Fish Oil & Cancer
Without a doubt, Cancer has been a serious medical issue since the dawn of time. Hippocrates had described several forms of cancer as early as 400 BC. The bad news is, the current methods of treatment can be as dangerous as the disease. The good news is that medical treatment of cancer has come a long way. Better news is that the medical community is accepting alternative ways to prevent and treat cancer, which is a huge relief considering the side effects traditional treatments can cause.
Fish oil cancer benefits were discovered by comparing the diets of Eskimos throughout Alaska and 
Greenland. The Eskimo diet is high in fish fats and low in animal and vegetable fats. The population also had significantly lower incidence of cancer and heart disease.
What is the difference in fats?
Saturated fatty acids, which are found in animal-based fats, can lead to heart disease. Polyunsaturated fatty acids which are found in vegetable oils such as corn oil, etc. which contain an Omega-6 amino acid can lower cholesterol. Fish oil contains Omega-3 fatty acids. In fact, fish oil contains two beneficial fatty acids. EPA which is Eicosapentaenoic acid, DHA which is Docasahexaenoic acid are both found in fish oil. Omega-3 fatty acids have a potential anticancer link with breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer.
Studies suggest that Omega-3 fatty acids help to reduce the risk of breast cancer, promote the shrinkage of prostate tumors and help with inflammation. Polyunsaturated Omega-6 amino acids can increase tumor growth. This is an important distinction between Omega-3 amino acids and Omega-6. Studies using immune-deficient mice that were implanted with human breast cancer cells found that a diet high in fish oil significantly reduced metastasis. Another study done on around 50,000 men found that intake of fish had a direct linkage to reduced risk of prostrate cancer.
Animal fats tend to increase the risk of heart disease and Omega-6 amino fatty acids can cause tumors to grow, but Omega-3 amino fatty acids are reported to do neither, in fact, they are reported to lower risk of certain kinds of cancer, shrink certain kinds of tumors, and studies have shown that fish oil can reduce depression too.
A holistic approach
Cancer is an illness that affects the body, mind and soul. Alternative thinking suggests that treating the body, mind, and soul, should dramatically improve the survival rates of cancer patients. Modern medicine has long believed that the will to live can be stimulated through positive thinking. So why not consider the other benefits of cancer treatments? Fish oil is not only a benefit to treating cancer, it also has the benefit of helping to prevent cancer.
Diets that are rich in fish oil can help to lower risk and prevent cancer. This was proven through the study of the Eskimo diet and the reduced frequency of cancer among the Inuit people. If consideration is paid to the emotional gauntlet that people who have cancer go through, then it becomes easier to understand how a product like fish oil can help to mend the spirit. Fish oil has been clinically proven to help reduce depression. Consideration of fish oil as a daily tonic that helps cancer patients overcome depression makes sense.
However, it is always wise to discuss adding new medications with a doctor or pharmacist. Even herbal remedies and over-the-counter drugs and supplements should be discussed before adding them to a medication regiment.
Lastly, not all fish oil supplements are the same. Large oily fish and farm raised fish can contain high levels of mercury and other heavy metals which pose a health risk. Which is why it’s important to consider the purity of supplement before ingesting them. All the Omega 3 fish oil cancer benefits will come to naught if the right supplement is not chosen. Look for a pure supplement, sourced from fish caught in the wild. This will provide you the best possible Omega-3 and the associated benefits in a risk free manner.
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