Natural Shine Beauty

Did you know that upping your intake of omega 3 will help your skin look younger AND boost your brain power as you get older?

There are many other benefits to popping a little golden capsule of omega 3 on a daily basis - but those two facts are probably enough for most of us right there.

Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid and fatty acids are vital for the proper functioning of every cell in your body.

Omega 3 fatty acids maintain the structure and fluidity of the cell membrane making sure nutrients enter the cell and waste products are removed. As your body can't make these fatty acids - it has to constantly replenish them from food intake - hence the label: "essential fatty acids" or EFA.

You probably already know that there are good and not so good fatty acids. Too much saturated fat for example clogs up your cell membranes because these fats remain solid at room temperature. Diets containing large amounts of saturated fats produce unhealthy cell membranes that are hard and lacking in fluidity.

On the other hand - omega 3 fatty acids are liquid at room temperature which contributes to the fluidity of the cell membrane.

Diets rich in omega 3 fats produce cell membranes with a high degree of fluidity so connections within your brain will be stronger and quicker. Your brain - and consequently your whole body - works better.

Unfortunately the average western diet contains an excess of saturated fat and depleted levels of omega 3 fatty acids. Your mother may have told your that fish was good for the brain - she may not have been able to explain exactly why - but she was right.

Two very important omega 3 fatty acids which you may have seen on supplement labels are EPA and DHA both of which are found in high levels in fish and seafood. So if you're going to get your essential fatty acids from fish then stick to oily fish like: salmon, halibut, tuna, mackerel, trout, sardines, eel and herring.

White fish is still a great thing to eat of course but it won't give you the levels of Omega 3 you need.

The effects of a high fish oil diet on the brain is well known nowadays. But omega 3 as a skin conditioner is less well known. Omega 3 fatty acids are magic for your skin - keep skin cells moist and strong which is an essential element of younger looking skin.

Recent studies have shown that a diet low in essential fatty acids - and that's around 99% of US citizens - can lead to dry skin and premature wrinkles. Boosting your intake of fatty acids will do wonders for the smoothness and radiance of your skin.

So - if you want your skin to look younger AND boost your brain power - add omega 3 supplements to you anti aging diet.