Can you Eat Vaseline? Is Vaseline Healthy? Here’s the Answer

Can you eat vaseline? Yes, you can. The fact is that you'll most likely be fine if you swallow Vaseline. It's not going to do much for your nutritional status, but it won't hurt you, either.

Having said that, depending on the amount you swallow and your age or size, there are also side effects.

Some people worry that if they eat Vaseline, they'll become constipated. But the truth is that most of the time, eating vaseline won't cause any problems with bowel movements.

In fact, it might even help lubricate the stool and make it easier to pass. However, there are a few exceptions: If you have a gastrointestinal obstruction or if you're experiencing anal fissures, eating vaseline could make things worse. So if you're dealing with any kind of gastrointestinal issue, it's best to avoid eating this product.

What is vaseline?

Petroleum jelly is a thick ointment made of petroleum and plant matter. Vaseline is a combination of natural waxes and mineral oils. Robert Augustus Chesebrough invented it.

It has a thick consistency, but it is possible to soften and liquefy petroleum jelly by placing the jar into a bath of warm water.

It's used as an ingredient in many beauty products, such as lip balms or hand lotions. Petroleum jelly is also used to protect the skin from the sun, dangerous radiation, and chemicals.

You can put vaseline on your skin to treat dryness. Some people also eat vaseline for weight-loss reasons. But eating vaseline is not very healthy.

For those who may not know, vaseline is considered minimally toxic, and the semi-solid texture means that overeating can cause some side effects. On the other hand, ingesting a small amount should be fine, though with no reported adverse occurrences so far!

What happens if you eat Vaseline?

Is vaseline bad? Robert Chesebrough, the inventor of petroleum jelly, ate a spoonful of it every day.

Swallowing vaseline can cause soft or loose stools, but there is also a risk of choking if you put too much in your mouth and swallow it incorrectly.

Petroleum jelly has laxative effects that cause soft or loose stool. But it would help if you did not swallow vaseline because it will hurt your stomach and intestines.

That is because the melting temperature of vaseline is just 10 degrees lower than the human body temperature.

Petroleum jelly is a particular type of lubricant. It doesn't mix with your stomach fluids. In general, it will come out of your anus.

• If you eat petroleum jelly, it may decrease your body's ability to take in fat-soluble vitamins.
• It will dissolve in the petroleum jelly and stay there. If it gets into the walls of your intestines, this can cause a type of inflammation called "foreign-body granulomatous reaction."

Is petroleum jelly toxic to humans?

Is vaseline edible? Vaseline is safe to eat in small amounts according to FDA guidelines.

Indeed, petroleum jelly isn't considered toxic, but more severe lung problems can occur with prolonged exposure to inhaled droplets.

A few exposed people for long periods have presented symptoms, including coughing blood and difficulty breathing!

Benefits of Eating Vaseline

There are no proven benefits of eating vaseline. Some doctors and scientists say that petroleum jelly is suitable for topical use only and not for ingestion.

It is not harmful to eat petroleum jelly. Although it is not considered a toxic product, consuming it in large quantities can cause health problems.

Petroleum jelly is also used as a lubricant, especially on equipment like bike chains or bolts that need oiling to keep them from sticking.

Petroleum jelly overdose can cause serious problems that I will explain now:

Petroleum jelly side effects

If you eat a lot of petroleum jelly, these symptoms might happen:

Can Cause Acne and Other Skin Conditions

Your skin can become very oily from eating vaseline regularly. It causes acne and other skin conditions because it's awful for your body to do that to itself. In some cases, vaseline can clog the pores of your skin, which can cause blackheads.

Toxic Chemicals in Vaseline

Is vaseline toxic? It is full of toxic chemicals that are not meant to be eaten by your body. Eating vaseline in large amounts can cause damage to internal organs and other serious problems for your health. In addition, it causes styes when you eat it near or close to your eyes because it will clog your pores.

Abdominal pain

Your stomach lining can get inflamed because petroleum jelly causes excessive digestive problems. The stomach pain caused by eating vaseline is not very noticeable at first, but it will worsen over time if you continue to eat the substance.

Diarrhea

What happens if you eat vaseline? If you ingest more than the usual dose, acute diarrhea may occur with loss of electrolytes, water, and food content.

If you have leakage of oily paste through the anal sphincter, stop taking the petroleum jelly.

Coughing

You can suffer from a chronic cough if you eat vaseline too often.

Difficulty breathing

Can eating petroleum jelly cause shortness of breath and other breathing difficulties? Yes, because you can't breathe properly when your lungs and throat are clogged up.

Weight loss

Yes, if you eat vaseline regularly and stop exercising, it is possible to lose a significant amount of weight in a short period.

Petroleum jelly internally is not suitable for your health because it will cause stomach problems.

Throat irritation

Swallowing vaseline can cause throat irritation. I have tried this, and it did not go away for 2 days.

Vaseline is a petroleum jelly that's used to lubricate surfaces of moving parts, seal doors and windows, protect the metal from rusting or deterioration, soothe dry skin or chapped lips, remove makeup (apply the vaseline on top of your makeup), etc.

Common uses of vaseline

Now I am going to talk about the uses of vaseline. So, it is used in many products like sunscreen lotion or lip gloss.

It is also used to soothe chapped lips and dry skin.

Heal minor skin scrapes and burns.

You can apply petroleum jelly to a burn. The ointment does not have to contain antibiotics to be safe for most people!

Some antibiotic creams and lotions may cause an allergic reaction if you're sensitive, though. So please don't use them unless your doctor says that's okay with their prescribed medication regime or treatment plan.

Moisturize your face, hands, and more

You can use it in the same places I mentioned earlier, like your lips and chapped hands.

If you have dry skin or feel like putting on some lotion, that's fine too!

Remove eye makeup

It will be a good idea to remove your makeup with vaseline. It will break down your makeup and leave it on there so you can easily wipe it off.

Prevent diaper rash

That is an excellent use for vaseline to prevent diaper rash! It will coat the area and keep it moist.

Save the split ends of your hair.

If you have dry ends, try smoothing some Vaseline onto them to help save their lives! You can also put it on your feet, elbows, knees, and cuticles.

Prevent skin stains from hair dye or nail polish

If you're getting your nails done or dyeing your hair, put on some Vaseline around the area to prevent staining.

Use as a lubricant for stuck objects.

Vaseline is an excellent idea for stuck objects. For example, it can help you unscrew caps and lids that might be stuck on jars or bottles.

It increases the duration of the perfume scents.

That is an excellent use for vaseline. If you have some on your pulse points, it will increase the duration of your favorite perfume.

Help for pet paws

Just apply a minimal amount to your dog or cat's paws. That will help their paws from damage in winter weather!

How does petroleum jelly work?

Vaseline contains a high concentration of a chemically inert hydrocarbon called mineral oil, which doesn't dissolve in water.

So, it is commonly used to seal doors and windows because you can even apply the vaseline on wood to protect them from drying out.

Mineral oils are found in petroleum jelly. So, it is also used to protect the metal from rusting or deterioration.

Can you eat petroleum jelly for a sore throat?

You cannot eat petroleum jelly for a sore throat because it is not good for your health and can cause many problems like cough, difficulty breathing, etc.

Conclusion

Vaseline is a petroleum by-product that has been used for decades as an ointment, skincare product, and beauty aid. The greasy substance can be found in many homes worldwide because it's so versatile.

However, just because something is popular doesn't mean you should use it indiscriminately, especially when other options are available.

If this sounds like your story, too, take some time today to read our blog post on vaseline side effects before making any rash decisions about what products you put near or on your body! (Trusted Sources 1*, 2*, 3*)

DISCLAIMER: buildyourbody.org does not provide medical advice, examination, and diagnosis.

Medically reviewed and approved by Nataniel Josue M D.