Despite its popular benefits, a few camelina oil side effects may surprise you.
Camelina oil is an extract of the camelina sativa oilseed crop. It is also known as false flax oil.
It is native to Central Asia and Northern Europe but is currently grown in Italy, the United States, Slovenia, and Canada.
This oil can be used in spreads, salad dressings, and cooking oil.
Moreover, the oil is also used in creams, lipsticks, bar soaps, and other products that can clean or moisturize skin.
While it can withstand high temperatures, it is generally not recommended to heat it for prolonged periods.
Even though it is quite beneficial, there are some camelina oil side effects that every user should know about.
This article discusses 10 camelina oil side effects that you may find surprising.
Read on to find out more.
How much camelina oil should a person take?
Granted, camelina oil is highly beneficial to people in various ways.
However, you don’t have to use it all the time and at every meal.
You can start with about 2 tablespoons per day, then increase the amount as you integrate it into your diet.
It’s recommended that women take 4-5 tablespoons daily, while men can take 6-7 tablespoons. This only applies if they are on a 2000-calorie diet.
Is camelina oil inflammatory?
Camelina oil has anti-inflammatory properties that make it perfect for boosting immunity and healing wounds on the body.
Furthermore, it can be applied to the skin to reduce arthritic inflammation.
Can you cook with camelina oil?
Absolutely yes.
Camelina oil has a smoking point of 475⁰F which is quite high compared to most other oils.
This makes it a perfect choice for grilling and stir-frying. Avoid using it for deep-frying.
Benefits of camelina oil
Here are some things you may like about camelina oil.
It helps control cholesterol
Camelina oil contains sterols in abundance.
Sterols have the effect of inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol in your bloodstream.
Additionally, it is pretty low in saturated fats, which usually raise the cholesterol levels in the blood and increase the risk of heart disease.
It is good for the hair
Like olive oil, camelina oil also works very well for the hair.
You can use it for a hot oil scalp massage to add nutrients to your scalp and eliminate dandruff and flakiness.
It relieves arthritis pain
The camelina oil’s anti-inflammatory properties make it ideal for people with arthritis.
You can apply it topically to reduce inflammation and swelling in your joints and boost the joint’s mobility.
Additionally, it contains omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce overall inflammation in the body.
It is good for the skin
Camelina oil is rich in vitamin E and fatty acids, which can help moisturize the skin and prevent it from being damaged by free radicals.
You can massage it regularly into your skin to make it smoother, healthier and more moisturized.
It promotes heart health
Camelina oil lower triglyceride levels in the blood, which helps improve cardiovascular health by reducing the risk of heart disease.
It is good for the eyes, nerves, and brain
Oils rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as DHA, EPA, and alpha-linolenic acid, help keep the eyes, nerves, and brain healthy.
As a result, this oil can help protect you against cognitive diseases like eye diseases, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.
It can also help prevent nervous damage by reducing inflammation in the body.
Camelina oil side effects
Here are a few surprising camelina oil side effects that product marketers may fail to mention.
#1. It may trigger an allergic reaction
You may want to keep off camelina oil if you are allergic to mustard.
Camelina oil is closely related to mustard, which suggests the possibility of an allergic reaction in people with a mustard allergy.
#2. It increases the risk of prostate cancer
Although largely unreported, vitamin E products may increase prostate cancer risk among healthy men.
If you are prone to prostate cancer, consult a healthcare professional before you use camelina oil, especially if you want to use it regularly.
#3. It may interfere with protein digestion
Are you currently taking or planning to start taking a protein-based diet?
Then this side effect may affect you.
Camelina oil contains trypsin inhibitors that can alter trypsin activity, which is usually required for protein digestion.
Trypsin, also known as proteinase, is a digestive enzyme that breaks down protein in the small intestine while continuing the digestion process that begins in the stomach.
If its activity is inhibited, your body may have difficulty digesting proteins, resulting in complicated indigestion issues.
#4. It may lower blood pressure
Although not very known, one of camelina oil side effects is that it may cause your blood pressure levels to go lower.
A few symptoms that would ordinarily point to this include dizziness, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
If your blood pressure is already dangerously low, then it may be a bad idea to take camelina oil regularly.
#5. It may cause you to have bad-smelling sweat
Sweating can be stressful, but you know what’s worse? Excessive sweat with a bad smell, that’s what.
Substances with omega-3 fatty acids put you at risk of strong-smelling sweat, which will bother you and make people around you uncomfortable.
If you are prone to sweating, camelina oil might make this even worse for you.
#6. It may interfere with blood sugar regulation
People with high blood pressure should avoid camelina oil if they also have metabolic syndrome.
Camelina oil tends to affect glucose metabolism in hypertensive people who also exhibit symptoms of metabolic syndrome.
These symptoms include high blood sugar, abnormal cholesterol, and excess fat around the waist.
#7. It can cause bleeding problems
Anyone actively taking anticoagulants like warfarin should avoid products with omega-3 fatty acids like camelina oil.
Taking products with omega-3 fatty acids, especially in high doses, can stop blood from clotting and result in excess bleeding, which is fatal in severe cases.
#8. It can cause nausea
If you find yourself having inexplicable nausea after taking this product, chances are it is making you feel that way.
You can talk to a healthcare professional to help you figure out how to manage this symptom or get a replacement.
#9. It may trigger arthralgia
You probably had no idea camelina oil can cause pain and stiffness in your joints.
Arthralgia is one of the commonly reported side effects of products with omega-3 fatty acids.
The pain ranges from mild to immobilizing, depending on the severity.
#10. It can contribute to gut issues
Taking camelina oil may cause you to develop gut issues like indigestion, gas, and diarrhea.
If you have any condition that makes you susceptible to gut issues like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), you may need to keep off camelina oil.
Conclusion
Camelina oil has plenty of benefits, but this doesn’t mean there aren’t any side effects associated with it.
This article lets you know everything about the seldom-discussed camelina oil side effects.
However, camelina oil doesn’t need refrigeration.
Furthermore, it’s a great source of omega-3 fatty acids for people allergic to fish or on a vegetarian diet.
Camelina oil also has a longer shelf life than fish oil.
Practice caution when using it, especially if you are prone to any of them. If you can’t use camelina oil, opt for canola oil.
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