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Physician, New York Times best-selling author and founder of renowned natural health website mercola.com, Dr. Joseph Mercola talks about the combination of two extraordinary oils to create his Biodynamic® Organic Hemp Oil Concentrate With Black Seed Oil, as well as the differences of biodynamic and organic. He writes (abridged):
Whole-spectrum hemp and black seed, or black cumin, oils have become two of the most in-demand oils for a very good reason: Both are supported by trustworthy, peer-reviewed research for their efficacy and safety.
As remarkable as they are individually, the real magic begins when you put them together.
When combined, you end up with a complementary, synergistic super-oil blend that delivers far more potential benefits than from just one oil alone. In other words, each enhances the other’s potential for various benefits for your body.*
While both hemp oil and black seed oil have earned a lot of recent notoriety, there’s a dark side to their popularity. Inferior knock-offs are flooding the market.
Here are just a few of the issues that have surfaced recently with both hemp oil and black seed oils:
- Contamination – High levels of pesticides and other harmful agricultural contaminants are showing up as oils that are third-party tested.
- Compromised purity and quality – Significant quantities of heavy metals are being detected in some finished products, most likely due to inferior growing conditions and depleted, contaminated soil.
- Harsh, high-heat extraction methods – If harsh chemical solvents, like hexane, are used, traces can remain. And high heat can harm or destroy the fragile active compounds in the oils.
- Lack of standardization – Independent testing is exposing false claims about the content of valuable compounds and evidence of dilution with cheaper oils, even with products claiming standardized quantities of compounds.
If you are currently purchasing hemp oil or black seed oil, these are very real concerns that warrant your attention and scrutiny. Because they are so important, I’ll go into more detail shortly.
The Active Ingredients in Black Seed Oil Work Synergistically to Support Your Health
Years of extensive research on the three active compounds in black seed oil – TQ, THQ and thymol – reveal how they can potentially support your:
- Metabolic health – Studies show TQ may support normal glucose tolerance, intestinal glucose absorption, and help to maintain blood glucose levels already in the normal range.*
- Cellular health and an already normal inflammatory response – TQ has been shown in multiple studies to affect the expression of cytokines and to promote an already normal inflammatory response.*
- Liver health – Your liver works hard to protect your body from toxins and heavy metals like lead and mercury. In the process, these substances can harm your liver enzymes and damage your liver. A study showed TQ may have positive effects on liver health.*
- Respiratory health – Studies have shown how TQ and THQ can have positive effects on respiratory and sinus health.*
- Digestive health – One study shows how TQ has a gastroprotective effect by supporting a healthy inflammatory response and helping to protect your stomach lining from insults. TQ also promotes nitric oxide production which supports mitochondrial health, as well as endothelial function and heart health by dilating your blood vessels.*
- Brain health and cognitive function – A study on mice demonstrated potential neuro-protective effects of thymol on cognitive function.*
- Hormonal and reproductive organ health – A systematic review of research done during a 14-year span shows that the antioxidant properties of TQ support male fertility by helping to protect against free radical and DNA damage.*
Here’s something you need to know about black seed oil products: Not all are created equal. In fact, some products should be avoided altogether.
What to Look for When Choosing a High-Quality Black Seed Oil
As soon as black seed oil became recognized for its many potential benefits, it didn’t take long for products – both good and bad – to enter the market.
Some companies have been accused of diluting their black seed oil and making false claims. At least one company claims their black seed oil has much higher levels of TQ than other products, but doesn’t provide any substantiation or verification.
If the company in question can’t supply third-party, independent proof of what’s in its product or its product claims, this may be why.
So how can you tell a high-quality black seed oil from one that’s not? Here’s what to look for when buying black seed oil. Make sure it’s:
- Made from the Nigella sativa plant (and not cumin).
- Raw and cold pressed (exposure to high heat can destroy the fragile compounds of black seeds).
- Not processed with hexane or other harsh chemicals.
- Pure and not diluted with other oils.
- Produced without genetically engineered ingredients (Demeter Certified Biodynamic® provides that assurance).
- Made by a company you can trust.
By choosing a black seed oil produced according to Biodynamic standards, you receive all the benefits of organic plus optimal environmental stewardship and quality. Certified Biodynamic® provides an extra layer of insurance that you’re getting authentic, high quality black seed oil from the best known source, namely Egypt.
Read more on the full benefits at MercolaMarket.com
