Omega-3 fatty acids
More than 90% of Americans are deficient in Omega-3 fatty acids, which are an essential fat the body must get from food or in supplement form. Omega-3s are very sensitive and are easily destroyed by exposure to oxygen, heat and light. To be sure you are getting your daily dose; take a fish oil supplement or a tablespoonful of cod liver oil or 2 ounces of ground flax seeds.. It is important to note that results from a study of 47,000 men published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition July 2004 80(1);204-216 found the ALA (a type of omega-3 fatty acids found in flax seeds and other plants) stimulate the growth of prostate tumors in men. This does not mean that men should not consume ALA at all but it should not be used as a replacement for fish oil supplements. Scientists also found that fish oils (EPA and DHA) could reduce the risk of total and advanced prostate cancer. Now it is very clear that only a very small percentage of the omega-3 (ALA) in flax is converted to EPA and DHA. It is actually EPA and DHA that do the heavy lifting for cancer prevention, not ALA.
