
Lack of essential fatty acids (EFAs) constitutes
the most neglected aspect of a nutritional program for
healthy, radiant skin.
More specifically, while our intake
of the omega-6 EFA linoleic acid has doubled in our diet,
our intake of the omega-3 EFA alpha-linolenic acid is at 16%
of
already inadequate 1850 intake, and too low in the diets
of 95-99% of the population. 
The result of this imbalance of EFAs in
the skin is dryness, dandruff, eczema and psoriasis-like
inflammatory skin conditions,
acne, cracked heels, toxic deposits in the skin, skin
damage, and increased risk of sunburn and skin cancer.
Not that the skin requires only EFAs for health. No, the
skin requires protein (not a problem in most people’s
diet), water (dehyration due to insufficient EFAs is widespread),
minerals (silicon, zinc, copper, and magnesium play important
roles), and vitamins (A, biotin, C, and E are important)
all play their roles.
It’s just that EFAs are the most neglected: for 3
reasons.
First, EFAs are damaged by processing in the manufacture
of cooking oils, margarines, shortenings, partially hydrogenated
vegetable oils, trans fatty acids (including CLA), and
are also damaged by sautéing, frying, and deep-frying
in food preparation, becoming toxic molecules that do damage
to the skin. Second, omega-3 intake is too low in most people.
Third, the ratio between omega-3 and omega-6 in most people’s
diets is way off. That is why so much attention deserves
to be given to the role of EFAs in skin health.
A survey of consumers carried out in 2004 showed that
78% of the respondents reported improvements in their skin
condition when they began to take the all-inclusive blend
of oils made with health in mind known as Udo’s Choice
Oil Blend. Some raved about the beauty of their skin. Others
noted their skin improvements with less fanfare. But everyone
who saw improvements was very grateful. The reports showed
that bad skin got better, and good skin got better.
Dry skin is
very common in this age of "fat phobia".
Whether you live in a desert or you experience
dry skin in cold
weather, do not be resigned to this unpleasant symptom,
because dry skin can easily be fixed with the right kinds
of good oils.
Most people buy creams and lotions that
hide the problem but never fix it.
But really,
all you have to do is take a tablespoon per 50 pounds
of body weight per day of Udo’s
Choice Oil Blend, mixed in foods, spread out over the course
of
the day, and the problem is gone. Not only is the skin
problem gone, but the rest of your body also get healthier,
the risk factors for most degenerative conditions improve,
you find yourself with more energy, better mood, better
concentration, and calmer disposition.
Dandruff also responds positively to EFA
intake, because dandruff is just dry skin flaking off.
Some people can
scratch their skin with the back of their fingernail,
and leave a white streak of dry, loose skin flakes.
This does
not happen when EFA intake is optimized.
Cracked heels are also the result of not having enough
EFAs in the diet.
Both of these
conditions are inflammatory in nature. Most people’s diet is rich in omega-6, compared
to their intake of omega-3. Unfortunately for them, omega-6 increases
inflammation. However, the lacking omega-3 decreases inflammation.
To decrease skin inflammation, one needs only to increase
omega-3 or decrease omega-6, or best do both. Udo’s Choice
Oil Blend contains twice as much omega-3 (50% of the oil) as
omega-6 (25% of the oil).

A simple replacement
of omega-6 rich, damaged commercial oils (up to 1 million toxic molecules for every
one of the body’s
60 trillion cells in just one tablespoon) with the omega-3
rich, omega-6 adequate, undamaged, organic, made-with-health-in-mind
Udo’s Choice Oil Blend gives partial or total relief
of these inflammatory conditions within a very short time.
The oil blend can even bring improvement by being put on
the skin from the outside.
When pores
in the skin become plugged, bacteria move in and have
a feast. The immune system then fights
them,
and this leads to the pustulent zits that plague many
people. The question is: What plugs the pores.
EFAs (especially omega-3) keep proteins soft and keep them
from drying and flaking off. EFAs also flow well, and carry
cellular debris and toxins to the surface of the skin,
from where they can be removed with water, soap, and cloth.
When people get too little omega-3 and omega-6,
or get the wrong ratio, and instead eat saturated and trans
fats that are
harder, don’t flow well, and don’t keep proteins
in our pores from drying out, the clogging of pores is
promoted. When people eat carbohydrates, these also tend
to form saturated fats.
The fundamental fix is
to get more good fats and less bad fats. In addition, vitamin A helps prevent skin
infection. Zinc speeds healing. Selenium, vitamin C,
and vitamin
E
provide antioxidant protection that prevents skin damage.
Dry skin burns in the sun quite easily.
Sunburn is associated with skin damage (leathery skin)
and skin cancer.
Well-oiled skin tans better and burns less.
That is why oils are used in ‘tanning’ lotions.
The best oils, however, are not used in these lotions because
they
do not keep forever on the shelf.
I have found that when I take enough good oils to keep
my skin properly oiled (soft, smooth, and velvety), I
can stay in the sun four times longer than I could before
I
adopted the good oils into my diet.

The sun is one of our important sources of
vitamin D. Sun blocks can inhibit the production of this
important essential nutrient/hormone. Recent research suggests
that 80% of the population does not get enough vitamin
D; that we need far more than is being recommended; and
that insufficient amounts of vitamin D increase risk of
bone loss, many cancers, cardiovascular disease, infections,
insulin resistance, and immune and autoimmune conditions
including multiple sclerosis, irritable bowel, and asthma.
Avoiding the sun is not the solution. Protecting
the skin from inside with EFAs is a much better option.
With this protection, I can still burn,
but it takes a lot longer. And I get the vitamin D I need
from the
sun.
This is to say that overexposure to the sun will
always be a possibility, but a much less likely one when
skin
is properly oiled with omega-3 and omega-6 EFAs made with
health in mind.