Dry, Itchy Skin? Try Omega-3
Many people don't realize it, but dry, itchy skin is a symptom of omega-3 deficiency. If you have problems with your skin being dry or itchy, maybe it isn't the winter weather that is to blame. It could be that you're deficient in omega-3 and suffer from skin problems needlessly.
Omega-3 and dry, itchy skin
Ninety-nine percent of Americans don't eat enough omega-3 rich foods. Because of this, many of those people are omega-3 deficient and suffer needlessly with deficiency symptoms of dry, itchy skin, fatigue, brittle nails, dry hair, constipation, frequent sickness, depression, poor concentration, and joint pain.
Fat and health
Considered a bad word in the world of dieting, fat is something that we all feel we should avoid in order to lose weight and heart disease. Membranes surround your body's cells. These membranes are composed of fatty acids. Fatty acids allow the proper amounts of necessary nutrients to enter the cell and quickly remove waste products from the cell.
To a certain extent, fat is bad but only to the extent that the fat you are talking about is saturated or hydrogenated. These fats produce cell membranes that are hard and lack fluidity. Omega-3 is a good example of a good unsaturated fat that produces cell membranes with high fluidity.
Wouldn't it be nice to improve your skin condition and benefit in these other areas of deficiency at the same time? Now you can. The recommended daily allowance for omega-3 fatty acids is 4 grams per day. You can easily attain this with supplements of fish oil, flax seed oil, or cod liver oil.
If you prefer to increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids naturally with good-tasting food, try adding the following foods to your weekly menu.
-- Wild-caught Salmon
-- Flax seeds
-- Walnuts
-- Scallops
-- Cauliflower
-- Cabbage
-- Cloves
-- Mustard seeds
-- Halibut
-- Shrimp
-- Cod
-- Albacore tuna
-- Soybeans
-- Tofu
-- Kale
-- Collard greens
-- Brussels sprouts
These food sources can have measurable impact on your blood levels of omega-3 and improve your overall health, including dry, itchy skin. Begin to gradually try new recipes and add these foods to your diet as an easy way to increase your omega-3. And get rid of that dry, itchy skin once and for all.
