PARENT Essential Fatty Acids (DPAs, ALAs, EPAs & DHAs)
Essential fatty acids have undergone extensive studies with cancer and their potential anti-inflammatory effects on the body. In a recent study out of Finland, Jyrki Virtanen, from the University of Eastern Finland, analyzed blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids, as well as C-reactive protein (CRP) – a marker of inflammation, in Finnish men, ages 42 to 60 years. Results showed that is omega-3 levels increased, CRP levels decreased. Specifically, docosapentanoic acid (DPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA) increase significantly, whereas no change in levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) were observed. The study authors conclude that: “Serum [omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids] and especially the long-chain [omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids] concentration, a marker of fish or fish oil consumption, were inversely associated with serum [C-reactive protein] in men.”
Essential fatty acids are a great anti-inflammatory fat that everyone needs to consume. How much is enough? First understand that farm-raised salmon and other fish are NOT a good source of Omega-3’s. Do NOT buy fish that are farm-raised; these are fed prepared fish foods and not natural. To get EFAs from food, eat cold water, ocean caught fish that are products of their natural environment. DO NOT take supplements of fish oil; ONLY use PARENT oils (which are cold pressed seed oils – I list the source to buy below). You must spend the money and purchase a good brand that ensures little to no contaminants and has a reputation for quality.
Because omega–3 fatty acids are in shortest supply in the typical American diet and have been so imbalanced in most people for decades, I always recommend you obtain EFAs from a PARENT source. This means the oils are from unadulterated sources that are from sources that contain the ‘parents’ of both Omega-3 and Omega-6. These ‘parent essential oils’ (PEOs) are Linoleic Acid and Linolenic Acid. This is one of the simplest, safest, yet most effective steps you can take to quell chronic inflammation in your body. I also recommend that everyone include a small handful of raw nuts and seeds in your diet daily, especially walnuts, which are good sources of PEOs.
It is important to have the proper ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 in the diet and to let the body make them through using PEOs. We know that Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation, and most omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation which, from the outside looking in, isn’t good. However, there MUST be a proper balance between an inflammatory ‘attack’ response and the anti-inflammatory ‘clean-up’. Everything in life is about balance!
Prof. Brian Peskin is a world-leading scientist specializing in parent EFAs — termed PEOs — and their direct relationship to both cancer and cardiovascular disease. He currently spends time advancing the scientific understanding of the role of essential fatty acids in the body’s metabolic pathways, and has developed a means for alleviating cancer’s prime cause, as postulated by Nobel Prize-winner Otto Warburg, M.D., Ph.D., by increasing cellular oxygenation (The Hidden Story of Cancer, www.pinnacle-press.com). From an immune standpoint, there is a fundamental cancer / heart disease connection, whereby the same physiologic solution helps solve both conditions.
Dr. Peskin’s protocol, termed “the Peskin Protocol” will lead to a new understanding of how to better care for patients with both cancer and heart disease. The basis for Peskin’s current work, grounded in physiology — can be found in his seminal work and peer-reviewed medical journal articles. Clinical physicians throughout the world have validated Prof. Peskin’s EFA recommendations. In the most exciting development to date, Dr. Peskin’s theoretical conclusions were recently and completely validated in a physiological experiment by precise instrumentation capable of measuring arterial compliance. This experiment (IOWA experiment) provided the first conclusive clinical proof and validation of Prof. Peskin’s theory. Peskin pharmaceuticals have a patent pending on the medicament that embodies this development.
What is a Parent Essential Oil (PEO)?
There are really only two (2) essential fatty acids, LA (parent omega-6) and ALA (parent omega-3). They MUST come from food. To work properly, they CANNOT be heated, chemically processed, and MUST be organically raised to guarantee full physiologic functionality.
The typical American diet tends to contain 15 – 30 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids – and they are all adulterated! A 1:1 ratio of parent omega-3 : parent omega-6 would be perfect but not very practical if you think you are getting from your current food sources.
The Mediterranean-type diets have a healthier balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. I prefer even a more-strict Paleo-type diet for most people, eliminating grains, ‘bad’ carbohydrates, grain-fed meats, and obtaining most of your nutrition from your vegetables, juicing, and stone fruits. Many studies have shown that people who follow this diet are less likely to develop heart disease and have a much greater chance of surviving cancer.
People who follow an Anti-inflammatory diet tend to have higher HDL or “good” cholesterol levels, which help promote heart health. Inuit Eskimos, who get high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids from eating fatty fish (and even blubber), also tend to have increased HDL cholesterol and decreased triglycerides (fats in the blood). Yes, they eat fat and are healthier, have less fat in their blood and liver, and have less cancer! Finally, walnuts (which are rich in alpha linolenic acid or ANA, which converts to omega-3’s in the body) have been reported to lower total cholesterol and triglycerides in people with high cholesterol levels.
Most clinical studies examining parent omega-3: parent omega-6 fatty acid supplements for autoimmune disorders have focused on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the joints. A number of small studies have found that it helps reduce symptoms of RA, including joint pain and morning stiffness by reducing the acute inflammation.
Eating foods rich in PEOs seems to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer according to research and observance. For example, Eskimos, who tend to have a high fat diet as described above, but end up eating high amounts of PEOs, have a low rate of colorectal cancer. Animal studies and laboratory studies have found that omega-3 fatty acids prevent worsening of colon cancer as well. Preliminary studies suggest that taking PEOs daily may help slow the progression of colon cancer in people with early stages of the disease. Although not all experts agree, women who eat foods rich in PEOs over many years may be less likely to develop breast cancer.
Population based studies of groups of men suggest that a ‘good’ fat diet including PEOs help prevent the development of prostate cancer. The biggest thing to remember about good oils and cancer is the anti-inflammatory benefits. Remember, rapidly reproducing cells (cancer) give off a large amount of acidic waste that form an inflammatory ‘slime’ layer around the growing mass that protects it and prevents your immune system from killing it. Anything one can do to decrease this ‘slime’ layer will have benefits in allowing your body to kill the cancer cells.
PEOs and Cancer
The his book, “The Hidden Story of Cancer”, Dr. Peskin details the molecular biochemistry of why cancer develops and shows that no ‘genetic cause’ will ever be found to the majority of cancers. Remember that cancer is not a foreign invader, but is rather a primitive defense mechanism for survival in a very unhealthy environment. Medical research understood that cancer comes from within our own bodies, but they viewed our bodies’ cells as being somehow genetically programmed to “turn on themselves.” “This is where they make their mistake: The body is not turning on itself; instead, it is struggling to survive in the only way it can,” write Peskin. Cancer cells survive by making energy using fermentation.
Most cancers are not and have never been genetic in origin. What is correct is that the cancerous tissue is surrounded by unhealthy, oxygen-deprived tissue that has allowed the uncontrolled growth to take place. However, it gets worse. Many tissues are oxygen deprived along with the cancerous ones – it is NOT a local problem, it is a systemic problem. Homer Macapintac, M.D., chair and professor of nuclear medicine at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center for stating this truth: “Breast cancer is not a local problem. It is a systemic [whole body] disease.”
One MAJOR reason that our tissue becomes oxygen deficient and more acidic is simple: by eating adulterated oils and fats from the food processing industry and from your supermarket’s cooking oil section! These adulterated oils have a long shelf-life but have lost their oxygenation ability. They started out containing the functional, vitally needed oxygen-transferring PEOs (Parent Essential Oils), but they were ruined by processing and refining. Your body can’t make them on its own; they MUST come from food. We are giving ourselves cancer by eating common, everyday processed foods! Transfats are only the “tip of the iceberg” of the methods used by food processors to obtain long shelf-life and ruin the oxygenation capability of fats. PEOs work like tiny “magnets” drawing oxygen into all cells, tissues, and vital organs.
Dietary Sources:
Plant and nut oils are the primary dietary source of PEOs. ALA is found in flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, canola (rapeseed) oil, soybeans, soybean oil (BUT do NOT take canola oil or soy products with cancer!!), pumpkin seeds, pumpkin seed oil, purslane, perilla seed oil, walnuts, and walnut oil.
Taking a supplement is really necessary unless you eat a perfect diet. I use ONLY Dr. Peskin’s Protocol now (I was under the same mis-understanding as most other nutritionists regarding fish oil) and ONLY recommend Life System International’s product. Life Systems International Parent Essential Oils (PEOS) are organically produced, cold-pressed seed oils containing “parent” omega 6 and “parent” omega 3. They are infinitely better than fish oil supplements. Fish oils are not as pure or as effective as organic, wildcrafted seed oils and can even be harmful. These PEOS are produced to very specific, high scientific standards. You may order you own PEO supplements at Life Systems International’s website.
I have absolutely NO financial ties to this company!
NOTE: All of the above statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Dr. Conners graduated with his doctorate from Northwestern Health Sciences University in 1986. He holds AMA Fellowships in Regenerative & Functional Medicine and Integrative Cancer Therapy.
He is the author of numerous books including, Stop Fighting Cancer and Start Treating the Cause, Cancer Can’t Kill You if You’re Already Dead, Help, My Body is Killing Me, Chronic Lyme, 3 Phases of Lyme, 23 Steps to Freedom, and many more you can download for FREE on our books page.
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