(PRWEB) July 28, 2010
A new book from Rivanna Health Publications (http://www.prostateforum.com) seeks to dispel many of the claims made by leading supplement and health information providers who position flaxseed oil supplements as safe for prostate cancer and beneficial for heart health.
Authored by NIH trained prostate cancer specialist and survivor, Dr. Charles Snuffy Myers (http://www.askdrmyers.wordpress.com) , the new book, Flaxseed: Panacea or Poison? confronts this controversial subject with real data gleaned from research done by institutions such as the Harvard School of Public Health, Memorial Sloane Kettering, and Duke University.
Myers uses the results from a 40,000 person ten-year Harvard School of Pubic Health study that investigated the link between diet and various aspects of health as a jumping off point: the study shows that a diet rich in the major plant omega 3 fatty acid found in flax (ALA) increased a mans risk of developing advanced prostate cancer. Myers further explains how largely aggrandized and skewed the overall benefits of flaxseed and flaxseed oil have become. He also delineates the evidence showing that flaxseed oil may increase the rate at which prostate cancer grows.
There is no real credence to the heart benefits attributed to flaxseed oil supplements, Myers says. In fact, fish oil is a much better choice for omega 3 fatty acids because it comes in a form the body can actually use: DHA. But the misinformation on flax is just the symptom of a larger issue. As a culture we need to get better at producing, interpreting, and disseminating health information using best scientific practices.
Myers book goes on to candidly explain:
Why flaxseed is not an effective source of omega 3 fats for humans;
That most of the health benefits claimed for flaxseed have little or no support in the medical literature;
How flaxseed is a classic example of marketing hype and medical misinformation; and
Why fish or fish oil is a better bet for your overall health.
Flaxseed is worshipped with an almost religious intensity by a set of true believers, observes Myers. The purpose of this booklet is to put balance into the discussion of flax.
Myers has further explored this subject on his popular vlog, http://www.askdrmyers.wordpress.com. Myers posts a video response to a different patient or reader question each Wednesday; interested viewers can sign up to receive a weekly notification by e-mailing Jessica@prostateforum.com
Flaxseed: Panacea or Poison is well worth reading by PCa survivors, says Jim Koeneman, the facilitator of Mesa/Tempe AZ UsToo Prostate Cancer Support Group. He adds that My takeaways are: Eat lots of fish and if you cant, take fish oil supplements from a reputable source; avoid flaxseed oil at all costs; and like my mother told me Dont believe everything you read or hear and if it is too good to be true, it definitely isnt true.
Flaxseed: Panacea or Poison is available exclusively from the publisher by calling 800-305-2432 or by logging on to http://www.prostateforum.com/flaxseed.html. Media
About Dr Myers
Medical oncologist and prostate cancer survivor, Dr. Charles “Snuffy” Myers was a key player in creating AZT, Suramin, and Phenylacetate while working at the National Institute of Health. With over 250 research papers published in peer-reviewed journals, Myers is one of the leading developers of today’s prostate cancer canon on both the research and treatment side of the test tube. Prostate Forum is the educational arm of his world-renowned clinic that is dedicated to providing men with the comprehensive care that saved his own life.
About Rivana Health Publications
Rivanna Health Publications (RHP) focuses on the publication and dissemination of innovative health books and periodicals hinged on evidence-based research. Named for the Virginian river near its base of operations, RHP believes that creating fresh media at the sourcenot the tributaryis crucial to the well being of our readership.
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