“Let’s get rid of toxins from our body, let’s feed itproperly and the health miracle will be performed”
Arbuthnot Lan
TRADITIONAL USES
Our ancient civilizations have used plant resources from their
environment for food, medicine, dyes, seasonings, etc. Sacha Inchi is
one of many plant species that Peru has. That is why various jungle
tribes are still using Sacha Inchi derivatives for different needs. As
it is the case for Mayoruna, Chayahuita, Campas, Shipibo, Yagua and
Bora women. The crushed seeds of sacha inchi (rich in protein, vitamin
and oil with polyunsaturated fatty acids) are used to prepare a special
cream that revitalizes and rejuvenates the skin, which is being applied
in the form of poultice and masks.
Colla, Amuesha cashibo, Capanaua and Bora natives eat roasted sacha
inchi beans to regain strength and use them as a tonic to bear heavy
labors in their daily lives. They also rub oil combined with other
plants on their bodies to relieve muscular rheumatic pains.
An Indian tribe now settled in Lamas, department of San Martin,
descendant of the Apurimac Chancas who fled from the Incas, consumes
sacha inchi in its diet permanently, they prepare a dish called inchi
cucho, and they serve it with bananas and cassavas (ingiri).
COSMECEUTICAL BENEFITS
Cosmeceuticals are natural grade cosmetic products because they
contain active substances with pharmacological activity and have a clear
protective or aesthetic purpose of the skin and health.
Sacha Inchi oil, due to its high content of omega-3, omega-6
omega-9, vitamins A and, with the characteristic of being liposoluble,
has the following cosmeceutical properties:
1. It is an excellent sunscreen; it prevents damage by
ultraviolet rays that can cause skin cancer.
2. It revitalizes skin, reducing wrinkles (on the face, neck and eye
area).
3. It is obtained products for sensitive skin and dry skin.
4. It is moisturizing (face, body and hands).
5. It is also used for hair care.
In regions of the Peruvian jungle, native women continue to use the
mixture of sacha inchi oil with the same almond meal plus "ungurahui”
oil (Oenocarpus bataua Mart) to prepare a special cream that
revitalizes, moisturizes and regenerates skin.
Due to the content of vitamin D, it protects the skin from free radicals
that promote aging. It takes actions against environmental hazards such
as pollution and overexposure to sunlight, primarily ultraviolet rays.
Vitamin E helps to regenerate skin. In the beauty treatments, it is
used after deep peels to help regenerate skin tissue. Some surgeons use
it after operations to help improve scars.
Sacha Inchi’s polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential
fatty acids, that is to say, they are essential for good health and are
not synthesized by human bodies.
Lack of PUFAs causes:
1. Dry skin
2. Scaly skin
3. Poor scarring
4. Moisture loss
5. An erratic process of keratinization (blocking of hair follicles)
6. Increased rate of fungal infections (disorganized layers of skin)
7. Tendency to eczema and itching
The linoleic acid is the major precursor of ceramides and essential
for the function of the skin barrier. Both topical applications and the
intake of essential fatty acids have proven helpful in restoring dry
skin as well as their therapeutic effects in various skin disorders such
as atypical dermatitis, psoriasis and acne.
Local applications of polyunsaturated fatty acids lead to:
1. Reduction of transepidermal water loss.
2. Normalization of the skin barrier function
3. Improvement of keratinization process
Sacha Inchi is the richest in unsaturated fatty acids for human
consumption compared to oils from all oleaginous seeds used in the
world, reaching up to 93.6%.
It is the best oil for domestic human consumption, industrial,
cosmetic and medicinal, exceeding all currently used oils such as olive,
sunflower, linseed, soybean, canola, corn, palm, peanut, etc. It has
many uses, such as lowering cholesterol, edible oil, cooking in the food
industry as omega-3 enriched foods industrially produced, in the
production of cosmetics, nutraceuticals and medicine.
MORE BENEFITS
Such is the natural power of Sacha inchi to the benefit of our health
that is essential to include it in our foods, as it promotes the proper
development and functioning of both the nervous system and the brain
which require essential fatty acids omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9.
When these oils are absorbed and assimilated by the body, they cause
the increase and acceleration of different brain functions that are
closely linked to memory, intelligence and reasoning.
Besides, sacha inchi, in the form of biofunctional food, enhances
the strengthening of the defense system, favors the better functioning
of the digestive system and fortifies the bones and skeletal system in
general.
And the benefits of sacha inti are so amazing and unique that its
inclusion in the diet of children, youth, adults and pregnant women is
ideal because of its rich content of vitamins, proteins and essential
polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Even recent studies have reported that sacha inchi extra virgin oil
helps reducing levels of bad cholesterol in the blood and tones up the
heart to work in reducing cardiovascular problems, so present in the
last decade due to excessive feeding in bad fats and junk food.
Who should consume sacha inchi?
Sacha inchi is ideal for improving the diet of children, youth and
adults, recovery of patients, especially in the diet of the elderly.
Sacha inchi seeds exceed the highest percentage of unsaturated fatty
acids and lower percentage of saturated fats, of all oilseeds used
worldwide for the production of oils for human consumption and quality
of protein for the production of protein meals.
Omega oils
The omega fatty acids are omega-9 oleic, omega-6 linoleic and
omega-3: alpha-linolenic, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
Omega-9 and omega-6 oils are found in abundance in many products that
people consume in their diet, both animal and vegetable.
Omega-3 oils are very rare in nature and are very scarce for life
and health, they must always be present in the diet, especially omega-3
alpha linoleic, because the body can not synthesize it from the food
that it ingests, and it is called linoleic essential fatty acid.
The omega-3 EPA and DHA are found in algae, some cold water fish,
and the human body that synthesizes them by elongation processes.
SACHA INCHI’S MAIN BIOFUNCTIONAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL BENEFITS
• It strengthens the heart and keeps blood pressure stable
• It counteracts fatty liver problems and irritable bowel syndrome
• It strengthens brain function and optimizes its blood supply, its
consumption being ideal for unborn babies, children, pregnant women,
youth, adults and elderly
• It helps reducing the level of bad cholesterol in the blood (LDL:
low density lipoprotein) and facilitates the transport of nutrients
throughout the body.
• It is the ideal food for pregnant mothers; it aids the proper
development of the fetus.
• It provides energy and promotes proper metabolism.
• It prevents and maintains good health.
• It stimulates the increase of good cholesterol (HDL: high density
lipoprotein).
• It is antiplatelet.
• It prevents myocardial infarction and arterial thrombosis.
• It regulates blood pressure and renal pressure.
• It helps in the control of migraine
• It avoids depressions and speeds the mind.
• It reduces the rate of triglycerides by improving the circulation.
• It benefits in the treatment of Crohn’s disease (colon inflation).
• It helps maintaining healthy skin.
• It prevents hair loss.
• It develops an effective visual function.
• It facilitates delivery through the production of prostaglandins.
• It regulates women’s hormonal problems.
• It reduces the presence of asthma before allergic stimuli.
• It regulates normal hypoglycemic body weight, regulates glucose
levels in the blood.
• It is antioxidant and slows the aging process.
• It is antitumor and anticarcinogenic.
• It has anti-inflammatory properties in joint diseases, arthritis,
rheumatism, arteriosclerosis, osteoporosis that facilitate the uptake of
vitamin D.
• It combats fatigue, stress, nervous or mental exhaustion,
irritability and insomnia.
Dose to be applied
100% pure cold-pressed extra virgin sacha inchi oil.
Recommended dosage: 2 tablespoons per day (8-10 Ml / day).
The FAO / WHO recommends optimal intake of essential polyunsaturated
fatty acids daily at a rate w-3: w-6, 5-10: 1/day, and according to
Japanese specialists, is recommended to consume in a ratio of 2: 1.
Additional data
• 60% of our brain consists of fat and only 5% of the world
population consumes the necessary amount of essential fatty acids,
so-called good fats for the body.
• Sacha inchi seeds exceed in percentage of unsaturated fatty acids
(good fat for the body) to all oilseeds used worldwide.
• By regularly consuming extra virgin sacha inchi oil, it helps
lubricating the skin so deep. So when it enters the body and being
carried by the blood, it directly goes to the skin.
Excerpt taken from the book SACHA INCHI, cosmeceutical and biofunctional
molecules, Author: Mario Carhuapoma Yance, Lima – Perú – 2009.