All About Nuts

We are beginning our last installment on supplementation and we're going to talk about Essential Oils. I have to tell you, I am absolutely nuts about essential oils (pun intended), adding them into my diet has gone a long way toward improving my health and wellness. These components are, as the name implies, essential. In order for our brain, muscles and other organs to function properly we need these oils in our body.

You might not notice a big difference in the way your body feels, but essential oils make a big difference in your daily life. Here's how:

You will see an improvement in your HDL or "good" cholesterol You will see a noticeable difference in your skin's appearance and elasticity You will often find yourself in a better mood Losing fat will become easier If you have problems with acne, this will be improved as well Your brain will function better Your other organs will work more efficiently Important Facts About Essential Oils

Essential oils consist of fatty acids like Omega 3's (linolenic acids), Omega 6's (linoleic acids) and Omega 9's (oleic acids). while our bodies need them, we are unable to produce the essential oils. We need to find ways to get them in the foods we consume.

Good Food Sources of Essential Oils

Here are some great ways to improve your diet with essential oils. I always think it's fun when you can eat your way to better health (but I am a bit of a foodie with chef friends, so that could have something to do with it.)

Eating fatty fish, like Salmon Incorporating nuts, seeds and nut butters into your diet (I LOVE pumpkin seeds) Eating good, healthy oils like first cold pressed Olive Oil for example Choosing whole grain breads (make sure you read the labels) An expert in the field of nutrition, Audrey Sommerfeld of ViSalus Sciences, says you should always eat lots of colorful foods and avoid the "beige, processed foods". Oh, and just to clarify, ketchup, though colorful, is not a food group.

I would recommend finding a good supplement source for essential oils. I actually take supplements that include all of the components I have talked about and then some. It is important to make sure ALL the essential oils are in, not just one. It's important that your body get all of them and you don't want to be taking 7 different capsules just for your oils.

How to Learn More

Great sources of information can be found online, in health food stores, from nutritionists or distributors of high quality supplements