Fish Oil for the Skin

Daily doses of fish oil can make your skin soft and supple.

Fish oil provides a wealth of benefits to your hair, heart, joints and especially your skin. Starting in the late 19th century, parents gave their children liquid cod liver oil to keep them healthy and strong, but since then many more health benefits have been discovered.

Dietary Sources

Fish are a great source of omega-3s, a fatty acid.

Fish oil can be taken as a liquid or as a capsule. Because of the strong taste, the capsules are much more popular. It can also be added to your diet in sea foods such as wild salmon, sardines, mackerel, tuna and herring.

Health Benefits for Skin

Fish oil pills are easily digestible and can be taken every day.

The main health benefit of fish oil is that it calms skin inflammation. HealthyOilPlanet.com claims it has been known to relieve symptoms of psoriasis, acne, eczema, and rosacea. It has also been proven helpful in eliminating or reducing dry and flaky skin. Viva Woman asserts that it helps slow aging by reducing wrinkles and sagging. According to the "Journal of Investigative Dermatology," fish oil has also been proven to reduce the effects of sunburn.

Dosage

The American Heart Association recommends at least two servings of fish per week and advises that the bulk of fish oil be derived from food. The recommended dosage of fish oil is 3 to 5 g daily. If it necessary to take supplements, consult your doctor before adding fish oil capsules to your daily routine.

References

• "Prevention's Healing with Vitamins"; Editors of "Prevention" Health Books; 1996
• Viva Woman: Omega-3 Fish Oil for Beauty Inside Out
• American Heart Association: Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
• HealthyOilPlanet.com: Skin Benefits of Fish Oil
• The Journal of Investigative Dermatology: Dietary Fish Oil Reduces Basal and Ultraviolet B-Generated PGE2 Levels in Skin and Increases the Threshold to Provocation of Polymorphic Light Eruption