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Hi there, while digging for my natural alternative to Celebrex I came across that Omega 3's block COX-2 inhibitors so while I have been raving about the Flaxseed Oil Capsules they are one of them, and I didn't know it, so I guess it is thumbs up for me with the Flaxseed helping bump off the BC and I guessed the dose.
What Causes COX-2 to Get Out of Control?
The consumption of high amounts of saturated fat and the omega 6 unsaturated fatty acids, and a consumption of low amounts of omega 3 fatty acids can give rise to the production of COX-2 enzymes. In a state of ideal dietary balance, our Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio would be 1:1, certainly no worse than 2:1. Unfortunately, because of our modern dietary indiscretions and the general unavailability of wholesome food, most Americans have an Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio in the range of 10:1 to 20:1!
Simply put, by continually having an unbalanced fatty acid intake we are giving the COX-2 enzyme the raw material to create fire, but not the raw material to put out the fire. It's not that COX-2 enzymes are "bad" enzymes. To the contrary, we need them for life. It's just that our diets and the stresses we live in today create way too much COX-2 enzymes, and we don't use the resources to put out the fires.
Dietary Influence on COX-2 Production
Environmental Influence on COX-2 Production
Is COX-2 production present only in disease states?
No, as mentioned previously, COX-2 enzyme production occurs due to a myriad of factors and COX-2 production does not indicate that you are in a state of disease. The membranes of all cells in the body contain a fatty acid called arachadonic acid. As old cells die and new cells take their place, arachadonic acid is released into body tissues and blood. COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes act upon arachadonic acid to form molecules called prostaglandins.
Prostaglandins are compounds that are produced via the metabolism of fats in our diets. These compounds are simplistically categorized as either "good" or "bad." The good prostaglandins are beneficial and constructive to the body while the bad ones, if produced on a continual basis, can be destructive.
It is interesting to note that the consumption of high amounts of saturated fat and the omega 6 unsaturated fatty acids can give rise to the production of the bad prostaglandins, resulting in our recommendation to decrease animal fat intake and increase more of the unsaturated fats that come from fish into your diet. From a clinical perspective, one of the enzymes that are involved in the production of the destructive prostaglandins, called cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), is the target of nutritional intervention in order to suppress these substances. Hence, the introduction of dietary modifications that inhibit the COX-2 enzyme.
So, even though research is examining the role of excessive COX-2 enzyme production as a factor, healthy individuals can experience COX-2 enzyme production in amounts higher than normal, whether it is from diet, trauma or stress, or foreign invaders
Love & Hugs Lyn
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