Using mango butter for both topical applications and consumption can deliver a number of excellent benefits for overall health.
What is Mango Butter?
Mango butter is a natural butter that is made from the kernel of the mango fruit. Scientifically known as Mangifera indica, mangoes are extremely popular as a tropical fruit, but this particular body butter is made just from the seed. It is off-white in color and is similar to cocoa butter. While the type of mango butter you can make at home does have some nourishing properties, the cold-pressing of the oil from the seed is an important step that releases many of the active ingredients. For that reason, given the complexity of the production process, mango butter is purchased pre-made from stores. [1]
Mango butter is not only for applying to the skin, such as shea butter or cocoa butter; it can also be consumed and used as a replacement for traditional butter. Mango butter doesn’t smell or taste like mangoes since it is made from the kernel, rather than the flesh of the fruit, but it does have a pleasant texture when properly prepared.
Mango butter is a type of body butter made from the mango seed. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Mango Butter Health Benefits
Mango butter softens the skin, treats dermatitis, sunburn, and eczema, and moisturizes and protects the skin from UV rays. There are other few impressive benefits of mango butter like preventing premature aging, healing wounds, strengthening the immune system, and lowering your risk of chronic diseases.
Skin Care
With the rich antioxidant content found in mango kernels, this butter is an excellent topical application for eliminating skin conditions. It can help to alleviate inflammation on the skin caused by psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, and rosacea, among other common conditions. [2]
Delays Aging
The antioxidants will also neutralize free radicals, which cause oxidative stress in the skin and are responsible for wrinkles, age spots, and blemishes. Applying this butter to your skin can also improve skin elasticity to keep you looking younger for longer. [3]
Prevents Sunburn
If you apply this butter to your skin before going out in the sun, you will have a lower chance of getting a sunburn, but if you apply after experiencing a burn, it can also speed the healing process. It also protects you from the harmful UV radiation. [4]
Moisturizes the Skin
This body butter is known to moisturize the skin and help water be transdermally delivered into the skin, keeping your skin supple and soft to the touch. [5]
Prevents Chronic Diseases
When consumed like a normal butter, it can help to eliminate toxins and free radicals in the body, which can lower your risk of chronic diseases. [6]
Speeds Wound Healing
Applying this body butter to wounds will not only speed the healing process, thanks to the vitamin C and fatty acid content but also protect the wound from any infections. [7]
How to Make Mango Butter?
If you want to make mango butter at home, the process is very time-intensive and requires a lot of mango kernels. If you are an avid mango eater, collecting these seeds may not be difficult, but you would require a hydraulic press of some kind to extract the necessary oils from the kernels for the butter to be effective and packed with bio available nutrients. So let us take a look at the recipe below: [8]
Delicious Mango Butter Recipe
Ingredients
- 15-20 mango kernels
- 1 cup of unsalted butter
Instructions
- To make mango butter, gather 15-20 mango kernels and a hydraulic press.
- Following the press instructions, extract the mango kernel oil.
- Add the mango kernel oil to a cup of unsalted butter in a blender or mixing bowl.
- Stir thoroughly, then put it into a butter container or jar.
- Store the mango butter for up to two weeks in the refrigerator.
Notes
How to Use Mango Butter?
You can use mango butter in hair wash or as a daily body scrub to improve your overall skin health. Be sure to wash off any excess butter that doesn’t get absorbed into the body.
