By guest blogger Joshua Onysko, CEO and founder of Pangea Organics.
Winter means a lot of different things to many of us: skiing, the holidays, shoveling, family gatherings…but many of us have one thing in common: dry skin, the winter itch. That dry skin is more prevalent in the winter months usually can be attributed to the drop in relative humidity caused by cold winter air, and time spent in indoor heating systems that deplete moisture from the air.
What can we do to preserve the skin’s healthy balance? Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are one of the best ways to combat the effects of the winter months, for many reasons. Many people are deficient in omega-3s and omega-6s (essential fatty acids), mainly because of how processed the foods we eat are. We need to utilize the healing and restorative properties of EFAs both internally and externally.
Joshua Onysko, CEO and founder of Pangea Organics.
When it comes to good sources of EFAs, I choose hemp oil. It offers nature’s perfect balance of omega-3s and -6s and is very easy for the body to absorb (it has good bioavailability). Because the skin is our largest organ and absorbs up to 80 percent of what we put on it, it helps to use skin and hair products containing EFAs as well. The body uses EFAs to help the skin build a barrier, which, in turn, helps to keep the body’s moisture where it should be. A good rule of thumb is one tablespoon of hemp oil taken orally for every 100 pounds of body weight, once a day. I use Manitoba Harvest. It’s always the freshest, and you can find it at most health food stores.
Another good reason to be sure to get enough EFAs? Lack of omega-3s has been linked to high triglycerides, high blood pressure, sticky platelets, tissue inflammation, edema, dry skin, mental deterioration, low metabolic rate, and some kinds of immune dysfunction. Lack of omega-6s has been linked to eczema-like skin eruptions, loss of hair, liver degeneration, behavioral disturbances, kidney degeneration, excessive water loss through the skin accompanied by thirst, drying up of glands, susceptibility to infections, failure of wound healing, sterility in males, miscarriage in females, arthritis-like conditions, and heart and circulatory problems.
There’s another secret to perfect skin in the winter: Pangea’s body oils. We developed our body oils to be used differently than most. We recommend drawing a hot bath, coating your body in Pangea oil, and slipping into the tub. As the warm water opens your pores, it allows the skin to absorb the oil at a deeper level, when you get out…you will think you just went to heaven.
Enjoy the winter!
Enter for a chance to win a bottle of Pangea’s body oil! Email and Like on Facebook as described below before December 21, 2010.
1. Email maria@rodale.com with Pangea Winter Body Oil Sweepstakes in the subject line. Include your first and last name, complete home mailing address, daytime telephone number and date of birth.
2. ‘Like’ Maria’s Farm Country Kitchen Facebook page and Pangea Organics Facebook page.
I currently use almond oil and would love to try a different body oil. 🙂
My skin is soooooo dry! I would love to find something that actually works for once. This was every timely. Thanks.
Great to learn of this product and company. Just this weekend, a friend and I were talking about our “winter hands”, and how painful they can become.
Pangea makes wonderful products, beautifully scented and packaged.
-0 temps are already wreaking havoc with my skin and hair!
313 Banks Rd Sundance,WY 82729
Liked both pages and emailed! hope I win!
i cant wait to try your oil!
pick me
looking for more than the oil I am currently using. Something to combat the scallies on arms & legs.
Done ! Would love to try this one !
let me get this straight…
I state that I like this product on my Facebook page to enter a giveaway for the product so I can use the product and decide if I like it?
So unless I already own the product I pretend to like it so I can get some product to try.
Makes no sense to me. Is this a reason why I should have a second Facebook page to get freebees and enter sweepstakes?
Do I need to e-mail AND like to enter, or can I just e-mail?
I hope this oll works as well as you have stated. My hands and feet are so dry and at this time of year any relief is worth the effort and time to use it. Thank you Rodale and Pangea. Happy Holidays and good luck to everyone.
Very interesting, I always wondered about Hemp Oil. I currently use organic coconut oil for body/hair & eating as well, figure it’s nice to only have one product around.
Awesome! I have been experiencing dry skin for the first time in my life! so this is awesome!
thanks so much,
Tess
replenish inside and out
Would love to win Thank you!!!!!!!!!!
I went on line and purchased some products, including for the lips and eyes at 35% off. There was a site selling for 50% off, but pickings were slim to none and the discount was only on one product of that line. No good.
Although my health food store sells the product, (and not cheaply) I got good deals online from 2 different sites. I’ll try it, and hopefully it works. At least I don’t have to pay taxes and shipping wasn’t very expensive.
be nice to win
I LIKE both on facebook – I’m listed as victoria liester.
I emailed you today, using: flophasit at yahoo dot com
Did you announce a winner yet?
Frankly I think that’s absouletly good stuff.
Great article.
I know one more decision orthomol arthroPlus