We Can Stop Worrying About Omega-3s

Remember how I told you omega-3s might be linked to prostate cancer?  Well, apparently a new study has put that completely to rest -- and probably buried it forever, excuse my mixed metaphors.

Omega-3s are found in salmon, trout, tuna and what you probably take to prevent heart disease, fish oil.

But a diet high in walnuts (protein to the max and loaded with omega-3s) seems to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer, and now studies are even showing it may stop the growth of breast cancer. These studies were done on mice who already had the cancers.

Michael Roizen, MD, and Dr. Mehmet Oz, yes, the Dr. Oz, write that DHA omega-3 is something everyone needs to take, because it helps protect you from diabetes, decreases joint pain, fights macular degeneration, which can lead to blindness, and makes your brain function younger.

Mark Hyman, MD, writing at HuffPost Healthy Living, says no study has proved cause and effect between omega-3s and prostate cancer.  He cites as evidence that the study was weak because it took only one blood draw from participants, didn't take into consideration whether they had just started using fish oil to treat prostate cancer or taking it all along, or any other health factors like excessive smoking, obesity, etc.

He points out that Japanese men have been eating fish forever, have among the highest levels of DHA (what fish oil promotes) in the world -- and their incidence of prostate cancer is among the lowest.

So what to make of all this?  Continue eating fish, watching your fats, exercise.  And take fish oil.




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