now thats all and said ive opened myself up for attacks. i dont mean heart attacks so pick on me if you want. but then again i dont have any degrees so maybe i dont count. maybe im so stupid im smart

Holy cow, you guys! I think I created a monster with this interview.

Whether we agree with the interview guests or not, the fact that this much commentary can result from a 55-minute interview means he said something that made people think. And in the end, this is why I do this podcast.

Maybe later in 2010 I’ll have Brian Peskin back on to respond to the many questions people had for him just from the comments in this section alone. I’m sure he’d be thrilled to do another interview. THANKS again everyone!

Please DO, Jimmy. I ordered his books, have looked at and listened to everything on the internet by him and gotta say this guy is on to something. It is beautiful in its simplicity/complexity.

I wish he didn’t pack his bags and leave, though – it only adds to the impression that he’s not sincere. I get the impression he is very sincere and really wants people to get the message; however, who can blame the guy for being frustrated? He’s up against the prevailing system. As I recall Atkins was often pushed up against a wall and simply packed his bags. I also wish he’d stop using accolades etc to boost his theories. Stick to the science, which he’s got down pat. Here’s what I understand him to say:

We get too much adulterated omega 6, which leads to cellular malfunction (leading to cancer, heart disease etc) due to cell membrane damage. To compensate we must take supplemental, unadulterated omega 6. Omeg 3s are easy to get, just eat some fish – the omega 3s aren’t damaged, because they are so fragile that they are rancid/smelly and we wouldn’t eat anything made from adulterated omega 3. We need the omega 6s and 3s not the derivatives because the body is best at determining how much of the derivatives an individual at any given time needs. Taking fish oil is taking derivatives and, therefore, like taking a pharmaceutical without knowing proper dosing, which leads to overdoses and the associated problems.

My comments/questions for Brian:
1. I’m interested in learning more about what he has to say about fiber. When I eliminate fiber, I eliminate the ability to eliminate! Possibly when I get the books I’ll understand what’s going on here and steps to eliminate the elimination problem.

2. If one is eating “clean” – grass fed, organic etc, is there still a need for omega 6 supplementation?

3. How’s his Iowa study going?

4. What’s the underlying science behind Essiac?

An interesting clinical trial of ketogenic diet therapy for cancer was described in TIME magazine a few years ago:

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1662484,00.html

Thanks for the link to the Time Magazine article, Roger. I wrote about that column in my new book and even contacted the researchers about coming on my podcast show. One of them said she would do a blog interview, but didn’t speak English well enough for a spoken interview. I haven’t had a chance to send her questions yet, but will be doing that soon.

If you are going to call me a sock puppet. At least spell my name correct ….It is Sid instead of Syd

(After listening to the interview, I was intrigued by what you said, but one quick visit to your site left me cold.)

Thats because you are!!!

(When you are an autodidact in a field and you make exceptional claims, expect to be closely scrutinized. Expect people to ask hard questions. Don’t expect that you can get away with not answering questions, but rather tout what others have said about your work.)

Just because you don’t like what he says does not make it false. Everything is backed by science and what you say is backed by BS

OK, so Brian Peskin has made a couple of statements that are at least very clear regarding his view the meaning of his zero heart scan score. Here are a couple of quotes from his comment earlier in the thread:

“Regarding the CT scan, a 0 calcium score in a 52-year-old male is a very unusual result — not very common at all. ”

“Personally, i rate decades lower than my chronological age.”

The information that others have quoted earlier from Dr. William Davis was that, population-wise, 50% of heart scans scored zero. I recalled that my own heart scan report also contained detailed information regarding the prevalence of various scores in the asymptomatic population at large, stratified by age and sex, so I dug it out to refresh my memory. So let me first address Brian’s comment of how unusual a zero score is for a 52-year old male. In a study of approx. 10,000 asymptomatic patients, the 25th percentile for 50-54 year old males was a score of zero. That is, at least 25% of them scored zero. The 50th percentile for these males is a heart scan score of 8. So somewhere between 25% to 50% of the men score zero. Hardly the “very unusual” result described by Brian. Just for additional perspective, zeros are even more common in younger age groups, with the 30-34 year old males recording zero as the 75th percentile score and a score of 1 as the 90th percentile. In other words, almost everyone was zero. For women it’s even better. For women 50-54, the 75th percentile score is zero. 90th percentile is 29. I invite Brian to cite a study refuting these statistics. Won’t take but a few seconds, just paste the link here in a comment.

Obviously, in the context of the stats I’ve quoted, Brian’s other statement about his zero scored rating him “decades lower than his chronological age” becomes hyperbole. That’s not intended as a personal attack, though it may sound like one. From where I sit, that’s just the facts. Anyone with a zero score rates the same as an infant. So what? If Brian were instead, 72 years old, and had a score of 88 (25th percentile) than I suppose he might have a weak case that he rated ONE decade younger, since 100 is the 50th percentile score for age 60-64 males. But even that would be a stretch, since there’s still lots of 75 year-olds (a quarter of the males) with scores of 88 or less.

I remember being surprised myself when I got my heart scan that zero is such a common result, but those are the facts.

I know this is a lively friendly debate and thats good.. I have never even thought about he being a professor as that has been a non isssue to me..That to me is just a nick name. I had a good friend that we called Scooter and that is a motor bike. I never thought of him as a scooter. The name professor stuck when he was asked to lecture and Brian would probably say the same thing. But i do know he lectures to cancer doctors and heart doctors all over the country. I did not mean to insult you and hope you understand and all I ask that you look at the science seriously. Both my wife and I had cancer with a year a part, but doing great now…
Anyway thanks for the comments and the friendly debate and your time for responding…
Best to you for the coming year…

In Response to Vadim..

‘Sid Aust, I am curious as to how you are following Brian’s protocol.’

Will be happy to tell you….and what the PEOs have done..
I did have surgery and they took 10 inches of colon from me. I had never had a colon exam at 57. Any it had not spread and did not have to have radition, the surgeon recomended as a precaution some chemo and it was about once per month for about 5-6 months and never lost my hair and got sick etc. but some of the side effects were bothersome, but not bad. I am very much a reader and constantly read health books,all kinds and all opinions etc. I am considered a health nut by all my friends and always taking lots of supplements. but did over the years let the weight slip up on me. While reading one day in an article it mentioned Brian Peskin. So naturally I looked him up and was so impressed by what he was saying and thinking he is really on to something here…This was after my surgery and chem..I got through with chemo in Aug and found Brian’s info in Feb of the next year. The point of my reading was to find out how to keep cancer from ever coming back…I was not doing low carb till Brian’s books. My whole interest in my health became more focused on low card and his research. His research made so much sense to me and have become more of a health nutt than ever before after discovering his research. Cancer and Heart disease related or caused by the same thing and research to back it up and connecting the dots like he did …Wow. This guy is on to something..
I lost close to 60 pounds this year want to lose a few more. using low card and applying his recomendations in his book with low carb…I had always known about low carb but never took notice much till now.
The thing I noticed about the PEO’s is that cut my desire for food and that is just a side effect of the oils. I take the oils every day and will from now on….to get lots of oxygen to the cells as Brian says in his research. I will continue to take the PEOS…In his books it tell you how to mix the oils etc at a 2-1 mix..There is a formula available that is already mixed etc. but I mix my own and also take some Evening primrose capsules called (Efamol) That is omega 6.
According to the recomendations of the mix 1 tea spoon per 160# of body weight unless there is a issue.. It does not hurt to take more…So I take and may differ some on days but it is always the same…1-2 teaspoons of the mix per day..
and Also 6-capsules of Efamol 1000mg (omega 6) and 2 capsules of Flax oil…Since I had an issues I want to take more…So total I take what amounts to 1 tablespoon…

3 capsules of 1000mg of Evening Primrose (Efamol) and 1 capsule of Flax oil =1 teaspoon
2 teaspoons of the mix and all this = to 1 tablespoon

If I want to change it a bit…I will take 6 capsules of omega 6(evening primrose) and 2 capsules of the flax and 1 teaspoon of the mix it still will equal 1 table spoon. i try to keep it in balance…2-1…The Efamol brand is the best in the world…90 capsules is only $12.73 and last a month..
So that is what I do…if anyone has any questions I will be glad to answer if I can…but I am no doctor…But on that note I purchased The Hidden Story Of Cancer and gave it to my doctor several months ago..When I went back to him and asked him if he had had a chance to read the book..He was on fire with the book and was doing a study as he purchased the oils and gives it to patients(already mixed) who are overweigh. He informed me that it has been beyond exceptional..He told me amost all in the high 80% lost weight. He has seen blood pressure dropped, reduced the amount of medications, or stopped some and has seem many positive benifits from the oils. He said he refers to the book all times and was greatly impressed with the infomation…my email is sid_aust@msn.com
if anyone wants to contact me…hopes this helps
thanks again…

Thanks for your sharing your personal story.

For those who know engineers with poor social skills just look into Asperger’s, high functioning autism of various degrees,and you’ll find all your answers.

Well the Eades sell stuff (at insane prices), Mark Sisson sell stuff and promotes many products, Dr. Graveline is self published… Brian’s books appear to be self-published (Pinnacle Press). To me this just means the establishment didn’t want to hear it, or may be Brian wanted more of the profit, or it was a way to help people who heard his lectures and wanted it in writing. Whatever the reason, isn’t it great to live in a time when we can get word out without depending on big publishing houses?

By the way, go back and listen to Jimmy’s interview with Dr. Graveline. I think he mentions that he, too, is seeing the need for omega 6.

He tells you in the book what to do, so no need to buy supplements if you don’t want the convenience. I downloaded his free recipe book – the pudding was fabulous (all in the family enjoyed it).

Really, buy the book (get 24 hr diet 1/2 price). I’m enjoying them, and so is my 17 year old who wants to study biochem. As I said, they are a bit odd in their layout, and his voice is strong – no third person voice here, but he does document what he says. I haven’t looked the articles up and read them, though – possibly he’s citing falsely (doubt it), but when I worked as a research librarian for a government agency and did literature searches for scientists it was not totally unusual to find some studies cited references that didn’t exist! The other possibility is he misunderstands them. That is why I’d love a physiologist or someone versed in this stuff to READ and then address/discuss his work.

Great Post and totally agree…How is your wife doing now? Are you taking the oil now and how long…just wondering..
would love to correpond with you as I had colon cancer before…sid_aust@msn.com
best to you…

Hi guys,

I emailed Brian Peskin a slew of questions over the last few days, and he was good enough to answer really promptly and give me permission to post his answers here. Below are the excerpts, edited for formatting.

Best,
- M

Q: The paleo community (which generally tends to be pro-omega 3 and anti-grain)

Brian Peskin: **anti-grain is fine AND you do need parent omega-3 — NOT fish oil derivatives EPA and DHA.

has raised some issues regarding how paleolithic man would have obtained your recommended PEO ratios if he had little access to seeds, grains, and the like.

Brian Peskin: **from the MEATs, eggs , etc. remember — no processing back then and all the issues are in harmful processing

Would limited and seasonal access to these plant sources have supplied our evolutionary ancestors with the correct PEO ratio, or is the ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 fats pretty much ideal in grassfed meat?

Brian Peskin: **yes —- 2-3:1 in favor of parent omega-6 — very good.

(Obviously, it’s impossible to know exactly what our ancestors did, but what would be the most plausible source of PEOs? The Inuit weren’t taking sunflower oil…)

Brian Peskin: **correct.

Q: What are the origins of the idea that we need SO MUCH supplemental DHA and EPA (the health industry’s current recommendations for fish oil)?

Brian Peskin: **likely the fact that the brain and retina have large amounts of DHA (although insignificant EPA). what they all overlook is the fact that the DHA can be replaced in brain and nervous system slowly….i have never seen an analysis of what the doses of the derivatives are as high as they are in spite of being pharmacological overdoses.

Q: You seem to say that proper PEO supplementation in effect mimics the amount and ratio of PEOs available in grass fed meat. If one were to consume adequate amounts of grass fed meat (8 ounces or more daily?), would one still need to supplement with PEOs?

Brian Peskin: **needs to be organic/natural with no pesticides, hormones, etc. theoretically you should , especially if you also eat organic eggs. however, i know of no one who isn’t taking a supplement to do an analysis on. it would be most interesting.

What if one consumed primarily grain fed or feedlot meat instead? Does grain fed or feedlot meat provide either inferior or inadequate supplies of LA/parent omega 6?

Brian Peskin: **adulterated!

Q: When simultaneously exposed to both functional, undamaged PEOs AND adulterated, nonfunctional PEOs, do our cells preferentially incorporate the the organic, unprocessed versions, or does the rate of incorporation reflect the percentages consumed? What becomes of any excess PEOs (both functional and nonfunctional)?

Brian Peskin: **ONLY in proportion of overall intake — that’s why so important to ensure you get lots of function ones.

Q: I’ve read that at certain levels of intake, protein does stimulate some insulin secretion (though not in harmful amounts).

Brian Peskin: **INSIGNIFICANT!

With this in mind, what is your opinion of a Jan Kwasniewski type diet of a protein:fat:carbohydrate ratio of 1:2.5:0.8? (Good – unnecessary – silly – harmful?)

Brian Peskin: **what is this based on and in my opinion, completely unnecessary….no need to make eating your “second job” — simply makes carbs “last on list” and have few.

Q: What is your opinion of intermittent fasting (such as one or two 24-hour fasts per week, or a daily eating window of 4-9 hours)?

Brian Peskin: **fast is fine — also, eating once a day is best! twice at most….we are not designed to be human billygoats eating all the time….leads to diabetes.

Great post…enjoyed reading it…I have heard Brian in many talks and he does not recommend Hemp oil,soy or canola…Hemp has not been used as a cooking oil traditionally, but it can be used to produce non-toxic diesel fuel, paint, varnish, detergent,ink and lubricating oil therefore he does not recomend it as one of the omega 6 oils…cold pressed and organic sunflower,safflower,sesame oil. pumpkin oil, evening primrose oil, borage oil.. are the ones he recomends mostly are sunflower and safflower…I use both in my mix and also take Evening Primrose oil (Efamol)capsule 3-1000mg capsules and 1-1000mg flax oil…The choice is yours..but hemp in not recomended..I did not say it was bad. just not enough info on it. The hemp people do a lot of slick advertising….just cautious..They can’t legally grow it in the US..has to come from Canada…
enjoyed the post…great comments..and reading..
once again a great post..

Thanks Sid_Aust, Meeses, Billy etc…

I have followed these comments more closely than usual.. since hearing Brians machine gun style interview a couple of days ago. I have been intrigued by his “truth”
He does seem to make a bit of sense on many things, it has been common amongst the anti-cholesterol enthusiasts that cholesterol is bad when it is oxidised. This guy seems to have taken the explanation further. LDL and VLDL are just the carriers and it does carry fatty acids. It makes sense to me that amongst what LDL carries is adulterated omega 6 oils.. aka. oxidised cholesterol.
I don’t have a problem either personally buying the book from his website. If i like what i read and want to know more, I will get it from somewhere.. His books are on Amazon by the way (in response to an earlier post)
Overall, we are all on learning curves and take information from all different sources. There are many people out there playing the same tune as Brian, with slightly different perspective. Personally i love it, there is a vast information on nutrition and no one man can cover it all.
I’m off to buy the book to learn more.

I don’t feel anyone has the ultimate answer on cancer and on Omega 6 to Omega3 ratio involvement. Not one mention has been made of the severe exposures to toxic chemicals that we all receive from environmental exposures from over 100,000 chemicals now used in our modern society. Hardly any studies of the chemical mixtures effect on humans have ever been completed. This includes exposures to fabric softeners, pesticides, personal care products, GMO foods, fragrance chemicals used in numerous products, air fresheners in public restrooms, dryer sheets, nail polish, flame retardants, mercury, and so many others too numerous to list here. Cancer is the biggest killer of kids 14 and under. I believe Brian has only touched on one aspect of a major disease syndrome known as cancer. If we don’t stop poisoning our biosphere and reverse what we have done, it won’t matter what natural oil mix you use.