Balancing dietary fats I am sure most of you are aware by now the importance of maintaining a balance between omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids. Dr. Wright has been telling us this for years. The perfect ratio? 1:1 But it is admittedly hard to achieve through diet alone. The primary dietary source of omega-3 is fish, while omega-6 is abundant in processed foods -- especially baked goods -- which are all-too-common in the American diet.
But maintaining this delicate balance is even more important for those battling prostate cancer. In an animal study conducted by UCLA researchers, it was found that mice fed a healthy 1:1 ratio of omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids had a 77 percent reduction of the growth of prostate cancer tumors and a 22 percent lower level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) over animals fed a diet rich in omega-6.
Researchers believe that the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA are converted into anti-inflammatory prostaglandins, which slow tumor growth. In contrast, they felt that prostaglandins derived from omega-6 fatty acids were pro-inflammatory, promoting tumor growth.
Since a typical Western diet generally consists of a 1:20 ratio of omega-3s and omega-6 fatty acids, it is prudent to be mindful of this disparity and adjust accordingly. If you are consuming a large amount of omega-6 fatty acids, you'll need to increase your omega-3 intake, especially if you're battling cancer.
Good sources of omega-3s are dark meat fish, but these may also contain mercury. A better choice for those concerned about mercury in fish, or who don't enjoy eating fish, are fish oil supplements. They can provide an easy and safe alternative way of getting those important omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. |
