Month: February 2022

Nuts, Seeds and Omega 3

Todays post is about nuts and omega 3.

A friend of ours was recently sharing that she had been craving nuts and seeds quite a lot in the past few weeks. She asked if we were aware of this being a symptom of anything.

We were not sure but thought it could mean that her body was craving Omega 3.

I decided to do some research and as usual am sharing my findings.

The health world has been focusing on Omega-3 fats as they play a major role in heart, brain and overall health.

So what is Omega-3?

Omega-3 is a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), a type of healthy fat.

There are actually three main kinds of omega-3 fatty acids, each capable of providing vital health benefits for the body and mind.

The 3 kinds are – Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

ALA is crucial for normal growth and development. It also helps maintain normal blood cholesterol levels.

EPA helps maintain normal blood pressure levels and reduce inflammation. EPA may also reduce the symptoms of depression.

DHA is important for brain development and function. It can also benefit heart health by reducing blood triglycerides (a type of fat found in the blood).

The body can’t produce these essential fatty acids on its own. It is important to make sure you’re getting enough through dietary sources. If you don’t, you could experience the symptoms of omega-3 deficiency.

In addition, there’s currently no standard test to diagnose an omega-3 deficiency, though there are several ways to analyze omega-3 levels.

To date, few studies have investigated the signs and symptoms of omega-3 deficiency. Therefore I was unable to find any studies to suggest that craving nuts or seeds, was an indicator of low levels.

There are however some other recognised symptoms of omega-3 deficiency.

Main symptoms of low omega 3
  • Hair and /or skin is feeling dry – this is because omega-3 fats help retain moisture in the skin, they also help keep your hair healthy.
  • Feeling anxious or depressed – DHA‘s are known to have neuro-protective and anti-inflammatory effects
  • Dry eyes – essential fatty acids play a role in eye health, including maintaining eye moisture.
  • Blood Pressure is higher that normal – Omega-3s are known as the “heart-healthy fats” and are associated with significantly lower blood pressure levels.

It is relatively easy to ensure good levels of these ‘fatty acids’ in your body simply by eating a varied diet.

Main Food Sources of Omega-3s

Plant oils such as flaxseed (linseed), soybean, and canola oils contain ALA.

Chia seeds, pumpkin seeds and walnuts also contain ALA.

Several types of fish contain omega 3 such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring, sardines, anchovies, bass, and cod.

Vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, kale, spinach, broccoli and cauliflower, are good sources of ALA.

Of course there are several other processed foods and supplements available that are fortified with DHA and other omega-3s.

So, in a nutshell, upping your omega-3 intake helps improve your skin and hair, lower your blood pressure and improve your overall heart health.

Till the next post,

Live clean n Prosper

Sources – U.S. National Institute of health – Healthline– WebMD –

What are Hydrosols?

Todays post is about Hydrosols.

We have just spent the last week camping. We stayed for a few nights at the beach, then a couple of nights on a private property. During our stay at the beach, March flies bit both of us and we were quite itchy.

When we arrived at the second property, the host has a skin care range that she sells. She sprayed a product on our arms and legs and the itch started to subside. The spray is a Lemon Myrtle Hydrosol blend. We had never heard of a hydrosol before, so I asked a few questions and did a bit of research. Here is what I found.

What is a hydrosol?

It is basically an end product of the essential oil distilling process. The distillation process— by water or steam — of the plant matter produces two end products:

  • Essential oil: the oil-soluble parts of the plant
  • Hydrosol: the water-soluble parts of the plant (this liquid also contains microscopic drops of essential oil)

Just like essential oils, many different types of plants can be made into hydrosols. The process makes use of the whole plant including bark, roots, and leaves not just flowers. Essential oils and hydrosols have some similar properties, but hydrosols contain a higher water content.

This means they’re gentler than essential oils and can be applied directly to the skin without the need to dilute them with carrier oil. They also have a more subtle scent than their essential oil counterparts.

The hydrosol used in the spray was Orange Jasmine.

Orange Jasmine

Further research found that the essential oil from orange jasmine has analgesic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. This means that it has the capacity to ease the irritation associated with insect bites and rashes.

Lemon Myrtle

The other ingredient in the spray was Lemon Myrtle essential oil. This product has long been used in medicinal and personal care products.

I have previously written about the many benefits and uses of lemon myrtle.

The essential oil is used as an antiseptic, disinfectant and expectorant and is said to be more powerful than Tea Tree.

Lemon Myrtle has amazing benefits in skin care. It works as an astringent to help tighten pores and reduce irritations. With its antibacterial properties this oil can assist with skin infections, wounds and acne

The pure essential oil can be applied topically to reduce inflammation of insect bites and help soothe the itch.

It is also excellent for soothing inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis, dermatitis and acne.

 

So a relaxing holiday also provided a learning opportunity.

Till the next post,

 

Live clean n Prosper.

If you are interested in this product, the link to the website is – http://www.anderleigh.com.au/aga/product-category/essential-oil/

Sources – Healthline – US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health – Wiley Online library –