Omega 3 Healthy Hair Skin, and Joints, Rheumatoid Arthritis

If you need more reasons to consider eating a balanced diet, add good hair. Nutrition experts say that people with certain nutritional deficiencies tend to have dry, stringy and dull hair, and sometimes experience hair loss. Fortunately, nutrition-related hair loss can be restored once the deficiency is addressed. While male- and female-pattern baldness is considered a genetic trait, people experiencing any kind of hair loss should take the time to ensure they are getting good nutrition—for their hair health and general health.

At least one study has shown that people on crash diets experience temporary hair loss because such diets result in poor overall nutrition. Thus, people with eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are at risk of temporary hair loss, as well as many other medical conditions. According to Wahida Karmally, DrPH, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, zinc deficiencies, which are associated with hair health, may be a problem among people on low-calorie diets, especially young women. Zinc is found in meat, eggs and seafood.

Kalman says that people on low-fat and non-fat diets are at risk for nutrition-related hair loss because hair needs essential fatty acids. "Essential fatty acid deficiency causes a drying-up of the scalp and skin," he says. "These are vital nutrients that support follicular health. When the follicle is not healthy, hair loss or thinning occurs."
Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel, and in flaxseed oil and macadamia nuts and walnuts. It's recommended that women, in particular, try to eat a food source of omega-3 fatty acids three times a week to maintain skin and hair health.

Rheumatoid arthritis (joint pain)

EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) reduces inflammation and blood clots within the cardiovascular system. Clinical tests have shown people with diets rich in EPA are less prone to inflamed joints (Rheumatoid arthritis), inflammation of the intestine (Chron's disease), lupus, asthma, multiple sclerosis, eye problems and skin disease.

The reason for some people having inflamed joints is the imbalance of omega6 to omega3 in their diets.

Osteoarthritis - joint pain

Osteoarthritis, sometimes described as 'wear and tear arthritis' is more widespread. It is caused by gradual destruction over time of joint cartilage (the 'gristle' that cushions bones and prevents them from grinding against each other) and is therefore associated with the ageing process. It can be a painful and disabling condition but not everyone is badly affected.

Only as recently as 1998 did evidence began to emerge that the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids could also help in osteoarthritis - Rheumatoid arthritis. Research undertaken by a team at Cardiff University demonstrated that the omega-3 fatty acids could not only relieve the inflammatory symptoms of the disease, but could also switch off the aggrecanases and other collagen-degrading enzymes that break down joint cartilage. The new research identified the precise action of the long-chain omega-3s in fish oil and paves the way for more detailed studies.

Click here to go to the PuraEPA website.