03/02/05
Ken Baker column
Port Charlotte Herald
Omega 3 Is Good For Many Chronic Conditions
03/02/05
Ken Baker column
Port Charlotte Herald
Doctor's ethical code requires that they have the patient's "informed consent" before treatment. How often is the consent "informed"? Almost never.
"Informed" means what? The American Medical Association says we should be told the diagnosis, the nature and the purpose of treatment, along with its risks and benefits. Similar risk-benefit information must also be provided for other, alternative treatments. Such disclosure almost never happens if one of the alternatives is a science-based, nutritional therapy.
Why aren't patients told about the benefits of nutrition? Often, it is because the doctors do not know. The most common excuse is that such is not within the "standard of care."
Who decides what qualifies as "standard of care"? You guessed it, orthodox physicians and their professional associations. They are guided by pharmaceutical companies, working through a vast, supporting retinue, bonded through equally vast wealth.
A proposal to the Florida State Legislature last year to create a qualified licensing and review board to fairly and objectively evaluate science-based nutritional and other alternative therapies was successfully opposed by the Florida Medical Association.
What's a person to do? Many Floridians go to other states. There are a few brave MDs in Florida. Because of an atmosphere of intimidation, however, many are sometimes unwilling to administer effective, alternative treatments. Most Floridians are left with only one choice.
Doctor Yourself.
It is a lot of work, but millions do it, though with varying degrees of success. In comparison to prescription drugs, nutrients are almost risk-free. The key word is "almost." To be self-informed, significant learning is required to avoid adverse effects and maximize effectiveness.
By way of illustration, consider the essential-fatty-acid, Omega 3. Why is it "essential"? Because our body doesn't make it. It must come from food or supplements. Omega 3 may very well have replaced folic acid as the single most widespread nutritional deficiency in the United States.
There is substantial science to support the efficacy of Omega 3 in the treatment of certain aspects of heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis and, administered in conjunction with niacinamide and glucosamine sulfate, osteoarthritis. There is also good science, almost as strong, that it may be effective in treating ADHD, bipolar disorder, depression, diabetic neuropathy, psoriasis, Raynaud's phenomenon, schizophrenia and more than another half-dozen conditions, especially those aggravated by inflammation.
Will it provide some relief for every person for each of these conditions? No. But neither do prescription drugs. When treating depression, for example, orthodox physicians often try one prescription anti-depressant after another. The "science" is not very scientific.
The best source of Omega 3 is fatty cold-water fish, such as salmon, cod and tuna. The risk with fish, depending on the source, is their levels of mercury or other toxins from polluted oceans, lakes or streams. One recent study concluded that the safer course was to rely on properly processed fish oil or other omega 3 supplements.
Omega 3 should always be taken with a fat-soluble, anti-oxidant, such as vitamin E (mixed tocopherals) or alpha lipoic acid. Why? Because Omega 3 has a tendency to oxidize quickly, thus creating free radicals. In addition, with the fish oil, the anti-oxidants will suppress the occasional fish burp.
One such supplement is cod liver oil. It, however, also contains vitamins A and D. Both are fat-soluble. That means if they are not used right away, they accumulate in our fat cells. Too much accumulation can have adverse effects. Once we have reached the maximum daily permissible dose, if we need more Omega 3, we can switch to other fish oils or capsules.
How much Omega 3 do we need? It depends in part on how much Omega 6 we consume. Omega 3 is anti-inflammatory. Omega 6 is pro-inflammatory. Inflammation is a contributor for many diseases, including arthritis and the very significant heart disease marker C-reactive protein.
Reducing Omega 6 may be almost as important as increasing Omega 3. For thousands of years, the ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 was 1:1 or at most 1:2. Ten thousand years ago, many of today's chronic diseases were virtually unknown. With the vast expansion of processed foods, including, hydrogenated oils, margarine and vegetable oils, all high-Omega 6 foods, the ratio has jumped to the 1:10 to 1-40 range. Chronic disease is rampant and accelerating.
Maybe its time to ask your doctor if Omega 3 is right for you. If he says "yes," follow up with "Tell me about it?"
Presumably, s/he will know whether you are taking any anticoagulants such as coumadin.
Author and lawyer, Ken Baker is currently writing a book on 20th-century psychiatry.
E-mail Ken Baker at:
kenbaker@andso.com.
By KEN BAKER
AussieGuy (Loves fish)
