This report from BBC News debunks some old myths about eggs, namely the issue of cholesterol. For years, people have been avoiding eggs because they're watching their cholesterol. However, eating saturated fats has a much stronger negative impact on cholesterol than eating eggs does. This is because eggs are high in GOOD fat, not saturated fat.
Simply put, healthy fats in your diet boost the health of your heart and brain, keeping your risk of certain diseases lower.
This report got us thinking about the role that fats play in the health of your skin.
Your skin is largely made up of fats. Those fatty bonds are what keep your skin healthy, strong, hydrated, and protected. Here are some of the side effects of having omega-3-deficient skin:
Keratosis pilaris: Also called chicken skin, this is a skin condition that results in little bumps on the skin, usually on the arms, thighs, and cheeks.
Transepidermal water loss: If that sounds familiar, it's because we talked about it here. ICYMI, transepidermal water loss is just a sciencey way of saying "dehydration because water is leaving the body through the skin."
Dry or dehydrated skin: This is mostly just a byproduct of transepidermal water loss, but it's worth mentioning because nobody likes dry skin.
What to Do About It
If you're noticing any of these skin situations, it's time to rethink your stance on fats in your diet and oils on your skin! Let's start with diet ... Be sure to get plenty of healthy omega-3 fats from these foods:
Avocado
Salmon
Chia seeds
Spinach
Eggs
Red lentils
Wild rice
Winter squash
Flaxseed oil
Walnuts
Grass-fed beef
Anchovies
Brussels sprouts
No, you don't need to eat all of these things all the time, but pick a few that you really like and focus on them for some meals to really up your omega-3 game!
What we eat is important, but what we put on our skin is super important too. Above, we mentioned that your skin is largely made up of fats, so it would stand to reason that applying good, healthy fats & oils on your skin would boost your skin's natural barrier function.
Oils on the skin have gotten an unnecessary bad rap over the years (much like the egg). While thick, stodgy oils (like coconut oil) can clog the pores of acne-prone skin, other oils are much more friendly to your sensitive pores. Keep your eye out for products that contain:
Hemp seed oil
Argan oil
Crambe abyssinica seed oil
These oils hydrate the skin, prevent transepidermal water loss, and strengthen the barrier function of the skin, leaving you with skin that is healthy, strong, and radiant!
Looking for a skin-healthy oil that will support you and bring out your best?
Look no further than "The Oil": Pre-Cleansing, Moisturizing, Face & Body Oil by GR8/SKN.
This pre-cleansing oil is packed with hemp seed oil, argan oil, and crambe abyssinica seed oil (hint, hint: all the great-for-skin oils mentioned above!) to keep your skin strong, healthy, and brimming with omega-3 goodness.
P.S. Summertime can be rough for our skin, whether it's damage from UV light, pool chemicals like chlorine, or salt water from your favorite shore line. Try applying "The Oil" to your skin before a good summer swim to protect your skin from the damage that water can cause.
