Column #119

Animal bodies are marvelous “machines” designed for survival. Yet because there’s genetic diversity within each life form, mutations occur. This results in some individuals being significant outliers to the norm with inherited strengths or flaws. Strengths are good, but flaws can compromise physical abilities, health, and longevity. For instance, there’s a genetic mutation in humans that causes Cystic Fibrosis (CF), the most common recessive life-threatening illness in North America.

CF is considered incurable although modern medical approaches have extended life spans up to 50 years. CF dietary recommendations have assisted but they mostly parrot the USDA’s guidelines with supplements of fat-soluble vitamins and fat. I wonder--could a diet of low glycemic, nutrient dense and diverse foods with 1:1 ratios of Omega-6 to Omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) do a better job?

CF is a chronic multisystem heritable disease. At conception, each of us inherits two cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) genes–one from each parent. Children who inherit a faulty CFTR gene from each parent will have CF. If they inherit one faulty CFTR gene and one normal CFTR gene they are “CF carriers.” CF carriers usually have no symptoms of CF and live normal lives. However, they can pass the faulty CFTR gene to their children.

A defective CFTR gene makes a protein that controls the movement of salt and water in and out of the body’s cells. In CF sufferers the protein causes thick, sticky mucus and very salty sweat. There are more than a thousand defects impacting the CFTR gene which play a role in the severity of the disease.

Because humans evolved with a narrow range of foods and not the tens of thousands of offerings in a modern grocery store, scientists report the nutrients (food chemistry) required for optimizing body function and health are quite precise. Following the invention of agriculture over 10,000 years ago, foods became more diverse and abundant and as the chemistry of the diet changed the incidences of chronic disease soared. The prehistoric dietary Omega-6 to Omega-3 EFA ratio was 1:1 and today it’s 10:1 or higher. Ratios above 4:1 negatively impact important functions of the brain, immune system, and nerves reducing survivability. Compounding the health issues are the huge increase in inflammatory conditions and autoimmune issues caused by the increased consumption of sugar, carbohydrates, and other nutritionally deficient food stuffs.

As humankind abandoned the evolutionary diet, their finely tuned “machines” lost some of their ability to cope with issues such as CF. Add in the other chronic diseases that occur with the USDA diet, and one can understand why people with genetic abnormalities will have even more health issues and virtually no chance of remission.

I searched for peer-reviewed CF diet studies and was amazed how few there were. One review study “Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Cystic Fibrosis” provided composite information that emphasized how Omega-3 supplementation reduces inflammation and may provide some benefits. But none of the studies in the review measured the EFA ratios at the beginning and end of the tests. It’s doubtful any of the subjects actually lowered their EFA ratios even close to 4:1 where the Omega-3 component becomes more effective. The composition of what else the subjects ate was ignored completely.

This dearth of dietary information was bolstered by a small spattering of sources on the internet that seemed to emphasize the same USDA line. None recommend the evolutionary nutrient dense and diverse diet that would lower the EFA ratio to less than 2:1.

There is considerable anecdotal evidence that asthma symptoms stop when the EFA ratio drops below 4:1. Since CF restricts breathing, having asthma and CF doubles the issues. Obviously reducing inflammation is also critical. Sugar must be restricted because it feeds internal fungal infestations, increasing mycotoxin loads which negatively impact breathing.

I believe CF sufferers should see if they can rein in their symptoms by switching to “The Real Diet of Man” with added fat-soluble vitamins and a fish oil supplement. Start by testing the EFA ratio at the beginning of the trial and then again every six months, noting any improvements as the ratio drops. It’s not radical thinking or dangerous to eat the evolutionary diet which the human body requires. It’s common sense. It’s better than doing the same thing everyone else does resulting in the same shortened life spans.

To your health.

Ted Slanker

Ted Slanker has been reporting on the fundamentals of nutritional research in publications, television and radio appearances, and at conferences since 1999. He condenses complex studies into the basics required for health and well-being. His eBook, The Real Diet of Man, is available online.

Don’t miss these links for additional reading:

What Causes Cystic Fibrosis? from National Institute of Health

Cystic Fibrosis by Mayo Clinic

Cystic Fibrosis from U.S. National Library of Medicine

Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Cystic Fibrosis by Colleen Oliver and Helen Watson

Severe Asthma and Fungi: Current Evidence by Ritesh Agarwal and Dheeraj Gupta

Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Health and Disease and in Growth and Development by Dr. Arternis P. Simopoulos

The Importance of the Ratio of Omega 6 Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids by Dr. Artemis P. Simopoulos

4 Natural Treatments for Cystic Fibrosis by Dr. Axe

43 Natural Substances That May Improve Lung Function by Lilybart

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Ted Slanker’s Blood Test from Omega-3 Test