| In light of recent headlines surrounding the health | | | | Something which is exacerbating the problem to a |
| benefits of Omega 3 some people are asking if taking | | | | worrying degree is that these days most of us are |
| a fish oil supplement might help ease the symptoms of | | | | consuming far too much Omega 6 whilst at the same |
| eczema. | | | | time not getting enough Omega 3 and this is causing |
| Although there haven't been as many clinical trials as | | | | havoc with our health. We need Omega 6 just as |
| there has been with heart disease, arthritis and | | | | much as we need Omega 3 but the Omega 6 fatty |
| depression, the few that have been conducted on | | | | acids just so happen to be abundant in our diet so we |
| eczema do point to a beneficial effect and the reason | | | | don't have any problems getting enough. We can find |
| for this is thought to be linked in part to the | | | | Omega 6 in meat and dairy sources, vegetable oils |
| anti-inflammatory properties of Omega 3. | | | | and processed foods. However, the same doesn't |
| It's an interesting fact that the number of people | | | | apply to Omega 3. |
| suffering from eczema and allergies in general has | | | | In an ideal world we would consume these two |
| been rising steadily over the past few decades and | | | | important nutrients in roughly equal proportions, but we |
| although there are a number of theories as to why this | | | | aren't. Omega 6 just so happens to promote |
| might be, no one really knows for sure. Some | | | | inflammation and without enough Omega 3 to redress |
| researchers reckon that as the increasing number of | | | | the imbalance, what we are seeing is a significant rise |
| eczema sufferers coincides with a general decline in | | | | in inflammatory conditions and when we consider that |
| fish consumption, then this might play a significant role. | | | | some form of inflammation lies at the root of just |
| It's true, here in the West we are eating less fish than | | | | about every health problem we see today, it isn't |
| we ever have and even those that do include a | | | | surprising. |
| regular portion of fish in their diet are advised to eat | | | | What is Eczema and can Omega 3 help? |
| too much due to the risk of harmful toxins found in fish. | | | | Eczema is a common chronic inflammatory skin |
| Unfortunately, it is in fatty fish like herring, mackerel, | | | | condition affecting around twenty percent of children |
| sardines, tuna and salmon that we find the most | | | | and five percent of adults, which is characterised by |
| important Omega 3 fatty acids known as | | | | inflamed, itchy, red patches of skin, sometimes with |
| Eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA and Docosahexaenoic | | | | weeping blisters which crust over. |
| acid or DHA. There just isn't another reliable source of | | | | In order to cure eczema completely we would need to |
| this type of Omega 3 unless we extract the oil from | | | | find out what the root cause is but so far a single |
| the fish and purify it leaving only the essential fatty | | | | cause hasn't been identified. What we do know is that |
| acids behind. | | | | eczema can run in families and is often linked to food |
| There is another type of Omega 3 known as Alpha | | | | allergies, particularly milk and wheat. |
| Linolenic acid (ALA) which can be found in some | | | | It's possible that by redressing the balance between |
| plants, nuts and vegetable oils but we aren't very good | | | | Omega 3 and Omega 6 we can help to reduce |
| at converting this type of Omega 3 into the more | | | | inflammation and therefore all the health problems |
| beneficial EPA and DHA. This leaves us with no option | | | | associated with inflammation, including eczema. It's |
| other than to eat contaminated fish or take fish oil | | | | interesting to note that one of the first indications that |
| supplements if we want the health benefits associated | | | | you are not getting enough Omega 3 in your diet just |
| with Omega 3. | | | | so happens to be dry, flaky, and irritated skin. |
| The Omega 6 and Omega 3 imbalance | | | | |