A Swedish study in 2006 demonstrated within a 6 to 12 month period of supplementation with omega 3, it produced a decline of early Alzheimer’s…believed due to the anti inflammatory activity of the omega 3’s.

Neurosurgeon Russell Blaylock in his July 2006 newsletter reports the ratio of omega 3’s to omega 6’s is crucial to the reduction of heart attack, stroke, cancer, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Lou Gehrig’s disease.  Virtually everyone in mainland USA would benefit from supplementing omega 3’s with fish oil.

The July 2008 issue of “The archives of Ophthalmology” reported on a study done at the University of Melbourne, Australia.  It pooled data from 9 different studies.  The pooled study involved almost 89,000 subjects and 3200 of those with AMD (age relate macular degeneration).  This study demonstrated that a high intake of omega 3 (EPA) was related to a 23% reduction in the risk of early AMD.  Advanced AMD was reduced by 38%.

The retina of the eye has high amounts of omega 3.  Blindness or impaired vision can result from a lack of sufficient omega 3’s.  The National Institute of Health (NIH) found increasing omega 3’s by only 2% decreased retinopathy by 40% to 50%.

Cold deep water tuna, herring, salmon are rich sources of omega 3’s, and associated with reduced inflammation and pain.

A double blind study found 2,600 mg daily of omega 3’s led to significant improvements in rheumatoid arthritis. As many as 13 good quality studies verify the anti-inflammatory benefits of fish oil in reducing rheumatoid arthritis symptoms of pain and dysfunction.

Dr. Robert DeMaria reports in his book “Dr Bob’s Trans Fat Survival Guide” that nerve conduction is significantly improved in a study he followed on seniors. Apparently neurotransmitters (conductors of brain and nerve messages) had improved conduction on neural pathways.

Dr. Bob should know, he is considered an expert on the subject of trans fats.  The trans fats are man modified (fully hydrogen saturated) substances that become foreign objects to the body and hard to metabolize and eliminate.

Studies show that the omega 3’s , ( coming from fish oils) with their anti inflammatory power help extinguish inflammation caused by the trans fats; hence they are quite beneficial in reducing Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases…Denis Van Loan D.D.S.

Technorati Tags: arthritis, brain, eye, heart, omega 3's, trans fats

Inflammation is the major pre-requisite for atherosclerosis. Cholesterol is often implicated as the culprit but it needs inflammation in order to attach and line the inside of your arteries. Another definition of atherosclerosis is hardening of the arteries due to the plaque containing calcium. It is sometimes called arteriosclerosis.

The consequences of atherosclerosis are compromised general health, increased heart attack or stroke and high blood pressure. Let’s examine  these resultant, evil consequences.

Because atherosclerosis impedes the circulation and delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the entire body, optimal health is lost. The body has to work harder to be healthy. As the plaque thickens, it is a time bomb waiting to go off. The ultimate end extreme  is death.

Heart attack and stroke occur because the thickened plaque lining your arteries can cause clots or “chips” of plaque to break off and obstruct a coronary or cerebral artery. When this occurs, blood supply is blocked and death results to the tissue in that area;  hence, a heart attack or stroke has occurred.

Besides the atherosclerotic plaque itself producing high blood pressure, another reason for hypertension is due to increases of fibrin, which is the clot matrix in your blood. Age and poor diet accelerate the thickening of your blood with fibrin. Often medical doctors will place you on a blood thinner drug. Alternative medical doctors will recommend a proteolytic enzyme like that found in pineapple or Nattokinase (fermented Japanese soy). Studies show the proteolytic enzyme therapy is quite effective.

High blood pressure occurs for two reasons. The first is due to decreased lumen size that increases the resistance to blood flow. This makes the heart work harder and increases the blood pressure.

The second reason for increased pressure is the increased viscosity of the blood… due to fibrin. Plasmin is a natural balancer of fibrin levels; unfortunately it decreases faster than the fibrin. This results in more fibrin and thick blood that produces hypertension or high blood pressure.

A leading enzyme researcher, Dr. Anthony Chichoke, reports that enzyme therapy like bromelain (in pineapple) or serratiopeptidase, can effectively reduce the thickened blood caused by too much fibrin. Aside from the stress and strain on the cardiovascular system there is serious danger of clots forming in the lungs, brain, heart and other important organs.

Inflammation can come from many sources but there are basically 4: Diet, air, toxins and hormone imbalances.

Diet or food intake is probably the most important because it can involve all inflammatory as well as healthy sources…nutrients, supplements and raw materials for hormones. It is a vehicle for the detrimental toxins that come from pesticide laced food and poor water. The body is amazing, if given the raw materials in a healthy diet, it can conquer disease and thwart a lot of toxins and insults in the form of pollutants, bacteria and viruses. But there is a limit to what it can handle.

Diet is an enormous factor in atherosclerosis and heart disease. Too much red meat causes excess homocysteine; it  is an amino acid that becomes an inflammatory  when excessive.   Sugar is overconsumed…from 136 pounds to 156 pounds are reported per person per year. It is inflammatory and contributes to diabetes 2 problems.  Trans fats (man made adulterations) are formed when all the reactive molecular handles are filled with hydrogen. Trans fats are inert and inflammatory.

Finally, toxins, pesticides and polluting chemicals contaminate your food and water.  The air is polluted by industrial and combustion end products.  All of the above cause inflammation and contribute to atherosclerosis, a major cause of high blood pressure,  heart disease and stroke.…Denis Van Loan D.D.S.

Technorati Tags: atherosclerosis, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, sugar, toxins, trans fats

What are the trans fats? They are enemies of essential omega3’s and heart disease. Trans fats are basically adulterated fats that are modified by man’s intervention. The food industry discovered in the seventies that by adding hydrogen to fat molecules, all the reactive “docking handles” on the fat molecule could be filled. This resulted in a fat molecules that was very resistant to chemical reactions. It was basically inert.

The non-reactivity proved to be harmful, not good. While these trans fats themselves do not make a fat bed in the body, they produce inflammation and even promote obesity in some cases… a coronary heart disease risk.

A second source of trans fats occurs in high heating and repeated heating of vegetable oils during cooking. Deep fried potatoes, or deep fried chicken are good examples. Saturated vegetable fats and animal fats that previously were more easily metabolized now become inert foreign objects.

Trans fats greatly tax the liver…. whose job it is to rid the body of foreign invaders. This is not a simple task because the trans fats are not chemically reactive…their half life is 21 days, it takes another 21 days for half of the second half…and so on.  Typically, significant amounts of trans fats are left up to 51 days after entry into the body.

This means that the liver, which is responsible for their removal,  has to work overtime. The liver is very important in all food metabolism as well as body defenses and elimination of wastes and toxins. It’s a source of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and some hormones.

Aside from taxing the liver, what are some problems associated with high levels of trans fats? They are inflammatory and cause problems in many areas of the body. Trans fats accumulate in the body and are believed significant factors in heart disease, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), depression, Alzheimer’s, some cancers and a generalized compromise of health.

Trans fats sabotage the working of the essential omega fatty acids. These omegas (3’s & 6’s) are absolutely necessary for proper body functions. Trans fats, as foreign objects, are inflammatory, wherever they are in the body…and they don’t leave easily. Trans fats are even banned in New York City restaurants.

Not only cancer, but also other inflammatory diseases co-relate with increased levels of trans fats. It has been estimated that 1 gram of trans fat added per day translates into a 20% increase of cardiovascular problems.

There appears to be a co-relation of increased trans fat intake with heart attack and high blood pressure due to the inflammation. The essential fatty acids in omega 3’s (DHA & EPA) are very important in fighting coronary heart disease.

These essential omega3’s are disarmed by the trans fats,  so more  are needed. This means that there is an increase in triglycerides, C reactive protein and interleukin… which are all inflammatory high risk factors for cardiovascular disease… when trans fats increase.

What the omega 3’s do is greatly reduce triglycerides, raise good (HDL) cholesterol and decrease the bad (LDL) cholesterol. High levels of omega 6 are detrimental.

Omega 6’s, when in relative abundance, cause inflammation. Numerous studies (97 of them) show increased levels of omega 6’s are co-related to increased cancers and their rate of growth.

What omega 3’s also do is stabilize the blood pressure, relax and protect the artery walls. The reduced inflammation in the blood vessels makes the vessels smoother, more pliable and help prevent clots. In addition there is an associated stabilization of heart beat and blood pressure.

The essential fatty acids (omegas) are important throughout the body. The brain is very much affected by a lack of omega 3’s, or more accurately a poor ratio of omega 3’s to omega 6’s. The typical American has a ratio of omega 3’s to omega 6’s at 1:20 to 1:45.

The optimal ratio of  Omega 3 to Omega 6’s is 1:4.  Omega 6’s are necessary but generally in oversupply; therefore it is necessary to increase the omega 3’s. As you are probably aware, fish oil and flax oil are the buzz words today. They supply generous amounts of omega 3’s and other recommended nutrients.

Another area where the omega 3’s shine is in the health of the brain and nervous system. Neurosurgeon Russell Blaylock reports in his newsletter of June 2004 that there was a 60% reduction of Alzheimer’s disease in a study he followed. DHA and EPA…the powerful anti-inflammatory components of omega 3’s, also protect the brain from excitotoxins. Memory loss, another negative, is also associated with a diminished ratio of omega3’s to 6’s.

Supplementation with omega 3’s in the form of fish oil and flax seed oil makes a lot of sense for optimal health…Denis Van Loan D.D.S.

Technorati Tags: coronary heart disease, omega3's, trans fats

The end result is that the body has difficulty metabolizing them, they are inflammatory and become a health risk.  New York City has banned trans fats in restaurants. 

The food industry has responded with an arguably worse alternative, interesterified fats. A recent study, published in Nutrition & Metabolism, found these interesterified fats raised the LDL cholesterol levels just like trans fats.

Dr. Mark Stengler, in his research on the subject, finds that the LDL (bad cholesterol) is significantly increased. It is believed that 1 in 5 deaths from coronary heart disease is now directly linked to increased trans fats. Increased inflammation and LDL levels are associated with this.

What makes these new substitutes for trans fats (interesterified fats) even worse is that they were shown in a recent study, published in Nutrition & Metabolism, to increase glucose blood levels by 20%, in only one month. They reduce insulin and most probably will increase the incidence of type 2 diabetes.

Another problem with these fat substitutes (transfats & interesterified fats) is they take out an important fat enzyme, D6D, which is needed for regular fat metabolism.  Studies are showing that these inert, toxic, fat substitues are actually increasing obesity.  This is just the opposite of what the original plan was, when they were designed, namely to reduce fat accumulation…Denis Van Loan D.D.S.

Technorati Tags: interesterified fats, LDL, trans fats