If there’s one health supplement topic that’s done to death, it is Omega 3 oils and all those essential fatty acids that are vital to your well-being. But the slew of information (or even misinformation from unscrupulous vendors) seldom instructs the genuinely health-conscious. For instance, “Omega 3″ and “essential fatty acids” are anything but synonymous.

There are really three forms of the “Omega” stuff: Omega 3, Omega 6, and Omega 9. The last one is found abundantly in almost any foodstuff, and in any case our bodies can synthesize it from unsaturated fats, so we’ll let it pass.

But it’s not the case for Omega 3 and 6: more specifically, the original Omega 3 fatty acid, called alpha linolenic acid or ALA, and its Omega 6 counterpart, linolenic acid or LA, can only be replenished through our diets. This is what scientists mean by the term “essential”.

The confusion doesn’t stop there either. Millennia ago, the human body would readily convert any ALA we encounter in our diets into two derivatives, DHA and EPA. But now that our scientists have finally uncovered the myriad benefits of the duo, for some reasons we have lost much of that conversion capacity.

The exact cause remains a mystery, but chronic stress levels in modern lifestyles and high trans fats intake are thought to contribute to this biological setback.

That is the reason why our grandparents didn’t have to worry about any of this. All fatty acids perform indispensable roles in our body, but we have thrown a spanner into the works by upsetting the delicate balance.

The typical American binges on Omega 6 and Omega 9 without knowing it, and unless it is compensated by an adequate dose of Omega 3, inflammatory responses are inevitable. The optimal balance is judged to be around three parts of Omega 6 to one part of Omega 3; most of us ingest twice to ten times the amount from pastries, fried food and even dairy products. (In other words, the things that make life worth living.)

You would have guessed the caveat by now: Omega 6 is paradoxically classified as a pro-inflammatory when consumed on its own.

Since inflammation has now been definitively proved to trigger degenerative diseases, many companies are marketing anti-inflammatory supplements such as analgesics. However, since the mechanisms of action are not as targeted as we’d like them to be, side effects are unavoidable.

Of course, there is always the all-natural alternative: you can opt for a purely ALA-fortified diet with no supplemental capsules whatsoever, by consuming cold water oily fish voraciously. It’s worth noting, however, the potential presence of both heavy metals and fat-soluble toxins in fish-heavy diets.

While researchers from Harvard’s School of Public Health report that the benefits of fish eating outweighed the risks, there is only so much seafood a person can eat.

The safest and most direct route is DHA supplements that are suitably moderated with EPA. Unless you are a vegetarian, in which case it is EPA deficiency you should be looking out for. But that’s a topic for another article.

Everyone wants to have nice skin, but when you start to look at all of the beauty treatments and their great costs, it can become confusing to know what to choose. A great supplement for the skin is omega 3 fatty acids, which can give you youthful skin. It offers a number of other health benefits.

Repairing the Skin from the Inside

The right oils help to heal our skin and repair damaged cells. It is a very important part of our health, and it can give our skin resiliency from threats on the inside and the outside of our body.

Powerful Anti-Inflammatory

Omega 3s also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to reduce swelling as well as redness. This is great for those who want to have clearer skin. The omega 3 fatty acid found in fish oil happens to be excellent for helping with skin conditions such as dermatitis as well as psoriasis.

Skin Restoration

Dry skin is no fun, and omega 3 fatty acids are able to moisturize and revitalize it. The oil can restore lost fats in the skin, which is instrumental to get rid of dryness. A study from the University of Maryland Medical Center of 13 sufferers of photo dermatitis showed less sensitivity to sunlight when they were taking fish oil. Used in addition to sunscreen, this can provide some great protection to your skin.

The Feel Good Factor

One of the biggest problems with our skin stems from other aspects of life. The stress that we feel can age our skin prematurely and cause us a number of health problems. The omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oil can help with heart health, cancer prevention, and your skin. You can feel better and look better with the help of Omega 3s!