Omega 7 – What Is It, And Do You Really Need It?

It’s interesting to watch how health news evolves and to see which miracle oils or vitamins or minerals will crop up next, promising to solve all of our physical issues while we do almost nothing to maintain our fitness or ideal weight. Yet, in the midst of all the hype and marketing campaigns, some elements have been proven to be of benefit to us if taken in higher-than-normal doses. Most people are aware of the health benefits of Omega 3 and 6 fish oil supplements, but for some reason Omega 7 remains relatively unheard recently. Omega-7 fatty acid can certainly help users in a couple of different areas as long as it comprises only part of a health and wellness program.

Omega-7 fatty acids are an unsaturated fat with seven carbon atoms at the end of its chain, thus the name. This acid is found in palmitoleic and vaccenic acids, which are locked in macadamia nuts and sea buckthorn. Before you buy a 10-pound bag of macadamia nuts to re-make your body, you should know that Omega-7 can be taken as a supplement or even applied directly to the skin.

How does Omega-7 help the average person? Research indicates that this fatty acid can do a couple of cool things for our bodies:

1. It’s no accident that macadamia oil is used in many cosmetics. That’s because Omega-7, when applied directly to the skin, can help the cells in your largest organ to produce more collagen, making it more smooth and flexible. It can also help to reduce drying, irritation and redness in your skin. Thus, Omega-7 can be applied topically as an option, and the inclusion of macadamia oil in many lotions proves its efficacy. There have also been reports that sea buckthorn oil has been used by peoples in different parts of the world for centuries to keep skin soft and smooth.
2. Just a few years ago, researchers at Harvard University found that palmitoleic acid can signal muscle cells to react better to insulin and also reduce the amount of inflammatory chemicals that the body produces. Mice that were given large amounts of palmitoleic acid, which is part of Omega-7’s structure, had no heart disease, fatty liver disease, diabetes or other expected problems, despite being injected with, essentially, fat. This research confirmed earlier thoughts that not all fats are created equal. Some, like Omega-7, can actually have a positive effect on the body. In summary, Omega-7 helps your liver and limits production of chemicals that are linked to heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses. It should be noted that when the mice ate a consistently high-fat diet, their production of palmitoleatic acid was cut in half, so all of the Omega-7 in the world does not free you to eat whatever appeals to you at the moment. However, as research continues, the careful use of this acid could have significant implications for nutrition and dieting. In short, Omega-7 has all kinds of positive effects on the body and might, ironically, lead to better processing of all fats and sugars.

As with all supplements, consult with your physician before ordering Omega-7 in large quantities. It is highly doubtful that this acid can harm you in any way, when taken according to manufacturer specifications. Users report that they have better digestion (when taken internally) and more supple skin (when applied topically). If further testing confirms and expands the benefits of Omega-7, this little-known fatty acid has a very bright future, a fat that actually helps to minimize the effects of fats and sugars on your body. Again, while that does not free its users to eat high-fat foods on a regular basis (or give up on your other supplements, such as multi vitamins or Ester C), it could greatly reduce the number of people struggling with diabetes and liver disease, two huge segments of the world’s population.

Author Bio: This post comes courtesy of HealthPost, an online natural health and wellness store.