Soothe and Eliminate Winter Dry Skin
If you’ve ever been plagued with dry, itchy skin--and who hasn’t--then you know what an irritating and frustrating problem it can be. There are many factors that come into play to create dry skin. Dry winter air, forced heat from radiators, exposure to the elements and excessive washing with harsh soaps are some of the more common external causes, but did you know that dry skin can also be a sign of something off kilter inside your body?
In many ways your skin is a mirror of what’s going on inside your body. Healthy skin is created by a healthy body, so if you find that you skin is excessively dry, stop putting all the blame on the winter weather (although this can certainly contribute), and take a look inside.
Dry Skin is Often a Sign of Fatty Acid Imbalance
Your skin cells need to have healthy cell membranes to prevent moisture loss, capture nutrients and keep toxins away. Fatty acids are necessary for this and to help keep skin cells strong and functioning properly. If you aren’t eating enough of the right fats, chances are your skin will be dry as a result.
In the majority of cases, fatty acid imbalance occurs because a person eats too many omega-6 fats, found in such products as corn, soy, canola, safflower and sunflower oil, and not enough omega-3 fats. These two types of fat, omega-3 and omega-6, are both essential for human health, however, the ideal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats is 1:1. Our ancestors evolved over millions of years on this ratio. Today, though, our ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 averages from 20:1 to 50:1! That spells danger for you--dry skin is only one problem associated with omega-3 deficiency. Others include dyslexia, violence, depression, memory problems, weight gain, cancer, heart disease, eczema, allergies, inflammatory disease, arthritis and diabetes.
To remedy the problem, you need to not only reduce the amount of omega-6 in your diet (a good start is to avoid hydrogenated vegetable oils) while increasing the amount of omega-3. Some omega-3 can be found in plant sources such as flaxseed and walnuts, but the best type of omega-3 by far are those found in fish. That's because the omega-3 in fish is high in two fatty acids crucial to human health, DHA and EPA.
Unfortunately, fish is widely contaminated and I don’t recommend eating it from any source unless you have had it tested for mercury and other toxins. Routine consumption of fish oil is my highly recommended method of increasing your omega-3 intake. Fish oil contains high levels of the best omega-3 and, as it is in pure form, does not pose the mercury risk of fresh fish. Fish oil and cod liver oil, regularly tested by an independent FDA registered laboratory, is the most highly recommended for its potency and purity.
Another outstanding option for increasing your omega-3 intake--and reducing your omega-6 intake--is the omega-3-rich ostrich meat offered exclusively on this site. Most store-bought meats, such as beef, are raised on grain-rich diets that will only increase your omega-6 ratios, but this ostrich is free-ranged and fed a diet primarily of alfalfa grass enriched with flax seed for omega-3.
Underactive Thyroid
Underactive thyroid, known as hypothyroidism, can also cause dry skin. Although the causes of this condition are not know for sure, it is widely accepted that diet plays a large role. Environmental stressors such as chemical pollutants, pesticides, mercury, and fluoride also contribute to thyroid problems.
You will need to have a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test to find out if your levels fall within the normal range, but please be aware that normal reference ranges for thyroid that have been used in the past were not correct. If the event your thyroid is found to be out of balance, you will want to be careful with using synthetic thyroid to treat the problem, since starting on thyroid hormones could condemn you to taking thyroid hormone for the rest of your life..
Not Enough Good Fats
In addition to the omega-3 fat mentioned above, other sources of fat can also help to relieve dry skin from the inside out. These would include butter (raw, organic), raw milk, raw cream, raw milk cheese, raw coconut and avocado.
Non-hydrogenated Coconut oil is another excellent food for dry skin and it works two ways. Not only can you eat it to provide your body with fatty acids (and for the great taste!), but you can also apply it directly to your skin in place of lotion for its incredibly soothing and healing properties.
Coconut oil’s saturated fat is of the medium-chain fatty acid variety. These MCFAs are digested more easily and utilized differently by the body than other fats, which means they are immediately converted into energy. Coconut oil "heats up" the metabolic system and is outstanding for those with thyroid problems. To learn more about the outstanding benefits of coconut oil for dry skin and many other health problems, check out The Truth About Coconut Oil.
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