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The Most Powerful (and Damaging) Omega-6 Fat: Arachidonic Acid
Arachidonic acid (AA) is the epicenter of all that is problematic with excess omega-6 fat in our diets and ultimately with our health. AA is the fatty acid that creates the compounds that cause inflammation and blood clotting, among many other problems. In fact, many medications (including aspirin, Motrin, naproxen, Depakote, and Singulair) work by blocking the effects of AA. Researchers have just started to scratch the surface of AA’s impact, but here are some striking findings:
• Turned-on cancer genes. Scientists from San Francisco discovered that AA turns on a dozen genes involved in cancer. When they added AA to human prostate tumor cells, the cells grew twice as fast. Notably, over the past 60 years, the rate of prostate cancer in the United States has increased steadily along with the dietary intake of omega-6 fats.
• More heart attacks. In separate studies from different regions of the world, researchers found that people with more AA in their body had a higher risk of getting a heart attack.
• Mood disorders. Researchers recently fi gured out why many mood-stabilizing medications are effective for treating mood disorders. They work by lowering the level of arachidonic acid in the brain.
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