Omega-3 Fatty Acids Cause Cancer Cells to Self-Destruct
By Jon Herring
One of the most common health threats for aging men is prostate cancer. And if a man has a family history of this disease, his risk is even higher. But there are plenty of things he can do to reduce the risk. And one of the most important is to consume omega-3 fatty acids.
In a recent study, researchers from Baptist Medical Center at Wake Forest compared the incidence and progression of prostate cancer in mice that were bred without a gene called Pten. This gene suppresses prostate tumor growth. Without it, tumors proliferate.
The researchers discovered that when the prostate-cancer-prone mice were fed an omega-3-rich diet (in a ratio of one-to-one with omega-6 fatty acids), they had reduced tumor growth, slower progression of the disease, and increased survival. They also discovered that diets high in omega-6 fatty acids had the opposite effect. In fact, the survival rate was 60 percent in mice on the high omega-3 diet, and 0 percent in those on the high omega-6 diet. The study also showed that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids caused cancer cells to self-destruct at a much faster rate.
The best sources of omega-3 fatty acids are fatty fish (such as wild salmon and sardines), fish oil, eggs, and grass-fed beef and dairy products. You'll find omega-6 fatty acids in greatest abundance in products made with vegetable and seed oils, in fried foods, and in conventionally raised meats. Avoid these foods as much as possible.
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