Sea buckthorn, a vivid orange Himalayan berry, has recently gained significant popularity. This berry grows on thorny shrubs in cold, high-altitude regions like the Himalayas, Ladakh, and parts of Europe and Central Asia. It is greatly valued as a “superfood for youth”, owing to its impressive profile of nutrients and a broad spectrum of health benefits. Right from optimising your skin health, immunity, to metabolism, this tiny berry is known to cater for the nutritional and holistic wellness of young people.
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Dive into this article to know why sea buckthorn is valued as a youth-centric superfood, its benefits, uses, and potential side effects.
What Is Sea Buckthorn?
Sea buckthorn goes with the botanical name Hippophae rhamnoides L, is a hardy shrub that grows in tropical, cold and mountainous regions. These berries are tiny, tangy, and intensely orange, indicating a presence highly concentrated bioactive compound. Unlike most other fruits, both the pulp and seeds of sea buckthorn are nutritionally enriched, making it a unique fruit.
Nutritional Profile
Sea buckthorn boasts a dense profile of active plant compounds such as flavonoids, terpenoids, polysaccharides, organic acids, volatile oils, and vitamins. It has been extensively researched for its nutritional content and medicinal properties, which are not restricted to the fruit, but also to its flowers, leaves, stems, roots and other parts of the plant. Studies have shown that this superfood comprises vast reserves of tannins, terpenoids, polysaccharides, vitamins, and other bioactive ingredients, which confer sea buckthorn with a range of pharmacological traits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-cardiovascular, antiaging, immunity-regulating, antitumor, and antibacterial.
Flavonoids in particular are widely studied, and more than 90 flavonoids have been extracted from sea buckthorn. This powerful herb is used for several applications, like food and medicine. In addition, it also contains a diverse range of nutrients, including vitamins, proteins, amino acids, organic acids, and inorganic elements.
Also Read: Best Berries: 5 Must-Have Tiny, Tangy Fruits For Enhanced Health - Infographic
Why Is Sea Buckthorn Called the “New Superfood for Youth”?
Exceptional Nutrient Density
Sea buckthorn packs a rich array of Vitamins C, A, E, and K, Omega 3, 6, 7, and 9 fatty acids, which are very rarely present in a plant source. It contains key minerals like potassium, iron, and magnesium and potent antioxidants such as flavonoids, carotenoids, and polyphenols. The dense nutrient profile promotes growth, speedy recovery, triggers immunity and cognitive performance, all of which are beneficial for supporting youth health.
Eases Stress
Stress is an inevitable part of most young adults, which impacts their sleep schedule, diet habits and mental wellbeing. The goodness of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities of sea buckthorn helps combat oxidative stress and improve overall physical and mental health.
Improves Overall Appearance
Sea buckthorn is used in most skincare and hair products due to its ability to enhance skin elasticity, combat acne and inflammation and support collagen production. All of these help in uplifting skin radiance, voluminous hair and overall look.
Boosts Metabolism
The right combination of healthy fats and micronutrients in sea buckthorn supports sustained release of fuel, better nutrient absorption and maintains hormonal balance. These qualities of sea buckthorn are perfect for young adults to trigger metabolism and lead an active lifestyle.
Triggers Immunity
Sea buckthorn contains up to 10 times more vitamin C than oranges, strengthening immune defences, reducing the frequency of infections, and speeding recovery.
Common Uses of Sea Buckthorn
Sea buckthorn juice is a popular drink for immunity and detox support. Due to its sour taste, it is often blended with honey or other fruit juices to enhance the flavour profile.
Sea buckthorn oil is used internally, either as capsules or drops, to promote digestion, metabolism, and immunity. It is also a key ingredient in numerous skincare products, lip balms, hair oils, and burn treatments.
Dried berry powder is added to smoothies, yogurt, and functional foods. Capsules are preferred for convenience and standardised dosing.
Used widely in beauty products, including anti-ageing creams, acne treatments, sunscreens and after-sun care.
Precautions
Though sea buckthorn is generally safe and well-tolerated by most healthy adults, there are a few side effects if consumed in excessive quantities.
Excessive consumption may result in stomach upset or acidity; it is more likely to happen when taken in concentrated form.
Sea buckthorn may slightly lower blood pressure and affect blood clotting. Individuals on hypertensive and blood-clotting medications should consult a healthcare professional.
Some people may experience skin irritation or allergic responses, particularly with topical products.
Due to limited clinical data, high-dose supplementation should be avoided during pregnancy, unless advised by a doctor.
Why Sea Buckthorn Fits Youth Nutrition Trends?
Sea buckthorn nutrient profile and health-benefiting qualities match youth preferences and needs because it is plant-based, natural and offers functional benefits rather than calorie-focused. Valuable for both internal health and external appearance. Highly supported by traditional medicine and modern research.
Conclusion
Sea buckthorn is rightly called the new superfood for youth because it addresses the most pressing health concerns of today’s life, like immunity, skin health, energy, digestion, and stress resilience, through a single, nutrient-dense source. When consumed in moderation and used appropriately, it offers a wide range of benefits with minimal risk.
References:
Sea buckthorn: A potential dietary supplement with multifaceted therapeutic activities
Roshan Kumar Dubey ,Satyam Shukla , Vaishnavi Shukla , Sumit Singh
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949866X23001296
The Effect of Including Sea Buckthorn Berry By-Products on White Chocolate Quality and Bioactive Characteristics under a Circular Economy Context
https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/19/2799
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