Overview

Beef tallow is edible cow fat that's used for cooking, making soap, and skincare products. It's also sometimes used as medicine.

Beef tallow mainly contains triglycerides rich in saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, including stearic acid. Stearic acid might have various effects in the body.

People sometimes use beef tallow for aging skin, osteoarthritis, wound healing, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Uses & Effectiveness

We currently have no information for Beef Tallow overview.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Beef tallow is commonly consumed as part of the diet. Like all saturated fats, beef tallow should be used in moderation. There isn't enough reliable information to know if beef tallow is safe or what the side effects might be when used in larger amounts as medicine.

When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if beef tallow is safe or what the side effects might be. But there's no reason to expect safety concerns when used appropriately.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Beef tallow is commonly consumed as part of the diet. Like all saturated fats, beef tallow should be used in moderation. There isn't enough reliable information to know if beef tallow is safe or what the side effects might be when used in larger amounts as medicine.

When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if beef tallow is safe or what the side effects might be. But there's no reason to expect safety concerns when used appropriately.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Beef tallow is commonly consumed as part of the diet. But there isn't enough reliable information to know if beef tallow is safe when used in larger amounts as medicine. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.

High cholesterol: Use beef tallow in moderation if you have high cholesterol. Beef tallow is a source of saturated fat.

Interactions

We currently have no information for Beef Tallow overview.

Dosing

There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of beef tallow might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
View References
Show More Show Less

CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
Licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Copyright © 1995-2025 by Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. All Rights Reserved.