OSTRICH FAT: COMPOSITION, USE, WHERE USED

The natives of Africa and Australia have long appreciated not only the meat and skin of ostriches, but also their fat, because they knew that it is an excellent healing tool for the human body.

Currently, ostrich fat is very popular on all continents, and its beneficial properties are confirmed by numerous studies.

Learn more about this.

How to get ostrich fat

First, the fresh fat of the slaughtered bird is crushed and melted. The resulting crude product is subjected to further processing - centrifugation and filtration. Ostrich fat (oil) has practically no color, but is saturated with many impurities that need to be adsorbed — proteins, metal ions, peroxides, and soaps. This process is also called clarification or refining.

You may also be interested to learn about the applications of goose, duck, lamb, goat fat.

Further deodorization of the product is carried out by evaporation. It does not undergo any other processing.

As a result, in case of high-quality processing, the oil will contain free fatty acids in an amount of not more than 0.5%.

Did you know? Ostriches are collectivists who live in large groups and always care about the safety of their relatives. To do this, the birds set night duty and in turn do not sleep, pulling their necks and looking for potential danger.

In general, the purification of ostrich oil is similar to the production of other dietary fats, with a small correction to its high degree of unsaturation. The resulting product is practically without color, aroma and pronounced taste is packaged and sent to the consumer.

Composition and useful properties

The first unique qualities of fat huge birds began to explore the Australian scientist George Hobdey. Among other things, he conducted an extensive survey of 500 Aborigines and found that none of them had reported side effects or allergic reactions from his use.

A study of the composition of the product showed the absence of vitamins, hormones or antioxidants, which could explain its medicinal properties. Apparently, they are caused by an exceptionally unique fatty acid composition of the oil.

Composition of ostrich fat

This product mainly contains triglycerides with the following unsaturated acids:

oleic (48-55%) - has a local anti-inflammatory effect;
Palmitic (21-22%) - activates the production of elastin, collagen, promotes skin regeneration;
linoleic (7-14%) - has a beneficial effect on the condition of muscles and joints;
Stearic (8-9%) - facilitates the absorption of active ingredients in mucous surfaces and skin, enhances local immunity;
Palmitoleic (3.8%) - restores dry skin, gives it elasticity;
gamma-linoleic (0.4-1.1%) - contributes to the production of hormones and prostaglandins;
Myristic (0.31%) - inhibits the development of pathogenic microflora and yeast.

Product benefits

Ostrich fat has excellent anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties.

The grass louse, sea buckthorn leaves, goldenrod, aloe, clary sage, blackberry, turmeric, and red elderberry also have anti-inflammatory properties.

It helps to get rid of skin diseases, heal burns and other skin damage. Even the ancient Romans used it in military campaigns for the rapid healing of their wounds.

Thanks to the phospholipids in its composition, the oil is perfectly absorbed into the skin, without forming stains on the surface. In addition, the high content of linoleic acid makes it a great help when getting rid of pain in the joints and muscles.

Important! From one ostrich after slaughter you can get 5-7 kg of fat, and from particularly fat individuals - up to 14-16 kg An ostrich emu 10 months of age gives more than 9 liters of product, which is about 30% of its weight.

The product has a light, airy structure and is very pleasant to the touch. It is hypoallergenic and goes well with other ingredients, due to which it is part of many therapeutic and cosmetic preparations.

Ostrich fat: features of the application

Ostrich fat, due to its remarkable properties, has found wide application in medicine, cosmetology and cooking.

In cosmetology

Ostrich fat is the basis of many masks, creams and serums designed to nourish and moisturize the skin. Such means perfectly saturate the skin, renew its cells, rejuvenate, help reduce and even out the tone.

In cosmetology, avocado oil, sesame oil, marigold, linden, nettle, and prickly pear oil are also actively used.

In addition, the oil has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and healing effect.

Using this product helps in the following:

improves skin firmness and elasticity;
stimulates the formation of collagen;
relieves skin irritation;
relieves itching and peeling;
accelerates the healing of scars after acne;
significantly reduces the appearance of cellulite;
stimulates hair growth and strengthens them;
nourishes damaged hair, fights split ends;
is the prevention of baldness;
prevents stretch marks in pregnant women.

Did you know? Ostriches are wonderful parents. If a predator appears near their chicks, then the birds play the whole idea - pretend to be sick, fall into the sand, rise and fall again. They do everything to divert attention from their kids and give them time to escape.

To stimulate hair growth, ostrich fat should be applied to the hair, not washing them before that, and kept for 60 minutes. After that, rinse them with warm water with your usual shampoo. You can perform this procedure 1-2 times a week. With the onset of baldness or severe hair loss, this mask should be done before each hair wash.

It is also advisable to use the oil daily as a skin care product. It is suitable for all skin types, but it has a particularly good effect for dry and combination type. Moreover, it can be used both in pure form and as part of a mask or cream.

This fat is almost odorless, and if there is a desire to remove it completely to use the product for cosmetic purposes, it is enough to add a drop of your favorite essential oil there.

In medicine

Ostriches have excellent immunity and the ability to recover quickly.

Apparently, these qualities were transferred to their fat, as it shows itself perfectly in the following cases:

relieves pain, swelling, stretching and muscle tension in injuries;
treats and prevents skin inflammations - acne, irritation, pressure sores, abrasions;
facilitates the course of skin diseases - eczema and psoriasis;
promotes healing of burns and postoperative scars;
removes itching, softens and moisturizes the skin;
helps in the treatment of diseases of the joints - arthritis, arthrosis and others;
prevents bacteria from multiplying;
protects the skin from frostbite and ultraviolet rays;
strengthens hair and nails.

To relieve pain in the joints, apply oil or ointment based on it with light circular motions on sore spots 2-3 times a day. And repeat this procedure until you get rid of the pain. To protect exposed skin from exposure to sunlight, it is necessary to lubricate them with a small amount of fat 15-20 minutes before leaving the house.

In addition, many athletes have noted the rapid recovery of muscles and joints after a massage performed with ostrich oil. It penetrates deep into the skin and gives a feeling of extraordinary lightness throughout the body.

Important! Before using ostrich fat for medical purposes, be sure to consult with your doctor.

In cooking

In its structure, the product is similar to soft butter, its taste is poorly expressed. The advantage of ostrich fat is that it contains much less cholesterol than other animal products. Therefore, dishes cooked with it are healthy and easily absorbed by the body.

On this product you can cook the first dishes, roast, rice or stew. It is good to fry meat, vegetables, potatoes or bread croutons. Or use it to make sandwiches. The result is not only tasty and nutritious, but also healthy dishes. So, now you know how to use ostrich fat for medical, cosmetic and culinary purposes. This is a real natural product that will help everyone to improve their health and get a blooming appearance.