Are Your Prostaglandins Keeping You Healthy? by Joan Kent, PhD

Are Your Prostaglandins Keeping You Healthy?
By Joan Kent, Ph.D.

Probably everyone would agree: What we eat affects our health. One key factor in staying healthy is prostaglandin production.

Prostaglandins are short-lived, hormone-like chemicals that are produced by the body’s cells. Instead of moving through the bloodstream, these hormones move from cell to cell and regulate all kinds of cellular activities.

Inflammation is a hot topic. More and more research indicates that ALL disease begins with some kind of inflammation. Inflammation has a number of triggers – one of them is a specific type of prostaglandin. And foods influence prostaglandin production.

Different Fatty Acids Make 3 Prostaglandins Types

Series 1 prostaglandins have effects that most people recognize as beneficial. They dilate blood vessels, reduce blood pressure, stop unnecessary blood clotting, decrease risk of autoimmune disease, improve T-cell function, improve insulin sensitivity, decrease pain, decrease inflammation, decrease the need for sleep, alleviate depression.

This is only a partial list – Series 1 also do much, much more.

Series 1 prostaglandins are made from dietary fatty acids in the omega-6 category. Examples include black current seed, flaxseed, hemp seed, pumpkin seed, walnuts, borage oil, evening primrose oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, and others.

Series 2 Prostaglandins: The Evil Twin

Series 2 hormones do basically the opposite of all of the Series 1 functions on the partial list above (and more). Series 2 prostaglandins promote pain and inflammation, making them a prime culprit in disease.

Series 2 prostaglandins are also made from omega-6 fatty acids. This is where diet and insulin enter the picture. High insulin secretion – triggered by specific foods – will cause a different enzyme to act on the omega-6 fats. That results in the production of Series 2 hormones, rather than Series 1.

As you may know, foods that trigger high insulin include sugars, processed and refined carbs (like white bread), saturated fats, alcohol, and others.

Series 3 and Omega 3 To The Rescue

Series 3 prostaglandins reduce the negative effects of Series 2. They decrease inflammation and enhance immune function. Series 3 are made from omega-3 fatty acids. We hear about omega-3s often these days because of their anti-inflammatory benefits. That anti-inflammatory effect can reduce what is presently considered the cause of all disease.

Omega-3 fatty acids include dark green leafy vegetables, fish, black currant seed, flaxseed, hemp seed, pumpkin seed, and walnuts.

‘Bottom Line’ This For the Health Benefits

1. Eat omega-3 fats. Because many of them also contain omega-6s, you’ll get the precursors of both Series 1 and Series 3 prostaglandins – the good guys.

2. Avoid all-carb meals or snacks whenever possible. Eating protein and healthful fats every time you eat can modify insulin secretion.

3. Avoid junky carbs – like sugar and white flour – and limit alcohol. Those trigger high insulin release, which leads to Series 2 production and inflammation.

Reducing the insulin impact of your diet can reduce the production of Series 2 prostaglandins. In turn, that may decrease the incidence of both serious diseases, such as heart disease or diabetes, and inconvenient ones, such as colds.

Wishing you good prostaglandins and good health.

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Junk foods (like sugar) have a huge impact on health – diabetes, high blood pressure, autism, and more. Foods impact our moods – depression, anxiety, and more. Foods can determine whether we get cravings – and for what. And that’s not all.

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