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By Ray Hinish, Pharm.D., CPT, LWMC

www.illnessisoptional.com | 410-356-2169

What you will learn:

• Why colds and flu seem to strike during cold weather. (Hint: The cold weather doesn’t cause cold!)
• Why you should NOT get the flu vaccine.
• What the New York Garbage Strike has to do with the flu.
• A powerful herbal supplement that can safeguard you against the negative effects of stress.
• The most important flu preventing supplement on the market (Hint: It costs pennies a day)
• Why regular old vitamin C won’t do and which form of vitamin C to choose!
• My Top supplement picks for preventing the flu.
• What you can do in the next 60 seconds that may dramatically improve your primary defenses and prevent cold and flu.

As you know, the newspapers and government health agencies have begun pushing the theoretical benefits of the flu vaccine.  These organizations suggest that the flu vaccine is completely safe and wildly effective without offering a shred of proof to either argument.  They suggest that this super villain, called the flu, mysteriously rears its ugly head during the months of October through January and supposedly kills 10,000 people every year. Sure enough, people herd like “sheeple” to the local Wal-Mart where nurses poke away at people’s arms and send them on their way with a false sense of security.

Is all of this true?

Do the influenza viruses really take a nap through the spring and summer months only to wake up with the dastardly intention to make us all sick in October through January? Does it really kill 10,000 people every year? Is the flu vaccine really helpful?

The simple answer is “No” on all counts. The influenza virus does not take a nap, it does not kill 10,000 people every year and the flu vaccine is generally not helpful. We will talk about why the flu hits during these months in the paragraphs below. As to the 10,000 per year death rate, the CDC lumps flu and pneumonia into the same statistic, one that is quoted by newspapers all over the United States. What this means is that 10,000 people per year die from flu and pneumonia together and the majority of these people perish from pneumonia, which is labeled as a “complication” of flu. In addition, those people who die are usually people who may be nearing death anyway. They include those with other severe and chronic illnesses, people with poor immune function, as well as unhealthy seniors who reside in nursing homes. If you are in this group, then you may need to worry about catching the flu and subsequently developing pneumonia. If you are not in this group then the flu will likely mean a few days of discomfort and a few days off from work; not ideal, but a whole lot better than impending death! You should also know that this year’s vaccine combines the standard influenza vaccine with the H1N1 vaccine.

The second question is, “does the flu vaccine work?” and the answer is “we don’t know for sure” but probably NOT! Because the flu vaccine is a “best guess” medication, there is a bit of a gamble on whether or not we will vaccinate against the right bugs. Sometimes we get it right and sometimes we get it wrong but you can rest assured that the cards are stacked against us.

Let me reiterate an important point, the influenza virus exists in the population year round while influenza (the flu) seems to rear its symptomatic little head during the months of October through January. Now, let me tell you a true story.

RECAP: The flu vaccine is a “best guess” medicine – meaning we can never say for sure that it will be beneficial. Recent research shows that there is little if any benefit to getting the annual flu vaccine. In addition, the flu vaccine contains a significant amount of mercury that can cause nerve and brain problems that may not show up until years or even decades later. Some research suggests that those who get a yearly vaccine are at increased risk of Alzheimers.

The New York Garbage Strike and the Flu

Years ago, garbage men and women went on strike in New York. Needless to say, it wasn’t long before the trash piled up. The city looked like a wasteland with mountains of trash appearing on practically every corner. Shortly thereafter, the rats arrived. Big, fat, hairy rats took over the city, seemingly invading as though they had been patiently building an occupying force underneath the streets over the years, waiting for the day that the garbage people would go on strike. So, here is the million-dollar question…

Did the rats bring the trash?

Of course not! The trash brought the rats. The rats were a symptom of poor trash management. Allow me to challenge you with another question; would it be a successful course of action to try exterminating the rats? The answer again is “no” (by the way, they tried without success) because as long as there is trash on the streets then rats will come much faster than we can get rid of them. The solution is to get rid of the trash and the rats will go shortly thereafter! So how does this apply to the cold and flu? Simple, don’t fill your body and life with trash and the bugs that cause sickness will not be able to grow!

Stress: The Great Immune System Poison and What to do About It

Stress is perhaps one of the most important factors in health and is not given nearly the attention it deserves in a balanced lifestyle. Chronic stress causes the immune system to shut down, which opens the door for infection. Stress begins with the Halloween season where we choke down enough sugar and artificial colors and flavors to send a horse into diabetic shock. We know that sugar poisons the immune system and this may be a reason why the cold and flu season begins in October.

If you make it through the Halloween period without getting sick we are greeted at October’s exit by the Thanksgiving season, which again involves stuffing our faces with high sugar and high fat foods. Then after we are fattened up like turkeys for the Thanksgiving season, in rolls the Christmas/Hanukkah season full of more stress and sugary treats. And finally, let’s top off this triple layered stress season with the cherry on top… New Year’s. Is it any wonder why the flu season peaks in January? Maybe this isn’t the whole story, but you can rest assured it certainly sets the table and invites the flu in for dinner!

Stress acidifies the system and poisons the immune system. It depletes the body of vital nutrients, kills the good bacteria in your gut, ruins digestion and fills your body with stress hormones that turn immune system off. I realize that you cannot always get away from the stress, however, you can learn to cope with stress in a different way and there are supplements that will help your body adapt to stress in a much healthier way. Herbs, called adaptogens, help to balance the biochemistry of the body during stressful times. Vital Adapt is an herbal liquid tincture that combines some of the most powerful adaptogens on the market. An adaptogen is an herbal complex that works within the body to normalize the stress hormones and bring the body back into balance. This means that you will respond better, feel more focused, have a stronger immune system and sleep better at night even though you may have an excessive amount of stress in your life. The recommended dosage is 2 droppersful two to three times daily. You can increase the dose to 3 droppersful three times daily during heavy stress. If you enjoy a good book, I would recommend the book How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie. This book is one of my favorites on the subject of stress and worry.

Bottom Line: Stress poisons the immune system. To decrease the impact of stress on your life use the tools taught in the book “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living” by Dale Carnegie, use Vital Adapt herbal tincture daily (2 droppersful twice daily).

Now let’s discuss products that will work to keep the rest of the body healthy during the cold and flu season. First, vitamin C plays an important role in keeping the white blood cells healthy (white blood cells contain more vitamin C than any other cell in the body). Whole-food vitamin C is preferred over ascorbic acid supplements. Sources of whole food vitamin C include rose hips and a rainforest herb called camu camu. I recommend a whole food formula called Pure Radiance C by The Synergy Company; each capsule contains 120 mg of true whole food vitamin C complex. The term “vitamin C” and “ascorbic acid” are often used interchangeably; however, in nature vitamin C is much more complex than just a molecule of ascorbic acid. In fact, ascorbic acid is a small fraction of the true vitamin C molecule. Whole food vitamin C is much more potent and requires smaller quantities to obtain an equal or better result than ascorbic acid supplements. The recommended dose is 2 capsules twice daily year round.

The Most Important Flu-Preventing Supplement on the Market

Starting in October, sun exposure drops significantly which depletes vitamin D levels. The levels are likely at their lowest near the end of December. Vitamin D is most popular for its role in keeping bones strong; however, a lesser-known role of vitamin D is in the immune system. When vitamin D levels are low your risk of infection increases significantly! This considerable drop in vitamin D during these cold and flu months may be a significant cause to the higher rate of viral infection and recent research confirms this link. One paper published in a recent issue of Journal of Hygiene suggests that the vitamin D/influenza connection explains the following observations:

1.       Flu rates are highest after the winter solstice and virtually disappear after the summer solstice

2.       Children who are exposed to sunlight have lower incidence of influenza

3.       Influenza is most common in peoples of the tropics during the rainy season

4.       The colder the temperature outside the higher the rate of influenza infection

5.       The elderly who live in areas of highest vitamin D intake are less likely to die in the winter

6.       Why cod liver oil (a source of vitamin D) protects against respiratory infection

7.       Why African Americans are more likely to die of influenza and pneumonia than Caucasians. (African Americans produce less vitamin D due to the higher pigment in skin)

The recommended dose of vitamin D is 2,000 – 4,000 iu during the winter season. Our goal is to increase blood levels to 50-80 micrograms per deciliter.

Top Supplements for Preventing the Cold and Flu

There are three specialty supplements that can be added to your arsenal of cold and flu fighting tools. They are especially good for prevention of cold and flu. The first is a homeopathic flu vaccine called Influenzinum. This homeopathic product uses the flu vaccine to make an extremely dilute formula, which can convey all of the benefits of the vaccine without the side effects. By gently nudging the immune system into action against the flu virus, Influenzinum keeps the body’s defenses mobilized. We have used this formula for many years and have received a lot of positive feedback regarding its efficacy.

The second product is a brand new version of a very old remedy for cold and flu. The product, called Immunity Take Care, is produced by New Chapter and is used to protect the body from all enveloped viruses such as the influenza virus. By binding to and inactivating the influenza virus, this nasty bug is unable to enter the cell for reproduction. This halts the infection and allows the immune system plenty of time to scoop up the neutralized the influenza bugs for disposal. Immunity Take Care uses a special extract of the Elderberry herb in a lozenge form. The recommended dosage is 1 -2 lozenges daily for prevention and 2-4 tablets daily for active flu infection.

The final product, which is especially for people who have a stubborn immune system, I recommend a formula called Pure Defense with NAC by Pure Encapsulations. This product combines some very powerful supplements for supporting immune function and respiratory health. The ingredients of this formula include:

• Vitamin D 2,000 iu: One of nature’s most important vitamins for immune function and respiratory defense
• Epicor: A fermented yeast product that stimulates immune function. Research suggests that this product can decrease the onset of cold and shorten its duration.
• Elderberry: Acts as a first line of defense against infection from enveloped viruses.
• Zinc: A deficiency of this vital mineral can prevent the immune cells from functioning on all cylinders.

The recommended dose for this formula is 2 capsules twice daily throughout the season. I personally feel that this formula offers the most comprehensive support to the immune system during the cold and flu season.

How to Shore Up Your Primary Defenses in the Next 60 Seconds

Your mucous membranes make up your primary defenses against invading organisms. These mucous secretions contain many different defense factors that bind to and inactivate viruses and bacteria that are trying to sneak in through the nose, mouth or eyes. Unfortunately, these mucous membranes are the first to dry up when the body’s water supplies are low. We have discovered that most people do not drink enough to keep this primary defense functioning optimally. To add insult to injury, we turn on the heaters in our home, which produces dry heat that further dries up the mucous membranes and inhibits proper mucous flow. The one thing that you can do in the next 60 seconds to significantly improve your primary defenses is drink a couple glasses of water and maintain this hydration by sipping at it throughout the day!

Final Conclusions:

1.       The flu is not as dangerous as the press and the medical community makes you think.

2.       The flu vaccine is not nearly as effective as you are led to believe and may even cause significant side effects.

3.       How healthy you are, your internal terrain, determines your risk of cold or flu. The bug (virus or bacteria) is the least of your worries. They cannot thrive in a healthy system.

4.       Control stress because stress is a potent poison to the immune system. If stress is a big problem, take Vital Adapt, 2 capsules twice daily.

5.       Use whole food vitamin C such as Pure Radiance C by The Synergy Company. Two capsules two to three times daily.

6.       For further protection use Immune System Take Care by New Chapter (1 tablet dissolved in mouth one to two times daily) to add an additional level of defense against viruses.

7.       Pure Defense with NAC is a great way to stimulate immune function throughout the season. This formula is the most comprehensive and is taken 2 capsules twice daily.

8.       Drink plenty of water to keep your mucous membranes healthy. These membranes are your primary defenses against offending organisms.

The bottom line is that cold and flu is optional this season! There are many things that we can do to promote health and ward off disease. By eating healthy, exercising, controlling stress and supplementing properly it is entirely possible to get through this season without using even one sick day!

For more tips and articles, visit us at www.illnessisoptional.com. Visit our wellness center, Your Prescription for Health at 10210 S. Dolfield Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117. 410-356-2169

Listen to our weekly radio show:

Sundays from 10-11am on WCBM 680 AM Rad

1. Allergies
   
2. Vaccines
   
3. H1N1
4. Russell Blaylock re: H1N1
5. Poison Ivy
6. Blood Sugar
7. Vaccines and autism
8. Pneumonia
9. Heavy metals

Argument: If I eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, then I don’t need to add vitamins and minerals.
Answer: The argument that the nutritional needs of the body can be thoroughly met through diet is probably a valid one, as long as certain assumptions hold true. The main assumption is that the diet is made up almost entirely of fresh fruit and vegetables from local and trusted growers who understand crop rotation and proper soil fertilization. A fruit’s nutrition is highest at the height of its ripeness when the fruit is just about to fall from the tree, bush or vine. This makes great evolutionary sense as the purpose of the fruit is to propagate the species of the plant. The survival of the seed is most probable when the fruit contains the nutrition necessary to allow the seedling to develop. In addition, the sweetness and nutrition content of the fruit increase the likelihood that the fruit will be eaten by animals that scour the grasses for food. This helps both the animal and the plant as the animal gets food and the plant’s seed gets spread to different areas as it passes through the stool of the animal onto fertile ground elsewhere. The problem is that most conventional fruit is picked unripe and then ripened on the way to the store through artificial processes using ethylene. This makes for a fruit or vegetable that contains suboptimal levels of nutrients. A study performed at Oregon State University found that green blackberries contain only 74 mg/100 grams of anthocyanins (a plant compound/antioxidant known to protect the body from heart disease and cancer) compared to 317 mg/100 grams for vine ripened blackberries. (J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Sep 22;52(19):5907-13.) Research in Spain demonstrated that cherries picked prematurely contained one-half the level of vitamin C as cherries picked ripe (J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Apr 6;53(7):2741-5.)

In addition, due to the over farming of lands there is not enough nutrition in the soil to make for highly nutritive foods. For example, each time a watermelon is picked from the land some of the nutrition goes with it, after all, a fundamental law of physics is you cannot make something from nothing. Over time the soil gets depleted and the nutrition in the fruits and vegetables suffer. To make matters worse, the growers use a process of selective breeding to increase pith and water (the pith is the fibrous material such as the netting around the pulp of the orange and the white fluff just under the skin). This makes for big, attractive and heavy fruit with less vitamin and mineral content. These plant breeders lovingly refer to this process as the “dilution effect”. An example of this effect is with a very popular breed of broccoli called “Marathon” which is big and green and according to the USDA contains half the calcium and magnesium of other more nutritious hybrids of broccoli. All of this results in more weight and less nutrition.

In a 2004 study, scientists discovered that the nutrition content for 6 nutrients have declined significantly in fruits and vegetables since 1950. These nutrients include calcium, riboflavin, vitamin C, iron, potassium and protein. (J Am Coll Nutr. 2004 Dec;23(6):669-82) This study from the University of Texas evaluated the nutrient content over time of 43 garden crops. This study takes into account the effect of many different factors including ethylene ripening, the dilution effect, the use of commercial fertilizer, over farming, etc.
So is it possible to find nutrient dense fruits and vegetables? I believe so. Studies have shown that organic fruits and vegetables have more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants when compared to conventional produce. (J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Sep 11;50(19):5458-62; J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Feb 26;51(5):1237-41) Even if you regularly use organic produce, you will need to eat larger quantities of these fruits and vegetables to meet the vitamin, mineral and antioxidant needs of the body. I believe that people who meet these produce requirements are the exception rather than the rule.

One final argument on this subject doesn’t have to do with the nutrient content of the food as much as it has to do with nutrient needs of the body. Today’s body has to deal with an onslaught of toxic attack that we did not evolve on. Cleaning product, pollutions, stress and out gassing of carpets and paint all cause a withdrawal from the antioxidant and nutrient reserves of the body. We cannot assume that the nutrient needs of yesteryear apply to today! In other words, you need more nutrition today just to meet the minimum needs! Research has found that the great majority of the population does not meet the pitiful RDA requirements for one or more nutrients.

Argument: Doesn’t supplementation just cause expensive urine?
Answer: Whenever I debate the need for supplementation it seems that the first argument is always the same, “All that you are doing with nutritional supplements is making expensive urine.” This argument comes from the point that any excess of water soluble nutrients that you take in will be excreted through the urine. So if you take 1,000 mg of vitamin C and your body only uses 500 mg then you will kick out 500 mg of the vitamin C as “waste”. My answer to this is, better a surplus than a deficiency! When you supplement, you do run the risk of losing some extra nutrients in the urine. This argument can be made for those who eat plenty of fruits and vegetables as you will likely see more vitamins and minerals in their urine as well. Does this mean that you should not eat fruits and vegetables? In addition, if you want to talk about expensive urine let’s talk about the urine of people who take medications. You will find a significant amount of these medications in the urine and stool of these patients. So you choose- expensive urine full of vitamins or expensive urine full of medications.

Argument: We eat more food than most other countries, aren’t my nutrition needs being met?
Answer: I agree with the first statement regarding the quantity of food that we eat, however, I disagree with the second part of the statement which refers to the quality of food. Our society has built a food culture that creates a population of overfed and undernourished people. This means that calories are plentiful but nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals are deficient. This is the main reason why supplementation is so important. Starvation as it pertains to energy is not a common problem here in the United States, however, cellular starvation is a major problem. This means that the cells have all of the fuel that they require to function; however, the cells may not have the micronutrients necessary to be able to convert the fuel to energy and appropriately distribute that energy to various functions such as the immune and repair systems. This is like a car with a full tank of gas and no spark plugs. Remember, practically every study that has evaluated various vitamin and mineral levels in the blood have correlated higher levels of food nutrients with significantly better health. This means getting nutrients from whole food sources when possible and supporting with supplementation as an insurance policy.

Argument: There are no studies to support the need for supplementation.
Answer: This statement is just plain ridiculous! There is a tremendous amount of research on nutrition and its benefit to health. I have never understood how people make this comment when I am drowning in studies published in peer reviewed journals demonstrating the benefit and safety of nutritional supplementation. Search PubMed or Medline (the same search engine used by your doctor) on omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, coenzyme Q 10, vitamin E, vitamin C, etc. You will be blown away by the results that you get. As far as safety goes, according to the 2005 annual report in the journal Clinical Toxicity, which evaluates the reports from 61 poison control centers in the U.S., out of 53 billion doses of supplemental vitamin supplements there was not even one death reported. Tragically, Tylenol was not so lucky being responsible for numerous adverse events and deaths.
I have dedicated my life to the study of longevity and, more importantly, to the study of vitality. My definite purpose is to design a system of living that allows people like you and me to live long, energetic lives full of LIFE ENERGY! To accomplish this goal, a system is needed that will prevent disease and promote energy production, circulation, repair and rejuvenation throughout our entire lives. It is my belief that this goal can be met with a healthy diet full of fresh, raw, organic, healthy foods. It is also my belief that with each day that science “revolutionizes” our lives and food industries this becomes harder and harder. Although it is possible to live long and healthy lives without supplementation, it is less likely today than ever before and the majority of us need supplements to meet our body’s needs.

First, I want to talk about the two most fundamental forms of essential fatty acids.

Parent Essential Fats (PEFs) – These are primarily vegetarian sources and are made up of the true essential fatty acids that cannot be made by the body. Examples of PEFs are alpha linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid from flax, chia and other nuts and seeds. Another example would be linoleic acid which is an omega-6 fatty acid from nuts and seeds. Neither can be made by the body and thus must be consumed. They are primarily used as building blocks for the second fundamental form of essential fatty acids—Essential Fatty Acid Metabolites (EFAMs).

Essential Fatty Acid Metabolites—EFAMs are the fatty acid metabolites that are made from the parent essential fatty acids. These are commonly found in animal sources such as meat and eggs because the animal has converted the PEFs into the active metabolites. The two most famous omega-3 fatty acids are EPA and DHA from fish, shrimp and wild game. These two are the most abundant essential fatty acid metabolites but are not the only important EFAMs. These can be made in the body and thus are not considered true essential fatty acids; however, if the body cannot produce sufficient amounts then these fatty acid metabolites become conditionally essential and thus must be consumed. There are a number of reasons why these fats may become conditionally essential. One big change in paradigm for me has been how we look at these EFAMs. We would often talk about how fish oil was the only omega-3 fatty acid supplement you needed because the fish has converted the PEFs for you; however, perhaps the body wants the ability to make the EPA, DHA and any other metabolites as it sees fit. As you will see, the new approach focuses on providing the body with higher levels of PEFs and smaller, supportive doses of the EFAMs such as the EPA and DHA found in fish oil. This will prevent an excess of active metabolites while allowing the body to decide how much EPA, DHA, and other metabolites it wants depending on need.

Why Can’t Some People Make Enough EFAMs?

There are a number of reasons why some people have difficulty converting the parent essential fatty acids into active essential fatty acid metabolites.
Genetics – Some people’s bodies just do not produce the necessary enzymes to convert the parent essential fats into the active metabolites. These people must include the EFAMs in their diet.

Trans fat consumption—I don’t need to preach the evils of trans fats, let me sum up the topic of trans fats by just saying this, “Trans fats are the devil.” They poison the system by occupying the membrane of the cell, crowding out healthy fats and inactivating the enzymes needed for proper conversion of PEFs. They have been linked to cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and other diseases.

Too little saturated fat intake—That’s right, you may not be getting enough saturated fat in the diet from clean sources. I am not talking about hydrogenated oils, I am talking about natural saturated fats from such sources as organic butter and coconut oil. It turns out that saturated fats are essential in the conversion of PEFs into EFAMs.

Certain metabolic health problems—Diabetes and Syndrome X cause a deficiency of certain enzymes needed for the conversion of PEFs into EFAMs. Other conditions and medications may also effect the ability to convert PEFs, especially omega-3 fatty acids, into the active metabolites. If you consider yourself to be in bad health then it is recommended that you take special care to get the EFAMs from omega-3 fatty acid sources such as fish oil, free-range egg and fish.

The omega-3 fatty acids are still considered one of the most important nutritional supplements that one can take. There are four reasons why this supplement is so high on our list of priorities:

Our diets are dangerously deficient in healthy, undamaged omega-3 fatty acids.
The way that we cook and process foods destroy the healthy qualities of the omega-3 fatty acids

We consume far too many omega-6 fatty acid containing foods
Our diets and lifestyles contribute to an inability to convert precursor essential fatty acids into active fatty acid metabolites. More on this later…

In a nutshell, there are many different fatty acids that are important to our health. Although we have a tendency to focus on the EPA and DHA, two fatty acids found in fish oil, it is important to note that there are many different types of fatty acid metabolites that are also important to the body. This is why we were never big fans of fish oil supplements that claim to “concentrate the omega-3 fatty acids and throw away the rest.”

When we evaluate the work of researchers who study the diets of our hunter/gatherer ancestors we find some pretty interesting stuff.

Our bodies appear to be built to function on a diet that contains an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of between 6:1 and 1:1. This means for every 1-6 grams of omega-6 fatty acids we should be getting 1 gram of omega-3 fatty acids.
The primary source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, in our ancestors’ diets, was from plant sources. Wild game was more of a treat and thus the PEFs were likely the primary source of omega-3 fatty acids with small doses of the EFAM omega-3 fatty acids when available.

Our body is very efficient in absorption of polyunsaturated essential fatty acids and appears to have no system for controlling essential fatty acid uptake into the cell. This means that the concentration of PEFs and EFAMs in the cell are proportional to the intake. This likely stems from a relative scarcity of PEFs in the diet and a relative importance to health as we evolved. This means that if 10% of our fat consumption comes from essential fatty acids then our cell membranes will contain close to 10% of the fatty acids as those same EFAs.

Why Our Efficiency at Absorbing EFAs May Be Killing Us

As I have researched essential fatty acids and their impact on our health, I have concluded with more certainty than ever, that a healthy balance of proper fats is essential to the achievement of optimal health. On the flip side, the consumption of the wrong fats and/or damaged/oxidized fats is one of the most important contributors to disease. The reason for such a negative impact on our health seems to stem from the efficiency with which our body seems to absorb and utilize the fats that we consume.

Over the past century, our fat intake has changed dramatically. Whereas the consumption of essential fatty acids was somewhat scarce in our diet, now they are abundant. This abundance of essential fats, omega-3 fats included, can result in too much of a good thing as we started to cook, fry and otherwise process these fats in such a way that results in damaged/oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acids. These damaged fats take advantage of our efficiency in absorbing healthy fat and end up entering the membranes of our cells. These oxidized fats ultimately cause dysfunction in the cell that seems to be a major player in the development of disease, especially heart disease, obesity and cancer. In addition, the abundance of omega-6 fatty acids, also oxidized, throws the balance of omega-3 fatty acids further out of whack. With the combined effect, we have the perfect storm for disease:

Unbalanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids which can reach a level of up to 20:1 in many diets.

The abundance of oxidized/damaged omega-3 and omega 6 fatty acids.

In a nutshell, the average American’s cell membranes are full of oxidized fats and even if they were not oxidized, the imbalanced ratio alone would be sufficient to cause disease and dysfunction. We are in real trouble here. Did you know that scientists dissected the plaques of arteries from people who had died from heart disease and discovered almost no saturated fat in the arteries and plaques of these unlucky people? You know what they found plenty of? That’s right, oxidized omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Yet we spend so much time and money attacking saturated fats when in essence it is the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids, specifically oxidized omega-6 fats, that are to blame for many of our health problems. Saturated fats appear to be benign at worst and helpful at best!

Changing the Paradigm for Fats & Oils

I started the article by saying that I have been rethinking my approach to supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids and fish oil. Let me now discuss my conclusions:

What we eat is more important than what we supplement with. We must first stop consuming oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acids which means we want to avoid fried foods, especially those cooked and fried in oils which are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids such as: Canola oil, grapeseed oil, walnut oil, corn oil, safflower oil and soybean oil.

If you do cook, use extra virgin coconut oil or organic butter as these contain saturated fats that will not oxidize nor will they through the omega-6:omega-3 ratio out of balance. Do not worry about the saturated fats in these oils as they will not cause heart disease as the authorities report. I also like to snack on a combination of organic coconut flakes and chia seeds called CocoChia by a company called Living Fuel Rx. I consume s couple tablespoons daily, it is a delicious treat and provides both healthy saturated and omega-3 PEFs.

For many people, fish oil cannot be called an essential fatty acid because the body does have the capacity to make the EFAMs, EPA and DHA, that are found in fish. It should be considered conditionally essential in those groups who I discussed earlier in the article, however, for most of us these fats should be taken in as natural a form as possible and used in smaller quantities. They should also be used in the context as support for a lifestyle and diet that is low in cooked polyunsaturated oils, as described above. For general maintenance, we are recommending a new, whole food fish oil product that is called WholeMega by New Chapter . This formula is a brand new form of fish oil that is standardized to more than just EPA/DHA. In fact, it contains many different EFAMs that exist in smaller quantities but play critical roles in the health of the body. In addition, this product has a natural antioxidant that is built into the fish oil so as to prevent oxidation within the capsule and body. The recommended dose for many people is 2-4 capsules daily. In some people, higher doses of this or another fish oil may be needed.

Supplement with PEFs. The majority of the essential fatty acids should come from the parent essential fats, this will permit the body to make its own EFAMs as it sees fit. We should consume these fats raw and uncooked and they should compromise only a small percent of our caloric intake. According to fatty acid expert, Mary Enig, Ph.D., omega-3 fatty acids should compromise 1-1.5% of our caloric intake. If your daily caloric intake is 2,000 calories, you should consume 2.2-3.3 grams of PEF omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, we should consume 2-3% of our caloric intake as omega-6 fatty acids which means someone who eats 2,000 calories daily should consume 4.4-6.7 grams of omega-6 fats. This consumption can come from diet and/or supplements but it should be in an unadulterated form. I recommend the formula called Udo’s 3-6-9 Oil Blend which can be used as a liquid on top of prepared food or in capsule form as a supplement to prepared food.

Trans Fats should be avoided entirely. These fats are not naturally found in the diet and wreak havoc on the health of the body. Trans fatty acids will short-circuit our the efforts above. The government now requires that foods list the quantity of trans fat within prepared foods, however, the food industry has found creative ways to mask the trans fat content of food by making the serving size of food so small that it can legally say “Contains 0 grams of Trans fat”. In addition, the industry has replaced trans fats with a new kind of fat called interesterified fatty acids that may turn out to be worst than trans fats. We will talk more about this in the future.

Make sure that you eat plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables and supplement with plenty of antioxidants in order to protect these fats from unwanted oxidation.

Don’t be afraid of saturated fat or cholesterol in the diet. In fact, eating a free-range egg a day is a good practice to provide the body with important EFAMs, PEFs, antioxidants, amino acids, and phospholipids.

Watch your intake of refined carbohydrates. When you consume excessive levels of carbohydrates, the way that your body processes fats gets disturbed. We have discussed this in detail in previous articles and radio shows, so I will spare you today.

Get a copy of Know Your Fats by Dr. Mary G. Enig. This book, although quite technical, really does a good job of answering the questions around consuming healthy fats.

According to conventional medicine, cholesterol is the cause of our heart disease epidemic. I have heard of some cardiologists telling patients that if it were possible they would lower their patient’s cholesterol levels to zero. This type of comment shows how the most advanced medical system in the world is based on antiquated ideas and philosophies. If we develop a drug tomorrow that would lower people’s cholesterol to zero and administered that drug to 100,000 people in a clinical study, we would have 100,000 dead people on our hands. Cholesterol is an important compound in the body, we need it to make important hormones and compounds such as vitamin D. When cholesterol is elevated, it is because the body is out of balance and is producing excessive levels of cholesterol. As with most things in life it is the dose that makes the poison and cholesterol is no different.

An important question to ask, however, is at what dose does something become a poison? We have discussed cholesterol in other articles…Today’s article is not about cholesterol, rather we are going to discuss cholesterol’s nasty little brother called triglyceride. Just as cholesterol plays an important role in the body, triglycerides also are important and necessary for survival. Triglycerides are your body’s way of transporting fat to the organs and tissues to be used for energy. Triglycerides are also stored in the body so that when energy is needed there is an abundant supply. Like cholesterol, the majority of triglycerides that are floating through the blood are produced by the liver. When your lifestyle is out of balance, the liver loses the ability to sense that the body no longer needs to produce triglycerides and these levels begin to rise in the blood stream. Once the triglycerides in the blood reach a level greater than 100 mg per deciliter then health begins to suffer.

A study that was published in the journal Circulation discovered that high triglycerides cause more damage to the blood vessels than having an elevated LDL (bad cholesterol). Another study that followed showed that patients with a high triglycerides level (over 200 mg per deciliter) had three times the risk of heart attack compared to patients with normal triglyceride levels. In that same study scientists found that people with the highest ratio of triglycerides to HDL cholesterol suffered a 16 time higher risk of heart attack compared to people with the lowest ratio of triglycerides to HDL. This ratio is calculated by dividing your triglyceride number by your HDL number, this ratio determines if you are suffering from a condition called metabolic syndrome. For more on this condition see the article on FirstLine therapy.

Metabolic syndrome occurs when the body produces too much insulin in response to a diet that is high in carbohydrates. This elevated insulin causes many problems for the body such as elevated cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure. Elevated triglycerides can also be a sign of an omega-3 fatty acid deficiency.

So what do you do if your triglyceride levels are elevated?

Occasionally, triglycerides are extremely high which can place the patient at risk of a painful and dangerous condition called pancreatitis. In these people, who can have triglycerides in excess of 1,000, medications are likely needed to prevent complications. With that said, medications are not the answer for 99% of the population. They simply cover up the real problem, which is poor diet and lack of exercise. The first step is to look at your diet. As with many other conditions and diseases, carbohydrates are the most common culprit. If your triglycerides are elevated it is likely that you are eating too many refined carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, cereal, sugars and sweets. Exercise is also very important because exercise burns excessive fat and sensitizes the body to insulin.

The next step is to optimize your omega-3 fatty acid intake. People who have elevated triglycerides can often drop their levels in half simply by adding omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil to their supplement program. It is important that you take enough fish oil to provide 1800 mg of EPA and 1200 mg of DHA per day. Recently, the FDA approved fish oil as a drug. This drug form of fish oil is ridiculously expensive and no better than the less expensive, non-prescription fish oils available. I will caution you to be very picky with your brand choice to assure that it is free of heavy metals and other contaminants. In our practice we use the Your Prescription for Health brand of fish oil for those who prefer capsules (3 capsules twice daily) or Carlson Labs Finest Fish Oil for those who prefer liquid (1 tablespoon daily).

It is my preference that you start with these two changes and give them a good 2-3 months before you retest. If after this period your triglycerides are still elevated above 100 then I would recommend that you try a special form of a B vitamin called pantethine. This is an effective tool for normalizing triglycerides and cholesterol. The recommended dosage is 450 mg two to three times daily. Niacin is also an effective tool against elevated triglycerides, however, given the possibility of severe side effects I would recommend that you reserve this as a last defense. To lower triglycerides, doses in excess of 2,000 mg may be necessary and regular blood tests to assess liver function will be needed on a fairly regular basis.

Although triglycerides appear to be an independent risk factor for premature heart disease, we must not lose sight that elevated triglycerides are an indicator of a more serious condition called insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome. IF you correct the insulin resistance, the triglycerides usually correct themselves. In addition, by correcting insulin resistance, you will also enjoy healthier cholesterol and blood pressure levels.