Sacha inchi
Plukenetia volubilis
Seeds & Grains. Latin American & Amazon and Modern nutrition.
Also called Inca peanut, Inca nut, Mountain peanut
Blood thinner cautionSacha inchi is a climbing vine from the Peruvian Amazon. Its seeds are roasted as a snack, and its oil is valued for ALA, a plant omega-3 fat.
Did you know? The plant is a climbing vine whose star-shaped seed pods split open to release the seeds.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Cholesterol. Small human trials show lower LDL (bad) cholesterol with sacha inchi oil over a few months. In a four-month trial of 30 people, sunflower oil also lowered LDL, so sacha inchi was not shown to do better. The trials are small and short.See the research: 10 studies in peoplePromising proof
- Blood pressure. A small 2024 pilot in Malaysia, with 13 adults, found lower top (systolic) blood pressure, but it had no control group. Larger trials are needed.See the research: 4 studies in peopleTraditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Amazon communities have eaten the roasted seeds for generations. Modern growers and health brands now press the seeds into oil and powders.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Nutritive, Circulatory. Energy: neutral.
How people take it
Roasted seeds are eaten as a snack. Cold-pressed oil is taken by spoon or stirred into cold food. Human studies used the oil daily for a few months, such as 10 to 15 mL a day in one four-month trial, but no standard amount is set. Avoid heating the oil, since ALA breaks down easily.
Food, oil, powder and capsule.
Where to get it
Grows wild and on farms in the Peruvian Amazon and nearby areas. Seeds and oil are sold in health food stores, online and in Peru as snacks. Look for cold-pressed oil in dark bottles with a recent date.
Be careful
Sacha inchi is food for many people, and side effects are rare. Some people with seed or nut allergy may react. The seeds and oil are high in fat, so large amounts can cause loose stools, and some people feel queasy at first. High doses of omega-3 fats may add a small amount of bleeding risk, but the plant form (ALA) is much weaker than fish oil on this. Food amounts are fine for most people, including in pregnancy, but there are no studies on large amounts.
Avoid if: nut allergy.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Both are seeds rich in ALA, a plant omega-3 fat.
- Works well together
Both are seeds rich in ALA, a plant omega-3 fat.
- Use cautionBlood thinners (warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto, Plavix, daily aspirin)
Plant omega-3 (ALA) may add a very small bleeding risk at high doses. The effect is much weaker than with fish oil.
Adds up with others that may slow blood clotting: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 47 more.
The honest take
Sacha inchi is a nutritious seed whose oil is high in ALA, a plant omega-3 fat. Small studies show lower LDL cholesterol, but they are small, short, and some have no control group. Its heart benefits are not yet proven in larger trials.
Sources
Each “See the research” link opens PubMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's index of medical studies, showing only trials and reviews done in people. The number tells you how much a use has been tested, not whether it worked. The proof rating tells you that.
Study counts checked October 2026.