What brands of clothing are hanging in your closet?
To combat dry skin, I keep bottles of moisturizer on my desk, in my purse and on my dresser at home. Excessive? Maybe, but I have a feeling I'm not the only Calgarian with a thirst for moisturizer.
Turns out there's another way to keep skin hydrated, in addition to slathering yourself with lotion. According to alternative nutrition experts, moisturizing from within is crucial if you're looking to ease your dry-skin woes.
What does moisturizing from within mean?
Essentially, healthy skin starts on the inside. A clean and natural diet is key, as is drinking enough water. Not so much of a surprise.
What I didn't know was that to make the best use of the water I drink, my body's cells have to be in good shape.
"In order to get the cells to hold water, the cells need to be healthy. The best and easiest way is to just take fish oils or essential fatty acids," says Dr.
Jeoff Drobot, a naturopathic doctor and owner of the Calgary Centre for Naturopathic Medicine. "If you can build a better or a more flexible cell, it will be able to get water in and send waste away."
The three sources interviewed for this story mentioned fish oil as their top pick to improve skin.
Fish oil is exactly as it sounds. It comes from the tissues of oily fish like salmon, cod and mackerel. The oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, which the body cannot produce on its own but needs to build healthy cells.
As much as I enjoy a piece of ahi tuna for dinner, the thought of sipping fish oil isn't all that appetizing.
"It's not as bad as you think," says Tierre Taylor, a consultant with Vitamins First, who recommends taking one to two teaspoons (five to 10 mL) a day. She says most people take it straight or in a smoothie.
"(Manufacturers) do an amazing job of making it taste like orange or lemon."
For the squeamish, fish oils come in gel capsules, too.
Another way to moisturize from within is to incorporate plant oils into your diet.
Like fish oils, there are a variety to choose from, and a range of potencies. A well-known favourite is Udo's blended oil, which is a balance of omega-3, -6 and -9 fats. (See His Royal Oiliness at right.
)
Most plant oils come in liquid form and can easily be sprinkled over foods or smoothies. Mix them into a salad dressing, for instance, or drizzle them on rice. Taylor recommends taking two teaspoons (10 mL) a day.
Drobot agrees plant oils can be helpful, especially for vegetarians not wanting to consume animal products, but says some people have an easier time processing fish oils.
Now, it may seem counter-intuitive to ingest more fat to have fewer skin problems, but it's the type of fat that makes all the difference.
"Trans fats are the worst thing you can do for your skin," says Drobot, who recommends avoiding packaged foods and eating whole foods like nuts, seeds, olive oil and avocados for a great source of essential fatty acids.
News RSS