Hi Everyone, it's crumbelina again! This time with a new subject regarding fish oil. My husband has pretty bad allergies and asthma, and every year during the change of seasons he starts to feel real very run down and has an asthma attack almost everytime he sneezes. His mood changes entirely, and he becomes totally miserable. It is like he has no control over his mood and finds himself wondering why he's so down. I on the other hand can spot it coming from a mile away, since it has been a pattern I have seen every season for the last 10 years (and his mom told me the 23 years before that have been the same!) :shock: Still, when I see him struggling to breathe my heart goes out to him :cry: and I am wondering if increasing his fish oil may help him through this difficult period? He takes 2 teaspoons daily, yet it is possible he may need more like two tablespoons. Should we just bump up the dose rather quickly or more gradually? Do you think that if he did need such a big increase that the improvement would be seen right away? Any help would be appreciated! crumbelina

Controlling insulin levels and ensuring an adequate omega-3 intake will definitely help. An overproduction of leukotrienes contribute to the inflammation and bronchial constriction associated with asthma and allergies. In fact, the newest pharmaceuticals such as Singulair, are "anti-leukotrienes", whose mode of action is to either inhibit the lipoxygenase enzyme that converts arachidonic acid to the leukotrienes (an enzyme inhibitor), or inhibit the leukotriene receptor site (a receptor antagonist). Of course, a far better way to decrease leukotriene production is reduce the amount of substrate (arachidonic acid) in the first place which would naturally reduce the enzyme activity and overproduction of leukotrienes. This is accomplished by a) reducing insulin levels which promote excess AA production, and b) increasing omega-3 intake which inhibits AA production and results in a more favorable AA/EPA phospholipid profile. Increase the dosage slowly, and if he's not already on the Zone Diet, at least encourage low-starch eating.

Hi Scott! Thanks for the information. My husband follows the zone diet (actually better than I do!) and also takes more fish oil than I do and also exercises way more than I do (biking, running, and teaching/playing tennis). He takes 2 teaspoons daily of FO whereas I only take 5 capsules. I just recently got the results back on my AA/EPA test (1.94) and I can't imagine that his ratio would be any higher than mine. Yet, I have read where doctor Sears states that asthma and allergies are an inflammatory condition. Meaning my husband still needs to reduce inflammation? My only question with this is Dr. Sears also states that acne is an inflammatory condition (which I am constantly dealing with) but my ratio falls into the optimal range of 1.5-3. So if I had used this as a guide I would have increased my fish oil dose which may have brought me under 1.5. I guess he should probably find out his ratio, but if it does come back in the optimal range then what next? Do you think that a person with asthma and allergies has a harder time getting their ratio down and keeping it there? Just trying to figure this all out. Ps. He tries not to use any allergy medicine or inhalers (which contain steroids), we would prefer to control this with fish oil. Thanks, crumbelina :P

<< I just recently got the results back on my AA/EPA test (1.94) and I can't imagine that his ratio would be any higher than mine. >> Even though he Zones better and takes more fish oil, it still may be higher. <<My only question with this is Dr. Sears also states that acne is an inflammatory condition (which I am constantly dealing with) but my ratio falls into the optimal range of 1.5-3. So if I had used this as a guide I would have increased my fish oil dose which may have brought me under 1.5.>> Well that is certainly interesting--I know that the better I Zone, my allergies go away, my skin clears up. Do you or your husband still have excess body fat to lose? <<but if it does come back in the optimal range then what next? Do you think that a person with asthma and allergies has a harder time getting their ratio down and keeping it there? >> Not exclusive to allergies and asthma. I do think some may be more prone to higher AA/EPA levels (ie, depending on maternal diet during development, whether or not breast-fed, etc.) and may require extra diligence in controlling the AA/EPA ratio. My wife doesn't really Zone, but she eats better than most. Her AA/EPA is a whopping 13.5 :shock: (can you feel the frustration in my typing?) :( << Just trying to figure this all out.>> Me too!

It really helps to hear others experiences when trying to figure this out. To answer your question, my fat percentage is 23-24%, and my husband is 13-14%. I am still trying to figure out a way to lose those stubborn few pounds just in the "budda belly" area! :roll: But so far no luck! I weigh 119lbs at 5'5" and really don't want to lose too much more so I am sort of stuck with the "belly" unless I drop my weight even further. :cry: Dr. Sears states that the belly is the hardest area to lose and I believe him! I think you have to do something extra special to get rid of that weight... :x Although, I really don't drink enough water which could be the cause of my last few lingering problems (slight acne and "budda belly"). I find it interesting that you said my husband can actually be eating better than I am and taking more fish oil than I am and exercising more, yet still have a higher ratio?? I could understand if maybe we had both just started and he began with a higher ratio, but after at least a full year of zoning and fish oil wouldn't he have lowered even a very high ratio? You mentioned that your wife's ratio is somewhat high, does she take fish oil and has she retested or was that her first test? Interestingly, the other NIGHT my husband took his 2 teaspoons of fish oil but then took his next 2 teaspoons the following day but in the AM, so within 12 hours he had taken 4 teaspoons and he felt great that day. His allergies didn't bother him, his mood changed, and his energy levels were extremely high, it wasn't until later that day that we though about the extra fish oil. Maybe it just so happen that the pollen was low, and he had a goodnights sleep, but we are going to try this again and see! Thanks for your help! crumbelina

Excess belly weight is related not only to excess insulin but also excess production of cortisol the "stress" hormone. Excess cortisol can make you put on belly fat in much the same way as excess insulin. You may have to look at lifestyle factors that cause you stress if your diet is right and you are exercising. Sleep also helps reduce cortisol levels and most people don't get enough good quality sleep. One of the primary causes of excess stress is negative emotions so developing methods of dealing with these can also be helpful. Kindest regards, Andrew Cavanagh

These are my notes on asthma. In my opinion, yes your husband should experiment with higher doses of fish oil. He should also look at improving hygiene with clean zone soap and facial dips to remove the load of potential triggers. I hope this helps. ASTHMA Eicosanoids and asthma. Asthma is characterized by inflammation and spasms of the bronchial passages. These spasms restrict the flow of air into and out of your lungs making breathing difficult. The inflammation which leads to the bronchial constriction is caused primarily by bad eicsoanoids called leukotrines. Also involved are bad eicosanoids called cytokines (like IL-4, IL-5 and IL-6) which cause an overactive immune response when you body is exposed to triggers like allergens, bacteria and viruses. Low levels of cyclic AMP (a secondary messenger inside your cells) also seem to be involved in the bronchial constriction of asthma. (Good eicosanoids increase the production of cyclic AMP). Drugs. The prescription drug Hydergine also helps relieve asthma increasing levels of cyclic AMP. Corticosteroids work by stopping the production of eicosanoids and leukotrine receptor antagonists help slow down the production of leukotrines. Natural methods. So increasing levels of good eicosanoids and decreasing levels of bad eicosanoids is essential to relieve the symptoms of asthma both by reducing the levels of leukotrines and cytokines (bad eicosanoids) and increasing the levels of cyclic AMP. The good eicosanoid PGE1 also helps your blood vessels relax increasing circulation. This can increase the blood flow to the capillaries of your lungs which would help them extract oxygen more efficiently. FISH OIL Fish oil can help your body produce more good eicosanoids and reduce the production of the bad eicosanoids like leukotrines and cytokines. As with most inflammatory diseases the dosage required of fish oil is quite high. 8-16 capsules a day of pharmaceutical grade fish oil is recommended. (2-4 teaspoons) The dose may need to be higher if symptoms persist. The dosage can usually be reduced once symptoms disappear. As an absoloute minimum sufferers of asthma should take 4 health food grade fish oil capsules every day. GLA Consider taking one 500mg capsule of evening primrose oil every week. The GLA in evening primrose oil can help in the production of good eicosanoids. VITAMIN C Take vitamin C in 4-6 daily doses (even more often if possible). Each dose should be 250mg to 1000mg. In times of particular stress or at the onset of respiratory illness titrate to bowel tolerance. Vitamin C has many effects. Probably most important it can act as a natural antihistamine reducing allergic response. VITAMIN E Take 500iu to 2000iu of vitamin E daily. Vitamin E could help by inhibiting your body’s production of leukotrines. DIET The most common cause of excess inflammation is a poor diet producing excess insulin and cortisol which leads to the excess production of bad eicosanoids which cause inflammation. Follow the basic diet outlined in any of my books to help your body produce more good eicosanoids and less bad eicosanoids. Also look for foods and additives in foods that can trigger asthma attacks. Common triggers are sulfites, tartrazine (yellow dye #5), sodium benzoate, natural salicylates, high salt intake could be linked, caffiene, chlorinated tap water and natural salicylates. Also consider the usual allergy suspects milk, wheat products and soy products. Avoid saturated fats. A high intake of saturated fats (found in animal fats) has been linked to asthma. Good fats (almonds, avacados, fish oil) reduce the risk. So choose low fat sources of protein (turkey breast, chicken breast, fish, tofu, whey protein isolate). ADVANCED HYGIENE Asthma attacks are also linked to pollution and other environmental triggers including smoke, animal fur, chemicals, pollens and dust mites. Since contact from the fingernails to the mucus membranes of the eyes and nose is a primary method of tranmitting allergens, bacteria and viruses effective cleaning of the fingernails (clean zone soap from www.advancedhygieneproducts.com ) should help reduce this form of self innoculation. Don’t pick your nose. Picking your nose can cause damage which leads to an immune response and a subsequent asthma attack. Facial dips can also help wash away the triggers of an asthma attack reducing the chance of an attack and the chance of secondary infections, colds and viruses which can increase the severity of the condition. Details of perfoming facial dips are in both my books available for free download from www.geocities.com/glorioushealth Consider adding a teaspoon of sea minerals to the facial dip solution to provide isotonic magnesium. (Although it may not have much effect isotonic magnesium added to other inhaled formulas helped relieve the symptoms of asthma in one study. And sea minerals are cheap). Stop Smoking Smoking reduces lung capacity which can make it more difficult to breathe when you have an attack. Cigarette smoke could also bring on an attack. Cigarette smoke also retards the healthy functiong of cillia (hairs in your nose) which help remove allergens etc from your nasal passageways. REDUCE STRESS (EMOTIONAL HEALTH) Reducing stress helps relieve the symptoms of asthma almost certainly by reducing the levels of cortisol the stress hormone. Excess cortisol leads to the overproduction of bad eicosanoids. Learn a relaxation response to stressful situations. Learn methods for relieving negative emotions (EFT works well). Consider meditation. EXERCISE Exercise also helps lower your body’s levels of cortisol. Exercise can improve lung capacity making breathing easier. Asthmatics should be particulary cautious to build up to an exercise program slowly and never over exercise which can lead to an attack. SLEEP Try to improve the quality and quantity of sleep which is often compromised in asthma sufferers. Melatonin Higher levels of naturally produced melatonin have been linked to asthma attacks at night. There are no studies that show supplemental melatonin is linked to increased asthma attacks but it would be wise to show caution with supplemental melatonin to improve sleep if you suffer from asthma attacks at night. Keep in mind that melatonin acts as an antioxidant in particular preventing the breakdown of fats. Fats like linoleic acid, GLA and DGLA can be made into both good or bad eicosanoids. If you are producing excess insulin and/or cortisol chances are that many of these fats will be turned into bad eicosanoids. If your insulin and cortisol are under control you’ll probably turn these fats into more good eicosanoids than bad. LYPRINOL Lyprinol comes from New Zealand green lipped mussel powder. It contains omega 3 fatty acids like fish oil but is particularly high in eicosatetraenoic acids (ETAs). Very preliminary studies suggest that these ETAs may be particularly effective in reducing levels of inflammation particularly in cases of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. One study claims that lyprinol is 250 times more potent than salmon oil. The research is still very thin but seems promising. BOSWELLIA SERATTA The herb boswellia seratta can slow down your body’s production of leukotrines by inhibiting the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme involved in its production. Clinical trials of boswellia showed promise in treating bronchial asthma. GINGKO BILOBA Gingko biloba is a herb which could block the action of platelet-activating factor (PAF) which is involved in producing the symptoms of asthma. Gingko biloba can also help increase circulation. LYCOPENE Lycopene found in tomatoes and tomato paste can help reduce asthma caused by exercise. Tomatoes are an excellent source of low glycemic carbohydrates. If you supplement with lycopene 30mg a day is suggested. SELENIUM The trace mineral selenium could help protect against the free radical damage of asthma and may help reduce symptoms. Three brazil nuts a day or 200mcg of selenium should be enough. APPLES One study showed combining apples and selenium supplementation helped reduce the symptoms of asthma. Apples are a good source of carbohydrates. QUERCETIN Quercetin is a flavinoid found in citrus fruits which inhibits an enzme called lipoxygenase. Lipoxygenase contributes to problems with asthma. So increase your consumption of citrus fruits as a source of carbohydrates in your diet. MAGNESIUM The mineral magnesium may help improve lung function and decrease bronchial reactivity. This could help prevent spasms of the bronchial passages. 300mg to 400mg of magnesium a day is recommended. If you add sea minerals in your drinking water you’ll achieve this dose quite easily. CALCIUM Loss of bone density has been associated with asthma so it’s also worth supplementing with 1000mg or so daily of calcium. BETAINE HCL AND PANCREATIC ENZYMES One study showed that 80% of children with asthma had hypochlorydia (low stomach acid). Supplementation with betaine HCL and pancreatic enzymes can help restore normal digestion in cases of hypochlorydia. PROBIOTICS Taking an acidophilus/bifidus capsule daily between meals may also help in the proper digestion of nutrients. This is highly recommended if you’ve taken a course of antibiotics which can destroy your intestinal flora. COENZYME Q10 One study found that coenzyme Q10 levels were significantly lower in the plasma and blood of asthma sufferers. If you choose to take coenzyme Q10 100mg a day is suggested. LINKS: An example of how EFT (a method for relieving negative emotions) can help with asthma attacks. This whole method seems bizaare but the rapid positive results are commonplace. http://www.emofree.com/cases/asthma...athing.htm I hope you find at least some of this information useful. Kindest regards, Andrew Cavanagh

Wow!! Thanks for all the information. My husband decided to get the AA/EPA test done and we are anxiously awaiting his results which are due in today or tomorrow. Should be very interesting. Again thanks for all the useful information.... crumbelina

You're very welcome. Andrew Cavanagh