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Omega-3 fatty acids enhance the immune response in people with solid tumors by increasing T-lymphocyte production. Flaxseed oil, when taken with sulfur-rich proteins, such as yogurt or cottage cheese, forms a lipo-protein combination with a highly active electron system, which enables the free fatty acids in the flaxseed oil to penetrate the rumor-cell membrane and exert its cytotoxic activity. Meanwhile, the body's vital functions are also activated and enhanced by feeding healthy cells with these water-soluble electron-rich fatty acids.
Because of the delicate nature of ALA, flaxseed oil should only be used raw, never for cooking, and always kept refrigerated, away from heat or light. Flaxseed oil is always dated; check the label for date of pressing and date of freshness expiration. Recommended brands of flaxseed oil are Flora, Arrowhead Mills, Spectrum, and Barrens.
In addition to flaxseed oil, I also highly recommend using freshly ground flaxseeds (or flaxseeds that have been soaked in liquid overnight) and adding them to cereals or drinks. The lignans and/or their precursors, present in the whole seed, have demonstrated a broad spectrum of biological activities including antitumor, antimitotic, and antiviral activities. Some of the lignans found in flaxseeds that are being investigated as potential anticancer agents are gallic acid, ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, and coumaric acid.
Choose unrefined nut or seed (such as sunflower and sesame) oils and extra virgin olive oil for your salads. An oil blend that I recommend as a salad oil (along with extra virgin olive oil) is called Udo's Choice, formulated by Udo Erasmus and made by Flora. It is available in most health food stores. Flaxseed oil and olive oil can also be combined in a basic salad dressing mix. (See chapter 14.)
In a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, twelve healthy volunteers who were not at risk for colon cancer took either fish oil or corn oil supplements for four weeks. After a four-week rest, they switched to the opposite supplementation. There was a significant decrease in rectal cell proliferation after fish oil supplementation, compared to the corn oil supplementation. There was a reduction in the amount of rumor-promoting prostaglandin E2 released into the incubation medium from the biopsy specimens taken after fish oil supplementation, compared to those taken after corn oil supplementation. There was also a reduction in mucosal ornithine decarboxylase activity

 
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