological health.
2. High in antioxidants
Green tea kombucha is high in antioxidant molecules known as polyphenols, which are prevalent in green tea. Green tea use may help minimize the risk of chronic illness. Green tea may also improve cognitive function, assist in controlling blood sugar levels, and aid in fat burning.
3. Promotes Heart Health
Green tea beverages, such as kombucha, have been demonstrated to reduce the risk of heart disease. Researchers believe this is due to green tea's antioxidant components.
4. Aids in the reduction of blood sugar levels
Green tea has also been demonstrated to help regulate blood sugar levels. However, because some kombuchas include a lot of sugar, read the nutrition label and pick a kombucha that has no sugar added after fermentation.
5. Helps with Metabolic Function
Green tea includes epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a potent antioxidant that combats free radical damage. EGCG also has anti-inflammatory effects and may aid in the suppression of pro-inflammatory substances in the body.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is more than just bad memories—it’s a mental health condition that develops after a traumatic event. It can feel like your mind is stuck in a loop, replaying distressing moments through intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, and overwhelming anxiety. You may find yourself avoiding certain places, people, or situations that remind you of what happened.
I won’t lie—PTSD can make everyday life exhausting. It affects focus, motivation, and even how productive you are. Imagine trying to work, study, or even have a normal conversation while battling flashbacks, panic attacks, or emotional numbness. It’s like your brain is constantly running in the background, draining your energy.
Common PTSD Symptoms
PTSD symptoms don’t just disappear over time. Without treatment, they can get worse and start affecting work, relationships, and daily routines. Symptoms typically fall into four categories:
Reliving the Trauma—Flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts that make it feel like the event is happening all over again.
Avoidance—Steering clear of people, places, or situations that bring back painful memories.
Hyperarousal & Reactivity—Feeling constantly on edge, irritable, having trouble sleeping, or reacting aggressively.
Negative Thoughts & Mood Changes—Guilt, self-blame, emotional numbness, or feeling detached from loved ones.
In children, PTSD can show up as developmental delays, trouble with speech or motor skills, and even regression in toilet training.
What Causes PTSD?
There isn’t a single cause, but PTSD usually develops after:
- Traumatic life events include assault, abuse, accidents, war, natural disasters, or the sudden death of a loved one.
- Serious medical conditions—chronic illness or a life-threatening diagnosis.
- Genetic & lifestyle factors: A family history of anxiety or depression, substance abuse, or previous trauma can increase the risk.
Grapes are one of those fruits I could eat all the time. Seriously, I have them every month, and sometimes I even wake up in the middle of the night and snack on them. Both red and green? Yeah, I’m not picky—I love them both.
Now, let’s talk about grapes. They’re actually berries (who knew, right?) and grow on vines from the Vitis plant. You can eat them fresh or turn them into wine, jam, juice, jelly, or even vinegar. The seeds? Those get used for oil and extracts. And if you dry them, you get raisins, currants, or sultanas. Basically, grapes are versatile little things.
Nutrition Facts (because why not?)
Calories: 62 per cup (92 g)
Carbs: 16g (92% of those calories)
Protein: 0.6g
Fat: 0.3g
Vitamin C: 6% of your daily needs
Vitamin B-6: 5%
Want to burn off those 62 calories? You’d need to:
🏃 Run for 5 minutes at 6mph
🚶 Walk for 16 minutes at 3mph
🚴 Bike for 8 minutes at 10mph
Carbs: 16g (92% of those calories)
Protein: 0.6g
Fat: 0.3g
Vitamin C: 6% of your daily needs
Vitamin B-6: 5%
Want to burn off those 62 calories? You’d need to:
🏃 Run for 5 minutes at 6mph
🚶 Walk for 16 minutes at 3mph
🚴 Bike for 8 minutes at 10mph
Health Benefits of Grapes (AKA why grapes are awesome)
- Good for your heart – The potassium in grapes helps balance sodium levels, which is great for blood pressure. Plus, resveratrol (found in the skin of red and purple grapes) helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and boost good cholesterol (HDL).
- Diabetes-friendly – Even though grapes are sweet, they have a low glycemic index and can actually help improve insulin sensitivity.
- Eye health – Packed with antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin, grapes help protect your eyes from sun damage and conditions like glaucoma and cataracts.
- Anti-inflammatory & full of antioxidants – Resveratrol fights inflammation and might even help prevent certain chronic diseases.
As much as I love grapes, eating too many can cause bloating or diarrhea (yeah, not fun). If you have kidney issues, watch your potassium intake. And if you have diabetes, moderation is key because of the natural sugars.
How much should you eat?
A good serving size is about one cup (or 10-15 grapes) per day. Fresh is best, but if you’re drinking grape juice, go for the whole fruit kind with no added sugar.
Oh, and if you’re worried about pesticides, organic might be the way to go. Grapes tend to be high on the pesticide list, even after washing.
So yeah, grapes are delicious, packed with nutrients, and actually pretty good for you. Now, excuse me while I go grab another handful. 😋
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