Nadine Dilong In addition to supporting our skin from the outside, our diet plays a huge role in our skin health and how we age.
Most of us know that our skin cells need plenty of top-quality nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. But according to Australian Clinical Nutritionist Warren Maginn, there’s one title-holding champion nutrient (according to extensive research) that we should all be taking – not just for our skin, but for our general health and wellbeing, including supporting immunity, heart and mental health.
And the winner is…. omega-3!
Specifically, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the two main components of omega-3, is where we find these amazing benefits for healthy skin. Without these, our skin can become dry, dull, and even inflamed, Mr Maginn said.
The human body cannot manufacture omega-3, so this requirement can only be met through diet and or supplementation. While many of us may eat oily fish on occasion, unfortunately we need to be eating a lot more (think 2-3 times per week, minimum) to prevent deficiency and support skin health. A vast body of research (more than 8,000 clinical studies to date from researchers around the globe) points to the essentiality of omega-3 for optimal health, and also indicates that people all over the world are often lacking in these essential nutrients.
Does omega-3 impact the way our skin ages?
Free radicals from sources such as smoke and pollution have an impact on the way our skin ages. If you live in suburban or city areas, there is a high chance that the pollution in the air has directly impacted the quality of your skin and your overall health, says Warren.
“Topical beauty creams, serums and other treatments can only achieve so much – it’s important to consider what’s going inside your body to help protect it, as well as what you’re putting on your skin.”
According to Warren, Omega-3 fats may slow down the process of ageing due to their beneficial role in countless cellular processes that directly impact skin health, including the ageing effect. Omega-3, once absorbed, resides in the membranes that surround skin cells, where they facilitate vital cellular functions that counter the oxidative damage typical of premature skin ageing.
Without adequate intake of omega-3, skin cells themselves simply cannot function properly. Deficiencies of EPA and DHA can lead to rough, dry skin that is prone to premature ageing.
Eating a diet rich in omega-3 is ideal; however, the reality is that most diets don’t provide sufficient omega-3 to be truly beneficial.
Along with a healthy diet rich in fruit and veges, taking a good quality fish oil supplement boosts the amount of omega-3 in our diet, to help prevent skin inflammation, dryness, and help slow the effects of premature ageing. Plus, you get the added benefits for immunity, cognition, mood, heart, and joint health!
What should you look for in choosing a quality fish oil?
It’s very important that we choose the purest supplement we can to get all the benefits we’re after, without the risks of the environmental toxins that can be found in some fish oils. That’s why it’s really important to choose a company that will show you Certificates of Analysis for every bottle. It’s the only way we can be sure that what you are taking has the very lowest amounts of metal or chemical toxins possible, even well below the pharmaceutical acceptable levels.
It’s also highly important that we choose to support a company that’s doing the right thing in regard to sustainable fishing and company ethics. Looking for fish oil that has Friend of the Sea certification is a way you can ensure you’re taking a product where dolphins have not been harmed during catch and the fish have been harvested from oceans that are plentiful in supply.
Lastly, fish oil that is 90% or more triglyceride form (the natural form found in fish) will ensure you are properly absorbing those precious omega-3s.
Why You Should Choose ULTIMATE OMEGA
- Double-strength omega-3’s for increased support in fewer soft gels.
- Great for meeting the additional needs of conditions such as pregnancy
- Supports general well-being
- May help support healthy skin
- Sustainably produced and Friend of the Sea Certified
Lemon-flavoured Ultimate Omega soft-gels offers concentrated support for the whole body. Doctors and researchers worldwide consistently choose this focused formula.
Concentrated Ultimate Omega delivers more omega-3’s per serving than most other omega-3 products. This means you get more support in a smaller serving.
Nordic Naturals source only the highest quality ingredients and adhere to the strictest product standards and specifications. They obsessively test every product lot to ensure that their products are pure and fresh – free from environmental toxins and contaminants. See for yourself – a Certificate of Analysis is available for every product.
All of Nordic Naturals’ omega-3 fish oil products are produced in the triglyceride form, which is the form naturally found in fish and the form the body most easily recognises and absorbs.
A randomised clinical trial to determine the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids from four leading omega-3 products shows Ultimate Omega is up to 382% better absorbed than other omega oils.
Where to get Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega in Australia
If you are interested in purchasing Nordic Naturals at wholesale for your clinic, you can register with Thera Health here.
Registration is easy and obligation-free, and provides you with a range of educational resources, free samples and an introductory discount offer.
If you are a consumer interested in taking Ultimate Omega, you can order it online here, or find a stockist near you here.
About Warren Maginn
B.H.S.c. (Nutr. Med.), Grad.Cert. (Hum. Nutr.) Functional and Nutritional Medicine Practitioner and Educator
Warren is a Clinical Nutritionist who specialises in the treatment of chronic immune disorders, nutritional deficiencies and hormonal imbalances through the principles of Functional & Integrative Medicine. Warren holds a bachelor degree in Nutritional Medicine and a graduate certificate in Human Nutrition from Deakin University. Warren lectures students of Nutritional Medicine in Brisbane Australia and is a contributing National Association member and Scientific Advisor to practitioner resource companies, supporting naturopathic and medical practitioners in their use of functional pathology testing and associated supplement prescriptions, within the basis to modern integrative health management.