Anyone who is even marginally interested in taking supplements to improve their health has heard of fish oil. Fish oil is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, and it’s easy to package up into easy-to-swallow capsules. However, many people who add a daily capsule to their routine are disappointed by the results, particularly if they were hoping the product would improve their skin, hair, or nails (just some of the many purported benefits of omega-3s).

But omega-3s really are effective — if you take them the right way. Let me tell you about a good sign that they really do work, what they can do for you, and how to get the results you want both inside and out.

A big clue that fish oils and omega-3 supplements are the real deal is that they have at least one drug company scared. The pharmaceutical company Amarin has spent a lot of money — over $200 million — to develop a drug to treat hyperlipidemia, or unusually high blood levels of triglycerides. The problem is the company was hoping the drug would be able to treat a lot more than that. They wanted to be able to market it to cardiovascular patients across the board, not just to those with this specific condition. But they haven’t been able to get approval for these other uses. So the company is stuck trying to recoup its losses by selling the drug for a very high price to a relatively small group of people.

But Amarin isn’t just worried about trying to convince people to pay for the drug. The company is also worried that people will realize that the drug is refined from fish oil and delivers a gram of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in every dose. Why is Amarin worried that people will realize this? Is EPA dangerous? Nope. It’s just widely available already in supplement form. You don’t need to pay exorbitant prices for this drug. You can just take a high-quality fish oil supplement instead.

To try to protect its investment, Amarin asked the US International Trade Commission (ITC) to block the import of certain fish oil products containing high concentrations of re-esterified forms of fish oil, claiming that these ingredients should be considered unapproved drugs rather than dietary ingredients (even though they come from, you guessed it, fish). Fortunately, the FDA recognized the absurdity of this claim and asked the ITC to throw the case out, which it did.

Clearly, Amarin believes that fish oil can be effective. It just wants to be able to make a profit off of it. Fish oil and other omega-3 fatty acids are great for you – and not just if you have hyperlipidemia. Let me tell you more about their benefits.

Reverse the Aging Process

In the past, we’ve discussed the importance of your telomeres. They have tremendous implications for health and beauty as we age. And fish oil helps protect telomeres, particularly for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, there is an inverse association between telomere shortening rate and blood levels of fish oil in CAD patients, indicating that the fish oil may offer protective effects. The study authors concurred with the American Heart Association’s guidelines recommending that CAD patients take 1 g of omega-3 fatty acids a day, whether from supplements or eating fatty fish.

Of course, you shouldn’t wait until you have CAD to let omega-3s go to work protecting your telomeres. As you may know, having healthy telomeres is one of the best protective measures against signs and problems of aging. Omega-3s will also help reduce inflammation throughout your body, which is vital for good health. And yes, these fatty acids can even help restore luster to your skin, hair, and nails.

The Real Reason Your Skin Hasn’t Responded to Omega-3s

So why are so many people who take these supplements not seeing any results, at least externally? It’s true that taking a gram of fish oil a day will help your heart and your telomeres. Unfortunately, that’s not enough to make a difference on your hair, skin, and nails. For this, you need a much higher dose — up to 3,600 mg.

That’s a lot of pills, especially if you weren’t wild about the idea of taking a fish oil-based product in the first place (some vegetarians or vegans balk at this, and other people just don’t like swallowing pills, especially since some have a fishy aftertaste). Fortunately, there is a solution: Udo’s Oil 3.6.9. This liquid product is made from organic flax, sesame, and sunflower seed oils to give you vegetarian omega-3 fatty acids.

I first heard of Udo’s 3.6.9 many years ago from a patient. Katherine who was told by her vet to give Udo’s to her dog to restore his dry coat. After two months Katherine was amazed at how healthy her dog’s coat looked and decided to try it on herself. “Wow,” she reported. “It worked for my dog and it worked for me. Look at my hair and nails – so different, softer, healthier looking.” Udo’s can be found on Amazon.

Omega-3s and 6s are shown to be the actual building blocks of our cell membranes. EFAs help to create the skin’s natural oil barrier – so they’re important in skin hydration and overall younger looking skin. You just have to take high doses for a while to see results. In fact, take at least a tablespoon twice a day for a minimum of 60 days. You’ll be able to see a difference. After the first two months, if you feel that you’ve made advances in your health, you can reduce to one tablespoon daily. If the addition of oil upsets your digestion, try using it as part of your salad dressing with apple cider vinegar.

This may sound like a lot of oil. But because the product is liquid, you can sneak it into a lot of different foods. In addition to putting it on salads, you also can put it on oatmeal and in soups, while others slip it into smoothies. Of course, you can always just swallow it right down if you don’t mind the taste. And even if you don’t think it tastes great, I think you’ll find the results of better-moisturized skin and stronger hair and nails to be worth it.

Who Benefits the Most?

These results are especially beneficial for perimenopausal, menopausal, postmenopausal women and those recovering from pregnancy. The hormones associated with all female transitions can often seriously impact your skin, hair, and nails. Fatty acids can help restore your glow, especially if your skin, hair, and nails are appearing dry.

You don’t need to take this level of Udos all the time. It’s good to alternate Udos with a fish oil like Complete Daily Oils. Take the Udos when you need a boost in your skin health. Even at lower doses, omega-3 fatty acids are great for your telomeres and cardiovascular system. But if you want to kick your results up a notch, try increasing your dose until you hit the 3,600 mg mark. You can even do this by combining the pills and the liquid until you hit a mix that works for you.