I’m sure most of us know how important Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are for our daily lives. But do you know why that is? The average diet provides too much of omega-6 fatty acids but tends to be lacking in Omega-3 fatty acids. Here is a new outlook and perspective on Omega 3s and how, when implemented in the right way and at the right times, they can help our hair, skin and nails be radiant, strong, healthy, and beautiful.
First, we must understand that we are responsible for the health of our hair, skin and nails. Omega 3s are essential building blocks for our cellular health. Our cells are at the root of all our functions and health. Our bodies have an innate capacity to try to regenerate and heal if given the proper environment and nourishment. If every one of your trillions of cells are as healthy as they can be, then you’ll be a walking billboard of health, and health equals beauty.
I have seen over and over that Omega 3s are an essential key to our skin’s barrier health (epidermis—the top layer of skin). It is important to understand that people of all ages, regardless of their skin conditions and aging concerns, may experience visible improvements if Omega 3s, along with optimal nutrition, are included in their diet on a daily basis.
Omega 3 essentail fatty acids are at the core of the health of every cell in your body. Even your brain is dependent on Omega 3s for health as your brain is primarily composed of Omega 3s. They play a major role at the very core of every cell supporting healthy cellular function.
When cells are being optimized daily, we can support strong, healthy and glowing hair, skin and nails. Daily accumulation is essential, which is why these particular fats have the word “essential” in front of them. They are necessary for human health but the body can’t make them – you must get them through your diet. Other healthy types of fats like avocados, coconut oil and jojoba would be good on a daily or weekly basis, but the cell membrane is dependent on EFAs (such as Omega 3s) found in essential fats, making daily consumption of these crucial. Although healthy fats are beneficial in many ways, they do not replace the role or benefits Omega 3s have. Without daily intake of Omega 3s, we may never achieve the health that is possible for our hair, skin and nails.
So how is the best way to get enough omega 3 oils? You could eat cold water fish like wild caught Alaska salmon, Atlantic mackerel, sardines, and others, once or twice a day, but most people can’t do that. The other alternative is to take fish oil capsules. These typically come in 1,000 mg gel caps and for most people one or two per day would be recommended. The caution with the fish and the capsules is to insure they are mercury and PCB free. The larger fish tend to accumulate mercury as they age, so for capsules those made form small fish are more environmentally sound and cleaner.
For fish insure they are wild caught and not farm raised. Wild salmon for example eat krill which is the source of their omega 3 oils and the salmon’s pink color. Farm raised salmon are fed a very unhealthy mixture of corn, soy, and maybe some animal meal. Farm raised salmon is white. So they add coloring to their feed to give them the pink color. Farm raised salmon, like corn fed cattle, are very low in omega 3 and much higher in the oxidative omega 6. You do need some omega 6 oils, but only as a small proportion compared to omega 3.
When buying fish oil capsules you need to insure they are from small fish and free of mercury and other contaminants. Many are made from tuna and shark livers which are very high in mercury and contaminants like PCB. What I use and recommend is produced in a facility registered with the FDA as a pharmaceutical drug manufacturing facility – so they are subjected to much more intense inspections and regulations. They also manufacture to pharmaceutical standards. The fish oil is from sardine, anchovies, and other small species of fish which are naturally very low in mercury. Take this Health Assessment for a confidential health assessment of your overall health and to a link to the products I recommend.