Shea butter

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/shea-butter

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the botanical classification?Vitellaria paradoxa, a tree native to African savannas
2. What is the primary fatty acids?Oleic acid and stearic acid, contributing to emollient properties
3. What is shea butter and where does it come from?Shea butter is a creamy oil made from the nuts of the Vitellaria paradoxa tree that grows in West and Central Africa. It is rich in fatty acids that help keep skin soft and smooth.
4. Why is shea butter good for skin?The fatty acids in shea butter, like oleic and stearic acid, act as a natural moisturizer. It also contains vitamin E and phytosterols that soothe inflammation and protect skin from damage.

Lipid Extract: A substance derived from fatty materials, like the oil from shea nuts.
Emollient: A substance that softens and soothes the skin by preventing moisture loss.
Unsaponifiable Matter: Components in fats and oils that do not turn into soap when treated with alkali, often beneficial for skin.