The 7 Top Signs of Omega-3 Deficiency

Hello lovely!

We often hear about healthy fats, for our skin, a better brain and heart health. I also previously wrote about how Omegas are the SINGLE MOST MOLECULAR COMPOUNDS we make our own endocannabinoids from to keep us in balance and optimal health.

If you don't get enough of these key fatty acids in your diet, it can lead to various health concerns including poor sleep, dry skin conditions, and even an increased risk of heart disease.

So with this in mind, let’s COVER OUR BASES. In most cases, deficiencies can easily be fixed by making simple changes to your diet and lifestyle. Here are the seven most common signs that you may be lacking in omega-3:

Common symptoms of omega-3 deficiency, plus the healthy fats you should be eating

1. Dry skin

One of the secrets to youthful and hydrated skin is omega-3 fats, which can be found naturally in the cell wall structure. But the more deficient you are, the drier your skin will be. Omega-3 also helps the skin to absorb healthy nutrients and expel waste products that are harmful, resulting in healthy looking, glowing skin.

2. Lifeless hair

The same omega-3s found in the cells of your skin can also be found in hair follicles, making it an important nutrient for lustrous, glossy hair. Omega-3 fats nourish the hair, support hair thickening and also reduce scalp inflammation that can lead to hair loss.

If you are vegetarian or vegan and think you might be deficient in omega-3, eat plenty of nuts and seeds, vegetable oils, beans, soy products and leafy green vegetables, and consider taking an omega-3 supplement.

3. Brittle nails

Soft, peeling and brittle nails are all outward signs something in your body isn't right. It could be an omega-3 deficiency. Many studies have shown that omega-3s from animal sources, such as fish oils are easier for the body to absorb versus plant based ones, so incorporate oily fish into your diet if you can.

4. Insomnia

A study from the University of Oxford found that people with higher levels of omega-3 experienced better quality sleep. However, I always advise people to take omega-3 supplements in the morning, and not at night, as they can keep you awake if taken too close to bedtime!

5. Poor concentration

If you don't eat a lot of oily fish, or take omega-3 supplements, there's good chance you may experience poor concentration. Many people have experienced significant improvements in their concentration by simply ensuring they get a daily dose of omega-3.

6. Fatigue

Regular fatigue can have many causes, but there is no doubt that a deficiency in omega-3 could be one of them. According to the University of Maryland Medical Centre, fatigue is a common symptom of an underlying omega-3 deficiency, and so boosting your diet with fatty oils could help to increase your energy levels.

7. Joint pain

Omega-3 fatty acids derived from fish oils are powerful anti-inflammatory agents - this is what makes them so important for people living with joint pain. Making sure you get enough omega-3 might stop the process that destroys tissues and joints, which causes the initial inflammation.

So there you go! My favorite fats are avocados, white fish and salmon and nuts. What are yours?

Love n’ light - Kassandra

Resource: Harpers Bazaar

Frazzled Split Ends?

  Whether you are growing your locks out or maintaining your recent professional cut from Kasia, there's no hair enemy as fierce as the dreaded split ends.

The Kasia Hair Team can agree that the number one complaint of clients when coming in for a cut are their frazzled ends.  Old or young, chemically treated strands or your savaged natural hue, you stand at risk of experiencing this science.

"Split ends occur when the outer protective layer of the hair cuticle wears away because of external stressors such as heat styling, excessive pony tails, environmental stressors and chemically derived products that break the hair down over time,” explains Kassie, owner and stylist at Kasia Organic Salon.

There is no return back once the internal structure of the hair is exposed, it becomes weak, thirsty and damaged, resulting in split ends,” says Kassie.

The Way

While there is one road to ridding your luscious locks beaten up ends in having them snipped off, there are several ways to nurture your noggin’  between salon appointments to improve the look of damage and prevent more splits from occurring.

Condition and spread: Apply Kasia Weighless Conditioner or Restore Hair Oil Treatment in the shower, slowly run a wide-tooth comb through hair until all the tangles are out. This prevents the harsh pressure and breakage that results from trying to brush out hair that is roughed up from a towel-dry.

Mind your heat tools: The cheap blow-dryer or half off flat iron that barely heats up may be a tempting snatch, but inexpensive tools tend to dangerously overheat over time and burn ends into splits.  Do your homework and  use a brand recommended by a pro.

Be gentle: Treat your hair as a well-worth asset!  Just like the new suite you purchased, it will last longer and look better as you present yourself to the world

Use as natural and non-chemcially derived products as possible to achieve a long term health and shine to your locks.

Get your Omega’s, Protein, folic acid and biotin:  Nutrients literally build the proteins that make up your hair strands. B vitamins folic acid and biotin of  in particular,  have been shown to supplement hair health, length and thickness.

Folic acid helps the production of red blood cells, which powers the growth of hair. Foods rich in folic acid include green leafy veggies, oranges, soybeans and wheat. Biotin strengthens both hair and nails through its metabolism of fats, carbs and proteins. Brown rice, lentils, peas, sunflower seeds, walnuts and soybeans are all rich in biotin.

Antioxidants give you the anti aging protection against the diseases and help slow down the aging process of your skin, cells, tissues and organs. The main antioxidants found in food include vitamins A, C and E, the minerals selenium and zinc and all of the phytonutrient carotenoids.  Antioxidants keep free radicals from ravaging your body and stealing the life from your cells.

Critics used to claim there was no evidence that topically based products affected skin aging. Over the years, a remarkable number of published studies have proven these skeptics wrong! Science clearly substantiates the role that free radicals play in causing skin aging and the fact that topically applied antioxidants confer significant protection and can even partially reverse some aspects of skin aging. Indeed, various animal and human studies have proven that low molecular weight antioxidants, especially vitamins C and E, as well as alpha-lipoic acid exert protective effects against free radical damage (oxidative stress) (Podda et al. 2001).

Essential Fatty Acids offer anti aging benefits to dry skin, hair, and nails.   EFA’s will give your body the nutrients it needs for smooth, glowing skin and healthy hair and is even known to help balance hormones.

Fatty Acid (Omega 3) anti-aging benefits and reduction may be directly linked to cell inflammation. They help to keep the cells healthy and reduce the inflammation that may occur in the cell when omega 6 levels are too high.

Use leave-in conditioner or treatment oil: A leave-in conditioner will add extra protection that stays on strands as you heat and style your hair. Consider Kasia Restore Hair Oil Treatment, which you apply after every wash on towel-dried hair for best results.

Sunflower oil (comprised in Kasia Restore Hair Oil) contains fatty acids and are essential to hair health and effective in preventing hair loss from male and female pattern baldness and alopecia areata.

Lastly, get regular cuts: As stated, a good cut is the only way to fully get rid of split ends, regular trims provides the best protection against them. The longer you wait, the greater your split ends will make way up the shaft. It might sound oxy-moronic, but hair that remains the healthiest are those that receive frequent trims.  Especially if you're trying to grow longer, healthier hair.  The Kasia Organic Salon Hair Team suggests  getting a cut or trim at least every six to eight weeks.

http://www.kasiaorganicsalon.com/2011/02/essential-nutrients-for-your-hair-and-skin-with-antioxidants-cold-pressed-oils-and-fatty-acids/

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Kasia Organic Salon provides beautifying services with a side of environmental awareness. Put your eco-conscience and its cranial encasement at ease during your services at Kasia.

The former nurtures noggins with customized blends of essential oils, repairing damaged follicles while helping to prevent dandruff, some hair loss, and scalp irritation.

With the health of your head restored, a skilled scissor shaman will get to work on the style.  We are devoted to designing looks that let each client's personality shine through, so whether you are fun and flirty, serious and sophisticated, or enraged and enamored, you'll leave the salon with a 'do' to match your personality.

Probiotics - Inner Health for Outer Beauty

Probiotic literally means “for life”, and unlike the foreign bacteria which cause illness and infection, probiotics can play an important role in promoting intestinal health. Probiotics are similar to the good bacteria which occur naturally in the digestive tract and can be beneficial in treating a range of ailments, including skin conditions such as acne and eczema.

Healthy intestinal flora is essential for the effective digestion of food. By promoting healthy bacteria, probiotics aid the proper absorption of nutrients and minerals, and help establish a barrier against a variety of harmful bacteria, allergens, free radicals and pollutants.

Poor bacterial ecology can exacerbate hormonal, digestive and immune imbalances. These imbalances can in turn effect virtually all chronic skin diseases. Dandruff, candida, leaky gut syndrome and acne are just some of the skin conditions which may be associated with a lack of friendly bacteria in the digestive tract. Rosacea and eczema - skin ailments often related to stomach acid and nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, and faulty fatty acid metabolism - may also be exacerbated by low levels of healthy intestinal bacteria.

Supplementing your diet with super strain probiotics will help cleanse the digestive tract and promote a clear complexion. Kassie of Kasia Organics Skin Care suggests introducing  Immuno Viva Probiotic + for healthy gut flora, along with a diet rich in living foods, fresh organic fruit and vegetables and plenty water.  These nutrients not only nourish and feed the skin, they also cleanse the intestinal tract, and as your gut becomes healthier, so too will your complexion. A foundation of Salon Kasia and Beautiful Health is directly related to your internal health.

Part of this could be due to the fact that some of the incredible statistics about your intestine read like a "Ripley's Believe It or Not". Did you know that:

	About 80% of your immune system lives in your gastrointestinal tract.
	500 different species of bacteria live inside you.
	About one hundred trillion bacteria live inside you -- more than TEN TIMES the number of cells you have in your whole body.
	The weight of these bacteria is about two to three pounds.
	Some of these bacteria are referred to as "good", but others do not provide any benefit. The ideal balance between them is 85% good, 15% "other".

Note: Choose your probiotics supplements carefully. Not all probiotic supplements will have the same qualities.

At Kasia Salon, we have noticed many positive skin changes under the influence of an essential fatty acid and gastro-intestinal supplementation.

**  KASIA INFORMED BEAUTIES LOVE.....

Immuno Viva Probiotic Plus!

Did you know?

• Topical skincare products address about 20% of your skin’s needs.
• The other 80% comes from proper nutrition.

Immuno-Viva’s nutritional supplements help to heal and strengthen cellular membranes and protect cells’ internal structures. They work synergistically with Kasia Organic Skincare’s topical products to improve the health of skin, hair and nails.

Good health begins with good digestion. Immuno-Viva® Probiotic+ delivers a robust blend of probiotics, or "good flora," to help promote healthy, regular digestion.*

• Seven types of probiotics promote healthy digestion*
• Cranberry seed extract promotes urinary tract health*
• Antioxidants promote overall health*

Probiotic+ uses patented Biotract technology which protects the probiotics from harmful effects of gastric acid, so they survive until they reach the GI tract. Our probiotic blend contains 10 billion CFU/serving at time of manufacture.

Learn more about Probiotic Plus and Immuno Viva HERE.

Kassie Kuehl/Kasia Organic Salon

www.kasiaorganicsalon.com

ORAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR PSORIASIS

OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS!

What are they?

Omega-3 fatty acids are in the category of “essential fatty acids” (EFAs), along with omega-6 fatty acids. EFAs are termed as such because they cannot be synthesized by the human body and thus must be derived from exogenous sources, namely, food. The nomenclature refers to the location of the double bond within the carbon backbone of the molecule. They are also characterized as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), which refers to the presence of two or more double bonds in their molecular structure.1 Linoleic acid (LA) and a-linolenic acid (ALA) are essential PUFA of the omega-6 and omega-3 families, respectively. LA must first be converted to gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and then to arachidonic acid (AA), the biologically active compound. The downstream products of ALA are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), two long-chain omega-3 PUFAs.2

Where are they found? Omega-3 fatty acids are composed of EPA and DHA. Because humans cannot make these, we must get them from our food. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in cold-water oily fish, such as salmon, black cod, herring, mackerel, tuna and halibut, other marine life such as algae and krill, certain plants (purslane), and nuts/seeds (walnuts, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, flaxseeds).2,3,4

What do they do? Omega-3 fatty acids play a crucial role in brain function as well as normal brain growth and development in utero and in childhood. In addition to this well-known role, there are numerous conditions that benefit from omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. It is clearly established that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation prevents heart disease, coronary artery restenosis after angioplasty, and in particular, sudden cardiac death. Omega-3 fatty acids also lower triglyceride levels, increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol, and decrease vascular inflammation and blood clotting.5 Rheumatoid arthritis is another condition that benefits from supplementation, with improvement in symptoms and diminished use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Psychiatric disorders, particularly schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder have shown positive results when supplementation has been used as an adjunct to standard pharmacotherapy.

Learn about CORE, essential fatty acids, HERE!

Read more from Skin ad Anti-Aging Study Here!