---
AA is an essential part of cell membranes in all mammals.  It is only when
there is an imbalance of AA in relation to other fatty acids (i.e.,
deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids) that there is a problem.  Note:  Most
Americans are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids.  Few eat deep ocean fish or
wild game with any frequency nor much if any dark leafy green vegetables.
Fewer still take cod liver oil or DHA capsules on a daily basis.

Barry Sears appears to be very anti-AA because he thinks that it stimulates
the production of bad eicosanoids (namely an inflammatory series of
prostaglandins).  However, according to Roger Williams (the biochemist who
discovered pantothenic acid and did pioneering work on folic acid), studies
on many species have shown that the production of AA PREVENTS deposition of
plaque on artery walls; animals that produce lots of AA are highly resistant
to atherosclerosis, species that produce little AA have a low resistance to
atherosclerosis.  For example, dogs produce a lot of AA and they are highly
resistant to atherosclerosis.  Rabbits however are highly susceptible ot
atherosclerosis, and they produce much less AA.

This is no surprise if one considers that a dog is by nature a carnivore,
whereas a rabbit is by nature an herbivore.  Where does man fit?  Check out
the chart by Walter Voegtlin, M.D., listed on the paleodiet link page, it
clearly shows that man is by nature (gut anatomy and physiology) much like a
dog, not like an herbivore.

By the way, the Masai in Africa eat several quarts of very rich milk and
blood per day, which would be loaded with AA, but they apparently do not
have any of the problems Sears tries to relate to excess AA.  This is in
spite of the fact that they also do not eat cold water fish!  The same is
true of the Punjabis in Northern India, who eat a very high meat and
butterfat diet (more than 40% of calories from fat), and ingest only small
amounts of polyunsaturated vegetable fats, but their heart disease rate is
1/15th that of the vegetarians in Southern India who eat a low fat diet.

Most of these biochemical theories are stabs in the dark, and ignore the
fact that there are native cultures that break the "rules" with no apparent
ill effect.

Roger Williams's book Nutrition Against Disease has some fascinating
information on this topic.  You might want to check out his book; it's a
small paperback.


Best of health to you Judy,

Don