What is gla borage oil?

What is borage oil ?

Borage oil comes from the seeds of the plant Borago officinalis. This plant is also called the starflower plant because of its beautiful and distinctive blue star-shaped flowers. Borage is an annual herbal plant that grows wild and is also cultivated for medicinal and culinary uses.

Borage oil is highly valued because it is uniquely rich in gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid. GLA is important for maintenance of skin health and barrier function. GLA is an essential fatty acid for skin because skin can not synthesize GLA and it must be provided through diet or application. Topical application of GLA has been shown to improve skin problems such as eczema, seborrheic dermatitis and other inflammatory skin problems associated with weakened skin barrier. Borage oil topical application improves the barrier weaknesses inherent in these skin problems, meaning the skin is less sensitive and trans epidermal water loss (TEWL) is reduced.

What are the best botanical sources of gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA)?

GLA is not unique to borage; other plants contain GLA including evening primrose and black currant but borage oil has the highest amount of gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA). GLA comes from vegetable oils and borage seed oil is the richest plant source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), providing twice the amount found in evening primrose.

Health Benefits of Borage Oil

1.ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES

Borage oil supports a healthy immune response and shows positive effects on the death of toxic cells. After consuming gamma-linoleic acid, your body converts it to dihomo-gamma-linolenic-acid.

Dihomo-gamma-linolenic-acid acts as the first form of prostaglandin and leukotriene compounds that the immune system produces. This acid is known to reduce inflammation because it inhibits leukotriene synthesis, which is partly responsible for raising the autoimmune reactions and thrombotic effects in the body.

2.IMPROVES HAIR CONDITION

Borage oil supports healthy hair growth. It can help restore strength, shine, and radiance to dry and brittle hair. The gamma-linolenic acid contained in borage oil also helps fight hair loss. Borage oil can be applied to the ends and lengths of hair by massaging it into your scalp.

3.SUPPORTS SKIN HEALTH

Borage oil contains high levels of omega-6 fatty acids that are vital to the proper structure and function of the skin barrier. Research has shown that borage oil taken orally increases prostaglandin levels in the skin and suppresses chronic inflammation.

Adding borage oil to your diet can help alleviate fatty acid imbalances associated with some skin conditions. Research shows that it's also effective when applied topically. A cream containing borage oil can help restore moisture and smoothness to dry skin and surfactant damaged skin.

Additionally, a series of research reviews found that borage oil and other plant oils containing gamma-linolenic acid contained antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits for people suffering from atopic dermatitis. For skin diseases that lead to inflammation, borage oil can be effective in helping to improve the condition.

4. Aids Weight Loss

GLA, being an important fatty acid, can often lead to an overall improvement in health – and this includes healthy weight loss as well. GLA also helps your body to hold on to protein and slows down the absorption of carbohydrates. The acid also transports the fat-soluble vitamins to the bloodstream. And since GLA is a good fat, it prevents overeating and cuts down fat cravings as well. Simply put, GLA helps reduce fat accumulation in the body.And more interestingly, GLA leads to the accumulation of brown fat and cuts down white fat. Research has shown that leaner people tend to have more brown fat. Brown fat acts more like a muscle.

5. Might Promote Breast Growth

The GLA in borage seed oil is known to convert testosterone into estrogen – and this might promote breast enlargement. The oil is also said to contain phytoestrogens that might increase milk supply.

However, this information has been gathered from certain sources whose reliability is under question. Also, we need more research to substantiate this. Please consult your doctor before using borage seed oil for this purpose.