An article that appeared in Cancer Prevention Research from William Aronson and his associates report that a low-fat diet with Omega 3 supplements can help reduce the spread of cancer tissue. The finding that the low-fat, fish oil diet reduced the number of rapidly dividing cells in the prostate cancer tissue is important because the rate at which the cells are dividing can be predictive of future cancer progression. The lower the rate of proliferation, the lesser the chances that the cancer will spread outside the prostate, where it is much harder to treat.

Men in the study were scheduled for radical prostatectomy. Forty-eight men completed the trial. One group was given a typical western diet and the other group were given a low fat diet.

The first group in the study study tried to mirror the type of diet that the average men in the United States consumes. They accomplished this by giving prepared meals to the patients.  The caloric composition on these meals consisted 40 percent from fat, which is generally equivalent to what many Americans consume today. The fat sources also were typical of the American diet and included high levels of omega-6 fatty acids from corn oil and low levels of fish oil that provides omega-3 fatty acids.

The group with the with the low-fat diet, consumed 15 percent of the calories from fat. Additionally, the men on this diet took five grams of fish oil per day.  Three grams with breakfast and two grams with dinner, to provide omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to reduce the incidence of heart disease and to fight inflammation, which has been associated with certain cancers.

The short-term study also found that blood obtained from patients after the low-fat, fish oil diet slowed the growth of prostate cancer cells in a test tube, while blood from men on the Western  diet did not slow cancer growth. The researchers also found a change in the composition of cell membranes in both healthy cells and cancer cells in the prostates of men on the low-fat, fish oil-supplement diet. The membranes had heightened levels of omega-fatty acids from fish oil and decreased levels of omega-6 fatty acids from corn oils, which may directly affect the biology of the cells. Furthers studies are needed in order to recommend this diet.

“You truly are what you eat,” said Aronson, a clinical professor of urology who also serves as chief of urologic oncology at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Using quality supplements at the proper dosage with the proper ingredients and strength is extremely important.

If your diet includes a lot of olive oil, flaxseed, canola oil, walnuts, than take the following supplement:

The Ultimate epa dha Formula!

If you are not consuming that much of olive oil or flaxseed, or walnuts, than take the following supplement:

The Ultimate fish oils Formula with sesame lignans and olive fruit extract!

A three year study of 2,039 people with high blood levels was concluded last year. Their vitamin D levels were measured at the beginning of the study and than again in 6 months, 1 year and 3 years later. This study was done by Anastassios Pittas, MD of Tufts Medical center in Boston. The results of the study were presented in San Diego by Dr. Pittas in San Diego at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association.

The participants were divided in 3 groups. The first group included people that had average reading of vitamin D of about 30 ng/mL. The second group had average vitamin D levels between 14 to 29 ng/mL and the third group had average vitamin D levels of below 13 ng/mL. People in the first group were 38% less likely to develop diabetes compared to the the group that had average vitamin D levels of 13 ng/mL. According to Dr. Pittas for every 5 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) increase in vitamin D levels, the risk of developing diabetes dropped by 8%. Dr. Pittas took in to consideration the person’s body weight, their exercise activity and other factors known to decrease diabetes risk.

Another study done by Sheena Kayaniyil, a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto, supports that vitamin D plays an important role in the prevention of diabetes. In her study of 500 people with were considered at high risk of developing diabetes, higher vitamin D levels were responsible for lower blood sugar levels, three years later. Additional, higher vitamin D levels also were responsible for for the better function of the body’s own insulin producing beta cells.

Keep in mind that in both of these studies the “higher” levels of vitamin D are considered way to low for optimum levels by a growing group of doctors and scientists that for years have been arguing that we should be consuming considerably higher levels of vitamin D and that the optimum levels should be between 50 to 70 ng/mL and not 30 ng/mL.

The best source of vitamin D is the sun as long as you do not get burned. In most cases though you cannot get enough vitamin D from the sun so supplementation is suggested.

Many research studies are being conducted currently to determine if antioxidants help people with infertility issues get pregnant. Franco Visioli and Tory Hagen published an analysis in the journal of Pharmacological Research, which analyzes the role of antioxidants in the treatment of infertility issues in both men and women. They write:

While the direct effects of antioxidant treatment on the quality of semen and oocytes are still under investigation, a significant body of evidence points to loss of vascular tone as root cause of erectile dysfunction and, possibly, alternations to female reproduction

What it all means is that free radicals impair the synthesis of nitric oxide and bioavailability, which is very important in the role of vascular function. If the amount of antioxidants in the body increases, the amount of damaging free radicals decrease.

A researcher, Marian Showell of the University of Auckland in New Zealand in a press release claims:

When trying to conceive as part of an assisted reproductive program, it may be advisable to encourage men to take oral antioxidant supplements to improve their partners’ chances of becoming pregnant

What are antioxidants? They are vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that protect and repair cells from damage caused by free radicals. Some antioxidants that are recommended to take, include: Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Lipoic Acid, and CoQ10. As always, you should check with your doctor before you start taking any supplements!

The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging published an article that reported the results of a study that analyzed the effects of Omega 3 supplements to the cognitive decline of older men and women.

Remember that cognitive decline is a deterioration in cognitive function.  We all go thru a normal process of age related cognitive decline across our life-span characterised by increasing difficulties with memory (new learning) speed of information processing, language and other cognitive functions.  The time we start going thru this cognitive decline and the speed with which we progress, varies on many factors.

So this study done by researchers at National University of Singapore analyzed data from 1,475 men and women. None of the participants had dementia at the beginning of the study. The participants were questioned in the beginning of the study for their consumption of either Omega 3 supplements or their consumption of fish that contain Omega 3. Additionally they were given cognitive performance exams to create a baseline for their cognitive state at the beginning of the study. The same participants were given a cognitive performance exam 1.50 years later. The results were amazing. Those who took daily Omega 3 supplements every day had an adjusted lower risk of being diagnosed with cognitive decline by 63%.

When we consider the fact that Omega 3 has shown benefits in lowering cholesterol, blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, macular degeneration, colon cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, we should all make sure we consume enough every day.

There are 3 basic forms of omega-3:
Alpha-linelenic acid (ALA) found in English walnuts and vegetable oils like flaxseed, soybean and olive which the body eventually, but in small quantities, converts to DHA.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) found primarily in fish oil, this is the ultimate form of fatty acid in humans. Most people get far too little of this all-important fatty acid, especially since the conversion of ALA to DHA is slow and minimally yielding. Getting a daily dose of of DHA (600 to 1000 mg) from supplements is preferable to reap the health benefits. You have a choice of taking a fish oil supplement or one derived from algae or krill, a shrimp-like crustacean.
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is also found in fish oil, so it’s absorbed if you’re taking a daily dose of DHA omega-3.

Make sure between your diet and your supplements you consume between 1,000 mg to 2,000 mg per day. As always make sure you talk to your doctor before start taking any supplements! Given these facts, none of can afford not to take Omega 3 supplements daily!

This is a great quality Omega 3 supplement you might want to try!

Super Omega 3 Supplements

Gamma Tocotrienol and Prostate Cancer

The International Journal of Cancer published a study done by researchers at Australia’s Queenslands University of Technology on regrowth of prostate cancer! Dr. Ling stated that

Currently there is no effective treatment for metastatic prostate cancer, because it grows back after conventional therapies in more than 70% of the cases, but with gamma-tocotrienol , Queenslands University of Technology researchers have found a better way to treat prostate cancer, which has the potential to inhibit recurrance of the disease.

Gamma tocotrienol is one of eight forms of vitamin E. Other studies show that gamma tocotrienol may also help reduce cholesterol levels in healthy individuals, according to an article that appeared in Nutrition and Metabolism! So make sure you talk to your doctor about gamma tocotrienol next time you see them!

Foods contain all members of the vitamin E family. Some foods that are rich in vitamin E and gamma tocotrienol, include swiss chard, almonds, spinach, collard greens, kale, papaya and olives to mention a few. If you want to specifically  add gamma tocotrienol to your diet, you will to take gamma tocotrienol supplements!

You have heard numerous people talking about the effects of vitamin d on health and specifically on cancer! A report from ABC News shows some of the benefits that are documented in the labs! There are also quite few other studies that involved human patients that show huge benefits from vitamin D on many different ailments from heart disease, to cancer, to diabetes, to parkinson’s, just to name few!

Here is Dr. Oz’s take on vitamin D !

And here is another report from ABC on vitamin D and breast cancer!

Do not wait any longer, order some vitamin D right now! It is inexpensive and it might just save your life! Click on the label below!

Vitamin D deficiency and cancer links

Is it a random event or is there a link between vitamin D deficiency and higher levels of cancer? A study was presented in October of 2011 in the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology. According to the study, researchers in Northeast Radiation Oncology Center in Dunmore, Pennsylvania, community oncology practice, trying to find the vitamin levels of their cancer patients. Most of the cancers that their patients suffer from were: breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, thyroid cancer and colorectal cancer. They wanted to know if there were any similarities between all the cancer patients as it relates to their vitamin D levels. There were 160 patients with cancer whose vitamin d levels were analyzed. Their median age was 64 years old, and half were men and half were women. The results were very telling. 77% of patients had vitamin D levels that are considered either deficient (less than 20 ng/mL) or sub-optimal (20-30 ng/mL). The median vitamin D levels were 23.5 ng/mL.

According to Dr. Mercola, who is a huge proponent of higher levels of vitamin D for proper health, you need to make sure you do the the correct test, which is 25(OH)D, also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D. The levels you should follow are as follows:

Deficient:     Less than 50 ng/mL or or less than 115 nmol/l

Optimal:      Between 50 to 70 ng/mL or or 115-128 nmol/l

If you are treating cancer or heart disease, than you should be between 70-100 ng/mL or 128-148 nmol/l

Excessive is over 100 ng/mL or over 148 nmol/l