An Important Nutrient For Cancer Survivors

Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids have several health benefits. They help protect your bones and joints, and because they contain anti-inflammatory fats, they can help lower cholesterol.  Those benefits can also help reduce the heart-related side effects caused by chemotherapy and radiation. And because they’re linked to reducing inflammation, they may also lower the risk of cancer recurrence.

You can find these healthy essential fats in salmon, trout, tuna and sardines. Eating three servings of fish weekly is best. Flaxseed, walnuts, chia seeds, avocado and olive oil are also good sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

If you have difficulty meeting this goal, you may need to supplement with a pure fish oil product. Aim to add 1-3 grams to your diet to meet your nutritional goals.

Omega-3s may not be suitable for everyone: if you are on blood-thinning medication or have an upcoming surgery, please let us know immediately!

Not all omega-3s are created equal. At least not when it comes to cancer prevention, says a new study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. The Canadian researchers found that omega-3 fatty acids that were marine-based—coming from fish, algae, or phytoplankton—offered eight times the protection at inhibiting tumour development and growth compared to plant-based omega-3s. Mice with a highly aggressive form of breast cancer affecting 25% of women were given either plant- or marine-based omega-3s. Compared to the plant-sourced omega-3s, the mice exposed to marine omega-3s had tumours shrunk by 60 to 70%, reducing the number of overall tumours by 30%.