Ask any nonagenarian in Morocco the secret of his or her longevity and he or she will most likely put it down to the glass of pure olive oil that they drink each morning.
The health and beauty benefits of olive oil have been known for thousands of years. From promoting glossy hair and strong nails, to radiant complexions and glowing health inside and out. Whether you ingest olive oil or anoint yourself with it, it has been a staple of the natural beauty cabinet since the days of Cleopatra.
A lesser known beauty aid that is taking the world by storm right now is the oil from the nut of the argan tree which has been used by Berber women for centuries. (If you have ever made the trip out of Agadir to the old Berber town of Taroudant and taken photos of the goats clambering round in a gnarled old tree – that is an argan tree – maybe that is why goats don’t get wrinkles?)
The Argania tree used to cover North Africa but now is found mainly in the Moroccan southwest where it thrives in the dry, semi-desert conditions.
UNESCO have established a reserve for the Argania and set up a women’s collective through which all Argan oil sold today is processed. The proceeds from the sale of this oil is shared amongst the local Berber women and also goes back into a reforestation project.
Argan oil can be used from head to toe to nourish hair, skin, nails and it is its anti-aging properties which first inspired the UNESCO protection project and gave the impetus for the collective to be set up. It can also be used in cooking or for drizzling on salad or bread.
What oil from the collective that is not snapped up by the cosmetic industry is found for sale in Agadir markets for a far more reasonable price than you will find it in your local health store so definately, if you are visiting Agadir, make Argan oil one of the things you buy to take home. You will be supporting the local collective and treating yourself to an ancient beauty secret that has just been discovered by modern science.
Photo credit: Girl Interrupted Eating
