Omega-3 Fats Curb the Growth and Spread of Liver Cancer

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http://www.mercola.com/2006/apr/20/omega-3_fats_curb_the_growth_spread_of_liver_\

cancer.htm

 

 

Omega-3 Fats Curb the Growth and Spread of Liver Cancer

 

 

Two new studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids could inhibit the

growth of liver cancer cells, suggesting that they could be an

effective therapy for treating and preventing liver cancers.

 

Programmed Cell Death

 

The first study examined the effects omega-3 and omega-6 fats in

hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Hepatocellular carcinoma accounts for

as much as 90 percent of all liver cancers and is usually quickly

fatal. The omega-6 fats had no effect on cancer cells, but the

omega-3s -- in the form of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and

eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) -- induced apoptosis (programmed cellular

death).

 

Works on Two Kinds of Cancer

 

In the second study, omega-3 fats proved just as effective in treating

cholangiocarcinoma tumor cells, an aggressive and fatal type of liver

cancer that forms in bile ducts.

 

A Treatment and a Preventative Measure

 

The researchers stated that omega-3 fatty acids could not only be an

effective therapy for liver cancers but could also protect the liver

from steatohepatitis, a chronic liver disease believed to be a

precursor to cancer.

 

RxPG News April 3, 2006

 

Nutra Ingredients.com April 4, 2006

 

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

 

If you to my newsletter, you already know how omega-3 fats

prevent the spread of prostate cancer. Looks like they may be just as

effective for liver cancer.

 

One of the best things you can do for your health and to reduce your

risk of cancer and heart disease is to take a high quality omega-3

oil. This is one of the most non-controversial recommendations to

improve your health that I know of.

 

Fish would be a perfect solution to obtain your omega-3 fats, but I

can't recommend it because most all commercial fish have been tainted

with mercury and toxic solvents like PCBs for the last few decades.

 

That is one of the reasons I am so happy to have recently learned

about krill oil.

 

Krill is at the bottom of the food chain and is free of all of the

heavy metals like mercury, and PCBs and dioxins that are present in

many fish. It is simply one of the most amazing clean source of

omega-3 fats.Krill only grow about to one inch or so and are harvested

in the pristine clean waters of the Antarctic.

 

They also are present in a phospholipid form which radically increases

their absorption which allows them to work more effectively in your

brain. This form virtually eliminates any belching or burping fish oil

taste. It also increases absorption so you only need two small

capsules a day

 

 

As for cancer in general, since it is now the number one cause of

death for most Americans you will also want to review the detailed

checklist I wrote last year to help you radically lower your cancer risk:

 

1. Control your insulin levels: Make certain that you limit your

intake of processed foods and sugars as much as possible.

 

2. Of course, get appropriate amounts of animal-based omega-3 fats.

 

3. Get appropriate exercise. One of the primary reasons exercise works

is that it drives your insulin levels down. Controlling insulin levels

is one of the most powerful ways to reduce your cancer risks.

 

4. Normalize your vitamin D levels with safe amounts of sun exposure.

This works primarily by optimizing your vitamin D level. If you have

regular access to sun exposure then you should use fish oil, not cod

liver oil, as your primary source of omega-3 fats. Ideally, it would

be best to monitor your vitamin D levels.

 

5. Eat according to your metabolic type. The potent anti-cancer

effects of this principle are very much underappreciated. When we

treat cancer patients in our clinic this is one of the most powerful

anti-cancer strategies we have.

 

6. Have a tool to permanently erase the neurological short-circuiting

that can activate cancer genes. Even the CDC states that 85 percent of

disease is caused by emotions. It is likely that this factor may be

more important than all the other physical ones listed here, so make

sure this is addressed. Energy psychology seems to be one of the best

approaches and my particular favorite tool, as you may know, is the

Emotional Freedom Technique.

 

7. Only 25 percent of people eat enough vegetables, so by all means

eat as many vegetables as you are comfortable with. Ideally, they

should be fresh and organic. However, please understand that,

frequently, fresh conventionally grown vegetables are healthier than

organic ones that are older and wilted in the grocery store. They are

certainly better than no vegetables at all, so don't use that as an

excuse. If you are a carb metabolic type you may need up to 300

percent more vegetables than a protein metabolic type.

 

8. Make sure you are not in the two-thirds of the population who are

overweight and maintain an ideal body weight.

 

9. Get enough high-quality sleep.

 

10. Reduce your exposure to environmental toxins like pesticides,

household chemical cleaners, synthetic air fresheners and air pollution.

 

11. Boil, poach or steam your foods, rather than frying or

charbroiling them.