Is Almond Oil Better Than Coconut Oil? What Is It Good for?

Almond oil and coconut oil are both plant-based oils that can have benefits when used internally and externally. Almond oil and coconut oil have benefits for skin and hair, but almond oil is better to ingest because it is a healthy monounsaturated fat.

Almonds are among the healthiest of nuts. They have healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, which are beneficial substances in plants. Almonds can help improve your cholesterol and lower your blood pressure, and they are a good source of fiber. 

Does almond oil have the same benefits? Is it a better choice than coconut oil? 

Read on to find out everything you need to know about almond oil. 

Almond oil has been extracted from almonds since ancient times. Almonds can be divided into two classes: bitter and sweet. Bitter almonds contain hydrogen cyanide, which can cause vertigo or death if eaten. Bitter almonds are used to make bitter almond oil, which is refined to remove the toxins.

Sweet almonds are the type of almonds you snack on. They're used to make sweet almond oil through a pressing process with minimal heat. Unrefined almond oil is pressed without heat. This is done to preserve the flavor and nutrients in the oil.

Almond oil is high in vitamin E and antioxidants, and it has anti-inflammatory properties. It has a variety of benefits, including: 

Benefits for skin 

Almond oil is a moisturizer and an emollient, which makes it particularly beneficial for your skin. Almond oil has been used in the cosmetic industry extensively for its emollient and skin-rejuvenation properties. It can help relieve the symptoms of eczema and dry skin. 

Benefits for hair

Almond oil is rich in the hair-enhancing vitamin biotin, which can strengthen and soften your hair. It has antibacterial and fungicidal properties that may help with scalp conditions such as dandruff. Its emollient properties can help smooth and moisturize dry hair. 

Benefits for your diet

Almond oil has many of the same heart-healthy properties as almonds. It's a healthy monounsaturated fat that can raise your good cholesterol and lower your bad cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends replacing trans and saturated fats with monounsaturated fats to reduce your risk of heart disease. 

Because unrefined almond oil loses nutrients in high heat, it's best to use it as salad dressing or as a finishing oil instead of cooking with it. 

Almond oil and coconut oil are both plant-based oils that can have benefits when used internally and externally. Almond oil is a monounsaturated fat, though, and coconut oil is a saturated fat. The American Heart Association recommends reducing your intake of saturated fat, though they don't recommend cutting its sources out entirely. 

Benefits for skin

Coconut oil provides many of the same moisturizing benefits for skin that almond oil does. Coconut oil may increase the amount of water you retain in your skin, preventing dry skin and protecting your skin against inflammation and irritation. 

Coconut oil is also beneficial for people who have mild to moderate eczema. Using it may help reduce the redness, irritation, and itching associated with eczema, which can otherwise disrupt your skin barrier and make your symptoms worse. 

Benefits for hair

Like almond oil, coconut oil can be beneficial for your hair. Coconut oil doesn't contain the vitamins that almond oil does, but it does penetrate your hair deeply and may protect your hair against damage and breakage. 

To treat dry or frizzy hair, massage a small amount into your hair and leave it in for as long as desired, up to overnight, and then wash it out. 

Benefits for your diet

Because it's a saturated fat, coconut oil is not as beneficial for your diet as almond oil. There are a lot of health claims regarding coconut oil that are either untrue or overly hyped. Most of the health claims of coconut oil are related to medium chain triglycerides (MCT).

However, coconut oil is mostly lauric acid, which is not an MCT. It's a long-chain fatty acid that doesn't have the same benefits as MCTs. Saturated fat, regardless of the type, is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Although small amounts of coconut oil in your diet aren't likely to be harmful, you shouldn't make it a primary source of fat in your diet. 

Bitter almond oil is not recommended for either ingestion or use on your skin. 

The main risk associated with sweet almond oil is the possibility of an allergic reaction. If you're allergic to almonds or other tree nuts, you should avoid almond oil as well. If you don't have a known history of a bad reaction to almonds, you can do a patch test to see if your skill will have a reaction. Simply rub a small amount on a clean area, such as your inner elbow, and wait 24 hours to see if there's any irritation or redness.