Fish oil supplements are one of the most common natural treatments on the market today, and is quickly gaining popularity in conventional medicine as well. That’s because fish oil has been proven to have a wide range of beneficial effects, stemming from the high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids that it contains. These fatty acids are essential to maintain overall health and can have specific benefits where the skin is concerned.
Unfortunately, while there are Omega-3’s found in many food sources, most of us do not get enough of them through our regular diet. This can leave us short of the necessary daily requirement and open to various health issues. The easiest way to counter this is by adding a high quality fish oil supplement to your regular routine.
Why Do We Need to Take Fish Oil?
For the most part, our bodies naturally produce all of the fats we need, but they are unable to produce important Omega-3’s, which is why they are called essential fatty acids. We need them, and the only way to get them is either through our diets or via supplementation.
Because so few of us actually get enough of them, more and more people are taking a fish oil supplement along with their multivitamin to ensure that they are getting the recommended daily dosage.
Fish oil is extracted from the tissue of cold water, fatty fish such as sardines and salmon. Taking a regular fish oil supplement can help to maintain a balance of the Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids in the body.
This balance is important because without it, a build-up of Omega-6 can lead to chronic inflammation, a contributing factor not only to heart disease and joint disorders but to skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
How Does Fish Oil Improve Our Health?
While fish oil supplements can help to improve cardiac health, brain function, reduce the risk of developing eye conditions like macular degeneration and promote good immune system function, they can also be particularly helpful in fighting skin conditions. Since the skin tends to lose elasticity over time, replacing lost fat with a fish oil supplement can help to counteract this and improve the overall look and feel of the skin.
At the same time, a deficiency of EPA and DHA, the main Omega-3’s found in fish oil supplements, can contribute to skin conditions like dandruff, eczema and psoriasis as well as the development of age spots and sun spots.
Maintaining the proper levels of EPA and DHA can help to combat these conditions by dramatically reducing inflammation. It has also been shown to reduce the effects of sun damage on the skin.
How Does Fish Compare To Other Skin Treatments?
The good thing about fish oil as a skin treatment is that it is entirely natural so there are no harmful side effects. There is also no danger from added chemicals or other synthetic ingredients. Provided you use a high quality supplement that is not overly processed and contains high levels of antioxidants to help preserve the delicate oil, you can get all the benefits you need without having to worry about side effects.
It’s important to remember that it can be very effective to treat health issues from the inside out. By eating right, taking necessary supplements, exercising regularly and eliminating stress you can really do wonders for your skin’s health as well as your overall well-being. Your skin is a reflection of what’s going on inside your body, so do your part to keep your body as healthy as possible.