What are Omega 3s and why are they essential for your skin?

Omega 3’s are an essential fatty acid. Essential meaning, we can’t make them in our body and require them from dietary sources. They are a specific type of polyunsaturated fat, which is a fat molecule that contains more than one double bond in their chemical structure. The three most common types of Omega 3’s are ALA, EPA and DHA.

Alpha-linolenic Acid, or ALA is a plant based omega 3. Typically found in leafy greens, hemp seeds. flaxseeds and chia seeds. It is a short chain omega 3, which means it needs to be converted by your body into EPA or DHA. This is not an efficient process to get your required intake, but is still an important part of the diet. So try to get some seeds and greens in daily!

Eicosapentaenoic Acid, or EPA is a 20-carbon fatty acid molecule. It is  easily synthesized by your body which needs about 250-500mg combined with DHA, daily. You can find EPA in salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, shellfish, herring, algae oil,krill oil and spirulina.

Docosahexaenoic Acid, or DHA is a 22-carbon fatty acid molecule. Also easily synthesized by your body and is found in fatty fish, algae oil and spirulina. If you have a lot of DHA in your diet, your body can convert it to EPA as needed.

You also need Omega 6 in a specific ratio to Omega 3 for optimal health in the body, 4 (Omega 6):1 (Omega 3). Our typical diet often leads to an overabundance of omega 6 so it’s important to get your daily intake of various sources of Omega 3s.If you are worried you aren’t getting enough in your diet you can add a high quality supplement.

Getting your daily intake of Omega 3’s will help reduce inflammation in your skin, and all throughout your body too which is very beneficial to anyone suffering from acne or eczema. EPA & DHA nourish your skin from the inside out by balancing oil production and helping soothe dry or irritated skin. They also help in slowing the aging process and may also help protect against UVA and UVB!

While it’s important to nourish your skin from the inside, we need to make sure we are nourishing from the outside, especially through the cold months! Make sure to use any of the Dormer211 products for face and body regularly, and stay warm and  moisturized!