Serious diseases, such as cancer, are literally fed by the dietary n6 fatty acids. Discover how easy it is to load ud our cells with them. AS MENTIONED IN MY LAST ARTICLE, AN excessive consumption of n6 fatty acids can wreak havoc on the human system. You might be surprised to discover how easy it is to load up our cells with n6. Consider that seeds (sunflower, safflower, and corn) and their oils, and grains in their many forms, such as flours, pasta, cereal, corn chips, and desserts, are foods that are extremely rich in the n6 fatty acids. Up until about 100-150 years ago, we consumed a diet that was generally well balanced between n6:n3 fatty acids. A 1:1 ratio is ideal for humans; however, today we expose our tissues to a 10-30:1 ratio of n6 to n3 fatty acids, which represents an assault on our biochemistry and genetic apparatus. Consider the following list of diseases thought to be related to an elevated intake of n6 fatty acids: cancer, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, aging, digestive diseases, and most other conditions that are promoted by inflammation. Even subluxation appears to be driven by an excess of n6's. Oatmeal, for example, is a very common breakfast food, and in 1/4 cup of rolled oats, we are treated to .44 mg of linoleic acid (n6) and .02 mg of linolenic acid (n3), which reflects a 21:1 ratio of n6 to n3.3 White bread provides a 21:1 ratio, while whole wheat contains a 27:1 ratio.' Plain-old average potato chips boast a 60:1 ratio, and corn chips provide a 12:1 ratio.1 I suggest throwing away all of these foods, and avoiding grains/bread for at least 3 months. Thereafter, have one serving per day if you wish. What about vegetables and fruits? While they are not high fat foods by any means, their balance of fatty acids are perfect. For example, broccoli provides an impressive 1:3 ratio of n6 to n3, and kale offers 1:1.3 ratio, while most lettuces give a 1:2 ratio.1 Fish range from 1:1 to 1:7, which represents the most significant source of n3 fatty acids. Obviously, this reflects the values found in fresh fish that is baked, broiled or steamed, and not packaged fish found in the frozen food section, or deep fried at your local fast-food restaurant. The ratio of n6 to n3 in fruits generally ranges from 2:1 to 1:1. For example, blueberries are noted for their heavy concentration of bioflavonoids, and they boast a 4:3 ratio of n6:n3. Cherries are also rich in flavonoids and provide a 1:1 ratio. Bananas, one of the more commonly eaten fruits possess a 2:1 ratio.1 Clearly, the mainstay of our diet should be vegetables, fruit, and fish. You can also buy special n3-rich eggs from your supermarket (Eggland's Best) or health food store (Golden Circle). Grass fed beef that is rich in n3's is also available; however, you need to order it via the internet (www.grassfedorganics.com). A point to carefully consider: We eat too many seed and grain products and we eat animals that are fed copious amounts of grain products. We get grains in our diet, whether we eat them directly or not. Accordingly, I believe that we all should be taking n3 fatty acid supplements in the form offish oil, from which we get eicosa-pentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA/DHA) and flaxseed oil that provides alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). The typical recommendation for EPA/DHA is 1 -2 grams per day, which equals about 3-6 pills per day. For ALA, the typical recommendation is 4 pills or about 2 grams per day. It is important to understand that the damage caused by n6 fatty acids is subtle and occurs over time. At age 30, 40, or 50, when someone is diagnosed with a serious disease, such as cancer, it will not occur to the patient or oncologist that the cancer was literally fed by the dietary n6 fatty acids. In no uncertain terms, it is clearly understood that linoleic acid (n6) from seeds and grains will convert into arachidonic acid and eventually prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) and other pro-inflammatory eicosanoids.2'3 It is also known that PGE2 drives all forms of cancers that have been studied.47 Of special concern for women and for their spouses is breast cancer. Research has clearly demonstrated that excessive consumption of n6 fatty acids and a reduced intake of n3 fatty acids promotes breast cancer.8" We are fortunate that women often present to our offices with back pain and headaches in their 20's and 30's, which is a very opportune time to initiate the reestablishment of a proper n6:n3 ratio. Supplementation with n3's will help to reduce PGE2 production, pain and inflammation, acting as a nutritional adjustment, and also helping to prevent the development of breast cancer later on in life. EH Dr. Seaman is the Clinical Chiropractic Consultant for Anabolic Laboratories, one of the first supplement manufacturers to service the chiropractic profession. He is on the postgraduate faculties of several chiropractic colleges, providing nutrition seminars that focus on the needs of the chiropractic patient. Dr. Seaman believes that chiropractors should be thinking like chiropractors, while providing nutritional recommendations. Doctors and patients who follow his programs report improved feelings of well-being, weight loss, dramatic increases in energy, and significant pain reduction. Dr. Seaman can be reached by e-mail at docCijylesspainbettergolf.com. See page 50 for References NUTRITION-Pg 46 Back pain, breast cancer and omega 3-fatty acids By David Seaman, D.C., M.S., D.A.B.C.N., F.A.C.C. I lands VS. Nutrients in food. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins: 2000. Seaman DR. The diel-induced proinflamniatory stale: A cause of chronic pain and other degenerative diseases? J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2002 Mar-Apr;25(3): 168-79 Cordain L. Cereal grains: humanity's double edge sword. World Rev Nittr Diet 1999; 84:19-73. Smalley W; Ray WA; Daugherty J: Griffin. MR.Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and incidence of colorectal cancer: a popu lation-based study. Arch Intern Mvd 1999 Jan 25:159(2): 161-6 Langman MJ: Cheng KK; Gilman EA: Lancashire RJ. Effect of anti- inflammatory drugs on overall risk of common cancer: case-control study in general practice research database. Brit Med J 2000:320:1642- 46. Norrish AE; Jackson RT; McRae CU. Non-steroidal anti-inflamma tory drugs and prostate cancer progression. //;/ J Cancer 1998; 77(4):5 1 1-5 Rosenberg L, Palmer JR. Zauber AG. Warshauer ME. Stolley PD. Shapiro S. A hypothesis: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs re duce the incidence of large-bowel cancer. ./ Natl Cancer Inst 1991; 83(5):355-8. S. Bougnoux P ct al. u-linolenic acid content of adipose breast tissue: a host determinant of the risk of early metastasis in breast cancer. Br J Can 1994; 70:330-34. 9. Gonzalez MJ. Fish oil. lipid peroxidation and mammary tumor growth. J Am Coll Nutr 1995; 14: 325-35. lO.Capone SL. Bagga D, Glaspy JA. Relationship between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid ratios and breast cancer. Nutrition 1997; 13:822- 24. ll.Senzaki II. Tsubrua A. Takada II. Effect of eicosapentaenoic acid on the suppression of growth and metastasis of human breast cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. World liev Nutr Diet 2001: 88:117-25.
