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 James McNabb, M.D., C.N. |
Asthma, Allergies and Natural Preventatives
(Part I)
We look at the advance of modern medicine and think of the marvels we have accomplished. Yet there are diseases where we have not only accomplished little, but have gone backwards. Asthma is one of these diseases. In spite of more doctors, emergency rooms, EMS departments, more and better medicines, both oral and inhaler, asthma has more than tripled in incidence since the 1950’s. Worse, the death rate for asthma has tripled. We clearly are losing the battle here. Why? It behooves us to find out.
Many people have conjectured that our environment is more polluted than before. Is it three times more polluted? I personally doubt it. A good argument could be made for certain locales like Pittsburg and Birmingham that are now a good deal less polluted than before.
What has changed dramatically has been what we eat in this country, called the Standard American Diet. We are eating and cooking less with butter and more with Crisco and oleo, both laden with hydrogenated vegetable oil. Trans fatty acids, produced by hydrogenating polyunsaturated vegetable oil, are almost uniformly thought by nutritionists to be harmful. Our beef, traditionally pastured on grasslands, are now run through feedlots, robbing our beef of omega 3 fatty acids, many vitamins, as well as increasing their saturated fat and cholesterol content. We love the flavor and tenderness of well-marbled prime steaks, but are missing the nutrient content of grass-fed beef. Much of the wild salmon we used to eat has been replaced by farm-raised salmon, which do not eat krill responsible for the high omega 3 content of wild salmon. We were told that pure vegetable oil is healthier than lard and butter. Our kitchens now have corn and sunflower oil instead.
Why is all of this important for asthma?
It is now known that omega 3 and 6 oils have dramatic and opposite effects on the bodies’ immune system; omega’s 6’s have a stimulating effect, while omega 3’s have a calming effect. Omega 6 oils are those grown in fields, such as corn, safflower, sunflower, and soy oils. We have lots of farmers growing these things, so we have lots of these oils. Too many in fact. I tell people to replace these oils in their kitchen with olive and canola oil. Our 6’s need to be balanced by omega 3’s, which come from cold water fish (salmon, haddock, cod, anchovies, sardines). This is why I recommend a teaspoon or two of fish oil daily for everyone with allergies, especially asthmatics. Modern fish oils, such as Vital Nutrients Fish Oil, should not taste strong, and should be flavored with lemon or orange. Both omega 3 and 6 oils are called polyunsaturated oils, and will turn rancid quickly if heated. Keeping the fish oil refrigerated is a good idea for two reasons; it tastes better cold and it will stay fresher longer. We have a range of products to help with asthma--click here to review.
In the next newsletter, I will discuss more nutritional treatment options for treating asthma and allergic disease.
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