First, I want to start off by saying that Dr. Sears is a Genius. He seems RIGHT ON about lowering inflammation for long-term health. I supplement fish oils, flax and olive oil regularly, and will for the rest of my life. That said, I see a lot of complaints here about poor athletic performance and this diet. OK, here is the tough part to spit out here. The reason is LOW ARACHIDONIC ACID levels! AA is the key anabolic component of red meat, as it controlls local inflammation and the anabolic response to training. Bodybuilders routinely eat a lot of red meat because they don't grow as well on chicken/fish diets (given equal protein). Some bodybuilders are now even supplementing high level of arachidonic acid (1 gram/daily) for short burst anabolic phases (50 days), in which they gain very good amounts of muscle. Many guys are reporting gains of over 10lbs of lean mass, combined with signifcant fat loss. So my intent is to supplement high AA for 50 days when I want to build, followed by 50-100 days of high omega 3 intake. There have been several studies posted where short-term increases in AA have been deemed safe by doctors. Mind you this is not long term. But for rapid growth, nothing dietary seems tol beat taking in more AA! OK. Raincoat is on. Throw all the tomatos you want! :)

[quote:bb8f4c783c="stillgrowin"] That said, I see a lot of complaints here about poor athletic performance and this diet. OK, here is the tough part to spit out here. The reason is LOW ARACHIDONIC ACID levels! AA is the key anabolic component of red meat, as it controlls local inflammation and the anabolic response to training. Bodybuilders routinely eat a lot of red meat because they don't grow as well on chicken/fish diets (given equal protein). Some bodybuilders are now even supplementing high level of arachidonic acid [/quote:bb8f4c783c] I am not sure what complaints you are seeing with respect to athletic performance, but your comments as they pertain specifically to bodybuilding are interesting. Certainly, arachidonic acid is a requirement for growth and development, but what may useful for maximizing or enhancing muscle hypertrophy is not necessarily best from a health perspective. Arachidonic acid promotes angiogenesis--needed for growth and development--but also a requirement for uncontrolled growth--cancer (1)(2)(3)(4). I will admit, however, that a short-term intake of AA followed by high doses of omega-3 which would in theory promote resolution of the pro-inflammatory growth is an interesting strategy. (1) Nie D, et al [i:bb8f4c783c]"Eicosanoid regulation of angiogenesis in tumors" [/i:bb8f4c783c]Semin Thromb Hemost 2004 Feb;30(1):119-25 (2) Jakcson JR, et al [i:bb8f4c783c]"The role of platelet activating factor and other lipid mediators in inflammatory angiogenesis" [/i:bb8f4c783c]Biobhim Biophys Acta 1998 May 20;1392(1):145-52 (3) Marks F, et al [i:bb8f4c783c]"A causal relationship between unscheduled eicosanoid signaling and tumor development: cancer chemoprevention by inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism" [/i:bb8f4c783c] Toxicology 2000 Nov 16;153(1-3):11-26 (4) Eschwege P, et al [i:bb8f4c783c]"Arachidonic acid and prostaglandins, inflammation and oncology"[/i:bb8f4c783c] Presse Med 2001 Mar 17;30(10):508-10

I see your point, but at the same time I am a young healthy bodybuilder. Gaining is hard for me. I have used steroids in the past, and didn't find them to be as scary as people claim. Still, the data on manipulating AA seems FAR SAFER than steroids do. Here are some of the posts I was referring to, where doctors didn't report any health concerns with short term use like this: In a series of studies humans ingested a diet containing 1.7g of AA per day for 50 days, and were extensively studied (21,40-44). Dietary AA at these levels nearly doubled the AA level in the plasma PL and CE. AA mainly replaced LA, which was reduced by 20%... No harmful effects could be proven during these studies, although an increase in eicosanoids was observed... - Sources of Eicosanoid precursor fatty acid pools in tissues. Zhou, Nilsson. Dept of Medicine, University Hostipal of Lund Sweden. J Lipid Research 42 (2001) 152142. *** Lipids. 1997 Apr;32(4):449-56. Effects of dietary arachidonic acid on human immune response. Kelley DS, Taylor PC, Nelson GJ, Schmidt PC, Mackey BE, Kyle D. USDA, ARS, Western Human Nutrition Research Center, Presidio of San Francisco, California 94129, USA. Arachidonic acid (AA) is a precursor of eicosanoids, which influence human health and the in vitro activity of immune cells. We therefore examined the effects of dietary AA on the immune response (IR) of 10 healthy men living at our metabolic suite for 130 d. All subjects were fed a basal diet containing 27 energy percentage (en%) fat, 57 en% carbohydrate, and 16 en% protein (AA, 200 mg/d) for the first and last 15 d of the study. Additional AA (1.5 g/d) was incorporated into the diet of six men from day 16 to 65 while the remaining four subjects continued to eat the basal diet. The diets of the two groups were crossed-over from day 66 to 115. In vitro indexes of IR were examined using the blood samples drawn on days 15, 58, 65, 108, 115, and 127. The subjects were immunized with the measles/mumps/rubella vaccine on day 35 and with the influenza vaccine on day 92. Dietary AA did not influence many indexes of IR (peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation in response to phytohemagglutinin, Concanavalin A, pokeweed, measles/mumps/rubella, and influenza vaccines prior to immunization, and natural killer cell activity). The post-immunization proliferation in response to influenza vaccine was about fourfold higher in the group receiving high-AA diet compared to the group receiving low-AA diet (P = 0.02). Analysis of variance of the data pooled from both groups showed that the number of circulating granulocytes was significantly (P = 0.03) more when the subjects were fed the high-AA diet than when they were fed the low-AA diet. The small increases in granulocyte count and the in vitro proliferation in response to influenza vaccine caused by dietary AA may not be of clinical significance. [b:06121f9d0e]However, the lack of any adverse effects on IR indicates that supplementation with AA may be done safely when needed for other health reasons.[/b:06121f9d0e] *** Lipids. 1997 Apr;32(4):427-33. The effect of dietary arachidonic acid on plasma lipoprotein distributions, apoproteins, blood lipid levels, and tissue fatty acid composition in humans. Nelson GJ, Schmidt PC, Bartolini G, Kelley DS, Phinney SD, Kyle D, Silbermann S, Schaefer EJ. Western Human Nutrition Research Center, ARS, USDA, San Francisco, California 94129, USA. Normal healthy male volunteers (n = 10) were fed diets (high-AA) containing 1.7 g/d of arachidonic acid (AA) for 50 d. The control (low-AA) diet contained 210 mg/d of AA. Dietary AA had no statistically significant effect on the blood cholesterol levels, lipoprotein distribution, or apoprotein levels. Adipose tissue fatty acid composition was not influenced by AA feeding. The plasma total fatty acid composition was markedly enriched in AA after 50 d (P < 0.005). The fatty acid composition of plasma lipid fractions, cholesterol esters, triglycerides, free fatty acids, and phospholipid (PL) showed marked differences in the degree of enrichment in AA. The PL plasma fraction from the subjects consuming the low-AA diet contained 10.3% AA while the subjects who consumed the high-AA diet had plasma PL fractions containing 19.0% AA. The level of 22:4n-6 also was different (0.67 to 1.06%) in the plasma PL fraction after 50 d of AA feeding. After consuming the high-AA diet, the total red blood cell fatty acid composition was significantly enriched in AA which mainly replaced linoleic acid. These results indicate that dietary AA is incorporated into tissue lipids, but selectively into different tissues and lipid classes. [b:06121f9d0e]Perhaps more importantly, the results demonstrate that dietary AA does not alter blood lipids or lipoprotein levels or have obvious adverse health effects at this level and duration of feeding.[/b:06121f9d0e] *** Clin Sci (Lond). 2004 Jan;106(1):27-34. Effects of dietary supplementation with arachidonic acid on platelet and renal function in patients with cirrhosis. Pantaleo P, Marra F, Vizzutti F, Spadoni S, Ciabattoni G, Galli C, La Villa G, Gentilini P, Laffi G. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 85, I-50134 Florence, Italy. Advanced cirrhosis is associated with reduced platelet function and altered renal function and sodium handling. Arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites contribute to platelet aggregation and to maintain the response to diuretics in advanced cirrhosis. In the present study, we tested the effects of a dietary supplementation for 8 weeks with a triacylglycerol (triglyceride) enriched in AA (ARASCO; 4 g/day) or oleic acid (OA) on plasma and membrane fatty acid composition, platelet aggregation and renal prostaglandin (PG) metabolism. At baseline, all patients had reduced platelet aggregation. Patients treated with AA showed a significant increase in the percentage of AA in plasma lipids and membrane phospholipids. These changes were associated with an increased platelet aggregation in response to collagen (from 55.83 +/- 20.63 to 67.67 +/- 14.44%; P<0.05). At baseline, all urinary AA metabolites, including PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1alpha, 8-epi-PGF2alpha and 11-dehydro-thromboxane B2, were elevated in cirrhotic patients when compared with a group of normal subjects. After furosemide treatment, urinary excretion of 11-dehydro-thromboxane B2 increased significantly. Supplementation with AA did not result in any significant change in urinary PG excretion either before or after diuretic administration. The results of the present study show that dietary supplementation with AA effectively increases the levels of this fatty acid in plasma and membrane phospholipids and improves platelet aggregation. These data suggest a possible novel approach to the treatment of the haemostatic defect observed in these patients. *** Dietary intake of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids and the risk of prostate cancer. Leitzmann MF, Stampfer MJ, Michaud DS, Augustsson K, Colditz GC, Willett WC, Giovannucci EL. Nutritional Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD BACKGROUND: Laboratory studies have shown that n-3 fatty acids inhibit and n-6 fatty acids stimulate prostate tumor growth, but whether the dietary intake of these fatty acids affects prostate cancer risk in humans remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: We prospectively evaluated the association between intakes of alpha-linolenic (ALA; 18:3n-3), eicosapentaenoic (EPA; 20:5n-3), docosahexaenoic (DHA; 22:6n-3), linoleic (LA; 18:2n-6), and arachidonic (AA; 20:4n-6) acids and prostate cancer risk. DESIGN: A cohort of 47 866 US men aged 40-75 y with no cancer history in 1986 was followed for 14 y. RESULTS: During follow-up, 2965 new cases of total prostate cancer were ascertained, 448 of which were advanced prostate cancer. ALA intake was unrelated to the risk of total prostate cancer. In contrast, the multivariate relative risks (RRs) of advanced prostate cancer from comparisons of extreme quintiles of ALA from nonanimal sources and ALA from meat and dairy sources were 2.02 (95% CI: 1.35, 3.03) and 1.53 (0.88, 2.66), respectively. EPA and DHA intakes were related to lower prostate cancer risk. The multivariate RRs of total and advanced prostate cancer from comparisons of extreme quintiles of the combination of EPA and DHA were 0.89 (0.77, 1.04) and 0.74 (0.49, 1.08), respectively. LA and AA intakes were unrelated to the risk of prostate cancer. The multivariate RR of advanced prostate cancer from a comparison of extreme quintiles of the ratio of LA to ALA was 0.62 (0.45, 0.86). CONCLUSIONS: Increased dietary intakes of ALA may increase the risk of advanced prostate cancer. In contrast, EPA and DHA intakes may reduce the risk of total and advanced prostate cancer. **** Dietary (n-6) PUFA and intestinal tumorigenesis. Whelan J, McEntee MF Department of Nutrition and the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, and mortality due to colorectal cancer is only surpassed by lung cancer. Epidemiological studies demonstrate that dietary polyunsaturated fats can have a profound effect on colorectal cancer risk. Experimental data indicate that modulation of cellular (n-6) PUFA metabolism can affect the progression of the disease. This paper discusses the role (n-6) PUFA play in promoting intestinal tumorigenesis and how dietary PUFA from different families interact to modify the neoplastic process. Dietary PUFA that attenuate arachidonic acid metabolism [such as (n-3) PUFA] have antineoplastic properties, whereas those that augment arachidonic acid metabolism, such as linoleic, gamma-linolenic, and arachidonic acids do not appear to enhance tumorigenesis when added to the Western diet but may diminish the beneficial effects of other dietary lipids. It is the relative contributions of the different dietary PUFA that may determine overall risk for and progression of the disease.

Again, I want to emphasise that this isn't a lifestyle choice. Low inflammation is still the overall lon-term goal. This is a brief vacation if you will, where I am trying to build a lot of muscle short term by taking in more arachidonic acid. After 50 days, the AA is dropped, dietary sources are minimized, and Omega 3 supplementation is initiated. So far, this practice seems VERY EFFECTIVE for building muscle.

[quote:866e604164="stillgrowin"] Do you really think AA would be a more dangerous way of building muscle than anabolic steroids? I can't see it..[/quote:866e604164] Of course not--you'll see that I edited my post prior to seeing your response. I find your approach interesting and would be interested to hear of your results.

[quote:8eece44170="Scott"][quote:8eece44170="stillgrowin"] Do you really think AA would be a more dangerous way of building muscle than anabolic steroids? I can't see it..[/quote:8eece44170] Of course not--you'll see that I edited my post prior to seeing your response. I find your approach interesting and would be intersted to hear of your results.[/quote:8eece44170] Hehe. I actually edited while you were editing, as I realized you were being quite open minded to the idea.. I guess I expected more resistance, given how AA is looked at in general.. I will post something more substantial (my experience) when I can.

[quote:279f4c61ab="stillgrowin"] I guess I expected more resistance, given how AA is looked at in general..[/quote:279f4c61ab] Did you know 0.5 oz of salmon oil contains 0.09g of Arachidonic Acid (AA)? One large egg contains 0.07g. Source: USDA data in http://www.403030forlife.com/ShowNu...B_No=04593 (This is my new website)

[quote:ce9ec73204="dran001"][quote:ce9ec73204="stillgrowin"] I guess I expected more resistance, given how AA is looked at in general..[/quote:ce9ec73204] Did you know 0.5 oz of salmon oil contains 0.09g of Arachidonic Acid (AA)? One large egg contains 0.07g. Source: USDA data in http://www.403030forlife.com/ShowNu...B_No=04593 (This is my new website)[/quote:ce9ec73204] Thanks for the link. Good information. Yes, I see what you are saying, but I think to reach 1,000mg per day of AA is difficult with food, unless you eat a LOT of steak and eggs (too much sat fat/cholesterol for me). Salmon is too Omega-3 heavy to really be used to increase AA levels, as it is competitive with AA. But is a great food at other times.

stillgrowin, I too am intrigued by the concept you have raised and I can also see the potential benefit. I appreciate very much the research results you posted. I am also curious enough to consider trying it myself, but I'd like to see more evidence for the muscle growth benefit you mention before I do. So I am quite interested in your own success with it as well as the experiences of others that you may be aware of. Thanks for posting the subject and passing along your thoughts.

[quote:faacdcb2fa="zonelifter"]stillgrowin, I too am intrigued by the concept you have raised and I can also see the potential benefit. I appreciate very much the research results you posted. I am also curious enough to consider trying it myself, but I'd like to see more evidence for the muscle growth benefit you mention before I do. So I am quite interested in your own success with it as well as the experiences of others that you may be aware of. Thanks for posting the subject and passing along your thoughts.[/quote:faacdcb2fa] No problem! In case you are interested, there is an article about it in Planet Muscle Magazine this month. Talks more about the results and what to expect. Oh, expect SORENESS, like you just started lifting weights again..

[quote:c11e609a0e="stillgrowin"] No problem! In case you are interested, there is an article about it in Planet Muscle Magazine this month. Talks more about the results and what to expect. Oh, expect SORENESS, like you just started lifting weights again..[/quote:c11e609a0e] Hi guys, I have a couple of questions. Since you will be trying this, it would be great if you got an AA/EPA measure before and possibly after as well. Obviously this costs money, so if you can even only do one, then maybe do one closer to the 50 day mark to see what your AA/EPA ratio is at that point... Also, how do you somewhat precisely compare the results to non-AA taking working out? Have you been working out consistantly right now. It seems to be so. Will you compare the past 50 days with diet and workout regimen remaining similar to the 50 days with higher AA? What is your workout regimen? If you do gain more muscle, does that mean that your workout progressive intensity (i.e. stimulus) has increased and therefore you will generate a higher muscle building response or will your progressive intensity remain somewhat the same as the non AA supplementing days but it is the actual muscle growth response in the body that simply will be higher? There are many variables at play here... As many of you already know, workout intensity is very accurately measurable and the following muscle growth also is. When you mention SORENESS, you mean compared to when you take take daily EPA? So this would be saying that when taking AA instead of EPA, muscle soreness, inflammation and possibly recovery time may be higher but muscle growth response would also be... This is definitely interesting..... Remains to be seen. Someone accurately corrected me in a previous post when I said taking daily EPA to 'minimize' inflammation and accelerate recovery. Inflammation is required for muscle growth. You don't want to 'minimize' inflammation, you want to control it to help recovery. However, this theory would be saying the contrary completely, meaning that for a period of time you want to increase inflammation to increase muscle growth... Again, interesting... Pat P.S. zonelifter, how have you been doing with your workouts and progress since we last spoke?

[quote:bc5ff26b49]Hehe. I actually edited while you were editing,[/quote:bc5ff26b49] :lol: A couple comments re the studies you posted. [quote:bc5ff26b49="stillgrowin"] Lipids. 1997 Apr;32(4):427-33. The effect of dietary arachidonic acid on plasma lipoprotein distributions, apoproteins, blood lipid levels, and tissue fatty acid composition in humans. Nelson GJ, Schmidt PC, Bartolini G, Kelley DS, Phinney SD, Kyle D, Silbermann S, Schaefer EJ. Western Human Nutrition Research Center, ARS, USDA, San Francisco, California 94129, USA. [b:bc5ff26b49]Perhaps more importantly, the results demonstrate that dietary AA does not alter blood lipids or lipoprotein levels or have obvious adverse health effects at this level and duration of feeding.[/b:bc5ff26b49][/quote:bc5ff26b49] It seems the authors were assessing health effects by what is currently accepted as healthy blood lipid/lipoproteins values. I will point out that assuming EPA is constant, the plasma AA/EPA ratio doubled. *** [quote:bc5ff26b49] Clin Sci (Lond). 2004 Jan;106(1):27-34. Effects of dietary supplementation with arachidonic acid on platelet and renal function in patients with cirrhosis. Pantaleo P, Marra F, Vizzutti F, Spadoni S, Ciabattoni G, Galli C, La Villa G, Gentilini P, Laffi G. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 85, I-50134 Florence, Italy. The results of the present study show that dietary supplementation with AA effectively increases the levels of this fatty acid in plasma and membrane phospholipids and improves platelet aggregation. These data suggest a possible novel approach to the treatment of the haemostatic defect observed in these patients. [/quote:bc5ff26b49] The patients (who sufferred from a lack of platelet aggregation) showed significant increases in plasma AA levels, and improvement in platelet aggregation. This is to be expected. But I would suspect that a majority of the population suffers from the opposite problem--too much platelet aggregation. What may be important is not so much a certain amount of AA but whether the eicosanoids produced from AA are balanced with the appropriate omega-3 fatty acids that reduce the hyperactivity of such AA-derived eicosanoids and promote the resolution of such inflammation. Interestingly, one of the AA-derived eicosanoids that promotes pain and is implicated in a number of cancers (PGE2) is actually [i:bc5ff26b49]required[/i:bc5ff26b49] for the formation of eicosanoids that resolve the inflammatory process (lipoxins). (side note: this may be another mechanism whereby COX-2 inhibitors increase the risk of heart attack.) Thus promoting the [i:bc5ff26b49]resolution[/i:bc5ff26b49] of inflammation may be as important as minimizing it in the first place--and both AA and DHA/EPA derived eicosanoids are involved in that process. It is certainly possible that highly athletic/muscular individuals likely require higher amounts of [i:bc5ff26b49]all[/i:bc5ff26b49] essential fatty acids--not just omega-3s--due to the higher physical demands placed upon the musculature.

[quote:e01a1d7047="itsallaboutbalance"] When you mention SORENESS, you mean compared to when you take take daily EPA? So this would be saying that when taking AA instead of EPA, muscle soreness, inflammation and possibly recovery time may be higher but muscle growth response would also be... This is definitely interesting..... Remains to be seen. Someone accurately corrected me in a previous post when I said taking daily EPA to 'minimize' inflammation and accelerate recovery. Inflammation is required for muscle growth. You don't want to 'minimize' inflammation, you want to control it to help recovery. However, this theory would be saying the contrary completely, meaning that for a period of time you want to increase inflammation to increase muscle growth... Again, interesting...[/quote:e01a1d7047] What strikes me is whether or not it is necessary to cycle AA and EPA in that manner. Although competetive for the same enzymes, I can't help but think that both pro-growth and inflammation resolution would be enhanced when incorporated together, thus maximizing recovery and minimizing the soreness.

[quote:82af95dca5="Scott"]What strikes me is whether or not it is necessary to cycle AA and EPA in that manner. Although competetive for the same enzymes, I can't help but think that both pro-growth and inflammation resolution would be enhanced when incorporated together, thus maximizing recovery and minimizing the soreness.[/quote:82af95dca5] Scott, I think you are right. I had a trainer at a fitness club who won some awards in bodybuilding. He said he ate a lot of tuna. Cold water fish has lots of both AA and EPA.

[quote:333e1d60f6="Scott"] It is certainly possible that highly athletic/muscular individuals likely require higher amounts of all essential fatty acids--not just omega-3s--due to the higher physical demands placed upon the musculature.[/quote:333e1d60f6] [quote:333e1d60f6="Scott"] What strikes me is whether or not it is necessary to cycle AA and EPA in that manner. Although competetive for the same enzymes, I can't help but think that both pro-growth and inflammation resolution would be enhanced when incorporated together, thus maximizing recovery and minimizing the soreness.[/quote:333e1d60f6] So essentially what you are saying is that it's all about balance, right? :) As you said, highly athletic and muscular athletes often require higher amounts of all EFAs and can handle the higher amounts because of their higher capacity to metabolize fat compared to sedentary individuals. I guess that's why I think that in this experiment, the AA/EPA ratio would be interesting to note at the beginning of the experiment and also - if not more so - at the end of the experiment to verify it as a possible marker and range for optimal muscle growth. I don't even know if that makes sense, just writing it based on the current topic... In any case, I would not consider doing the experiment for myself as I would not want to increase my propensity to getting allergies and other inflammatory conditions that affect my lungs. I love to try new theories especially when it comes to nutrition but right now I am consistantly gaining muscle mass in a healthy gradual and very satisfactory way. It is very possible to gain muscle mass while zoning and controlling inflammation. I have done it and many others have as well. My approach to plateauing is to look at the workouts and rest periods more so than supplementation but I am interested in getting more info from stillgrowin... Pat

[quote:d8fdc1fd5f="itsallaboutbalance"] So essentially what you are saying is that it's all about balance, right? :) [/quote:d8fdc1fd5f] You know it :wink: [quote:d8fdc1fd5f] In any case, I would not consider doing the experiment for myself as I would not want to increase my propensity to getting allergies and other inflammatory conditions that affect my lungs. I love to try new theories especially when it comes to nutrition but right now I am consistantly gaining muscle mass in a healthy gradual and very satisfactory way. It is very possible to gain muscle mass while zoning and controlling inflammation. I have done it and many others have as well. My approach to plateauing is to look at the workouts and rest periods more so than supplementation but I am interested in getting more info from stillgrowin...[/quote:d8fdc1fd5f] I'm currently with you on this. In addition, if I felt that I wasn't producing enough series-2 eicosanoids from AA for a health inflammatory response, I'd probably look to incorporate more GLA first, before AA supplementation.

To: itsallaboutbalance Hello Pat, My workouts are progressing quite well - Thanks. I did give SCT a try for about a month (4 workouts each, 8 workouts total). I was progressing nicely in weight and hold times. However, I wanted to lose some bodyfat for an upcoming event and the low total volume of SCT wasn't getting the job done there - so I switched to a 5x5 routine to get the volume back up and burn more calories. Of course, I could have upped the aerobics instead, but I hate working out on treadmills, etc. - which I have to do in the winter cause of the weather outside. I did implement a longer recovery time between workouts (as you recommended earlier) in my 5x5 routine and that seems to be working well - still progressing nicely in strength. I'm probably not gaining as much muscle mass as I could due to the calorie deficit, but I expected that. I've almost reached my bodyfat target - so the strategy is working nicely. On a side note, I found that eliminating all dairy products in addition to the usual zone diet guidelines seem to have helped significantly with losing bodyfat. I did this due to the research that suggests that, even though they have a low glycemic index, milk and milk products raise insulin secretion significantly - approaching and sometimes exceeding that of white wheat bread in studies. Anyway, my experience with SCT was generally positive, but short. Obviously, I didn't give it much of a chance. With summer coming, I may give it a shot again then cause workout time is harder to come by for me in the summer. Thanks for your interest and for your help!

[quote:95cdd33d69="dran001"] Scott, I think you are right. I had a trainer at a fitness club who won some awards in bodybuilding. He said he ate a lot of tuna. Cold water fish has lots of both AA and EPA.[/quote:95cdd33d69] It seems to be supported in that the polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of the human brain is predominantly AA and DHA in a 1:1 ratio and is consistent with the content of marine and lacustrine food sources available around the RIft Valley region where early humans migrated from (1). Similarly, studies of lactating women in various regions of China have found that milk concentrations of AA were second highest in women from marine regions, but their DHA levels were naturally the highest of all regions, resulting in the lowest AA/DHA ratio (2). Thus absolute dietary amounts may not be as important as the balance of the fatty acids taken in. (1) Broadhurst CL, et al [i:95cdd33d69]"Brain-specific lipids from marine, lacustrine, or terrestrial food resources: potential impact on early African Homo sapiens"[/i:95cdd33d69] Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2002 Apr;131(4):653-73 (2) Ruan C, et al [i:95cdd33d69]"Milk composition in women from five different regions of China: the great diversity of milk fatty acids"[/i:95cdd33d69] Journal of Nutrition 1995 Dec;125(12):2993-8

I have looked extensively at the research relating to inflammation and muscle hypertropphy (credit to Ryan Hall, if he is reading) and several points need to be made: (1) the research is fairly conclusive that inflammation plays a significant, if not critical role in the muscle building process; BUT (2) lack of AA should definitely not be singled out as 'the reason' why it is supposedly impossible to gain muscle mass on the Zone Diet, because that is sheerly inferential, as is the claim that you can't gain mass on the diet in the first place (3). (4) There is a distinction to be made between reducing 'excess' inflammation by reducing excess dietary AA and actually suppressing the inflammatory response altogether. There is no reason to believe that reducing excess dietary AA will inhibit the normal inflammatory response to tissue injury as occurs in weight training, and that it will ultimately impede muscle-building progress. IMO the evolutionary perspective would make that unlikely. Stillgrowin: your theory is not necessarily wrong or invalid, but realize that it is largely inferential and speculative and far from being a verifiable scientific fact.

Well said Brian