Camelina oil is a highly nutritious fat produced by cold-pressing the seeds of camelina sativa (Camelina sativa L.) — a hardy oilseed plant that has been cultivated in Europe for thousands of years. The plant itself has a characteristic brownish colour, but the oil it yields is anything but — depending on the growing soil, it ranges from golden to greenish-gold or reddish-brown. Lesser known than flaxseed or sunflower oil, camelina oil is one of the most nutritionally impressive plant oils available, with a fatty acid profile that deserves much wider attention.
Fatty Acid Profile: Why Camelina Oil Is So Valuable
The nutritional case for camelina oil begins with its composition. Up to 90% of its fats are unsaturated fatty acids, which immediately places it among the most beneficial plant oils from a cardiovascular and metabolic perspective. Of that unsaturated fraction, more than half consists of polyunsaturated fatty acids — including omega-3 and omega-6 — with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, an omega-3) making up a particularly high proportion. The remaining approximately 35% are monounsaturated fatty acids, including oleic acid, erucic acid, and eicosenoic acid. Saturated fats account for only 8–10% of the total fat content.
This profile has real consequences. Polyunsaturated fatty acids cannot be synthesised by the human body and must be obtained from food — making dietary sources essential. Their roles span brain function, hormonal regulation, mood stability, and cardiovascular protection. Deficiency is associated with impaired memory and concentration, lowered resilience to stress, and — in more severe cases — depressive symptoms. Camelina oil is one of the most accessible and cost-effective ways to address this common nutritional gap.
Camelina Oil and Cholesterol
Research conducted at the Institute of Food and Nutrition in Warsaw specifically investigated camelina oil's effect on LDL ("bad") cholesterol. In a trial involving participants with hypercholesterolaemia — a condition characterised by elevated plasma cholesterol — daily consumption of camelina oil over 14 days resulted in an approximately 12% reduction in LDL cholesterol levels. This is a meaningful outcome for a dietary intervention of such short duration, and it underscores the practical cardiovascular relevance of including camelina oil in the diet regularly.
[tip:One teaspoon of camelina oil per day on an empty stomach is a widely recommended starting dose — sufficient to cover the full daily requirement for essential unsaturated fatty acids. It is mild enough in flavour for most people to take directly, or it can be easily incorporated into food.]How to Use Camelina Oil in the Kitchen
Camelina oil is a cold-pressed, unrefined oil and should always be used without heating. Frying, baking, or boiling with it destroys the bioactive fatty acids and antioxidants that make it valuable — and can generate harmful compounds in the process. Its full nutritional benefit is preserved only when used raw.
Its flavour is pleasant and distinctive — nutty, slightly peppery, with a mild earthy note — making it a genuinely enjoyable culinary ingredient rather than a supplement to endure. It pairs particularly well with cucumber, green salad, onion, and tomato. It complements cottage cheese, goat's cheese, buckwheat groats, and boiled potatoes. It works beautifully as a base for healthy marinades, and as a finishing drizzle for soups. Traditional combinations with herring in cream or smoked fish — once very popular in Central European cooking — are enjoying a return to favour and are worth trying. Our Cooking Oils & Vinegars collection includes camelina oil alongside other cold-pressed options for comparison.
Camelina Oil for Skin and Hair Care
Camelina oil is equally useful as an external treatment. Applied topically, it can accelerate the healing of minor burns, ulcerations, pressure sores, and small wounds — making it a practical addition to a home first-aid routine. For general skin care, its effects are notable: it improves skin firmness, increases elasticity, and leaves skin visibly smoother and softer. A few drops added to a daily moisturiser enhances absorption of the cream's active ingredients.
For hair, camelina oil is best applied from the mid-lengths downward or only to the ends — not the roots. Leave for 20–30 minutes, then rinse with a gentle shampoo. The result is softer, better-conditioned hair with reduced breakage at the tips. For those who prefer ready-formulated hair care, our Hair, Skin & Nails range offers a range of complementary products.
Dosage and Usage Notes
For internal use, one teaspoon (approximately 5 ml) per day is sufficient to cover the recommended intake of essential unsaturated fatty acids. More is not necessarily better — quality and consistency of use matter more than quantity. For external use — skin or hair — apply as needed, adjusted to your individual skin type and response.
One practical note for sensitive skin: camelina oil is generally very well tolerated, but individuals prone to allergic reactions should perform a patch test before applying it broadly to the face or body. Avoid applying it directly to the under-eye area, where the skin is particularly delicate.
[warning:Camelina oil should not be heated. Use only cold — for dressings, finishing drizzles, and direct consumption. Individuals with known allergies to plants in the Brassicaceae family (which includes rapeseed, mustard, and related species) should exercise caution and consult a healthcare professional before use.]Camelina oil is available in cold-pressed, unrefined form from both Bilovit and Olvita — two producers whose careful extraction methods preserve the oil's complete nutritional profile. Find them, alongside a wide selection of other cold-pressed plant oils, in our Healthy Food & Nutrition range.
[products:bilovit-camelina-oil-cold-pressed-500-ml, bilovit-camelina-oil-cold-pressed-1000-ml, wellbear-camelina-oil-cold-pressed-500-ml, wellbear-camelina-oil-cold-pressed-1000-ml, olvita-camelina-oil-cold-pressed-250-ml, wellbear-camelina-oil-cold-pressed-250-ml]Camelina oil is particularly valuable for supporting the omega-3:omega-6 ratio when marine fish is not a regular part of the diet. If you are looking for complementary options — whether other cold-pressed plant oils or omega-3 supplements in capsule form — the following may interest you.
[products:bilovit-golden-flaxseed-oil-cold-pressed-500-ml, bilovit-linseed-oil-cold-pressed-500-ml, olvita-cold-pressed-linseed-oil-for-the-dr-budwig-diet-unpurified-500-ml, olvita-cold-pressed-hemp-oil-unpurified-500-ml, bilovit-black-cumin-oil-cold-pressed-250-ml, olvita-cold-pressed-thistle-oil-unpurified-500-ml] [note:All products at Medpak are shipped from within the European Union — fast delivery, no customs fees, to customers across Europe.]
