65 Comments
Jun 27, 2023Liked by Chris Masterjohn, PhD

Thank you Chris, I love the video! :-D <3 Such a great help, and even better than I had dreamed of. Hope others follow the example of having you publicly answer questions and share their stories of healing, and I hope it helps a lot of other people out there, as I imagine that a lot of people dont eat liver, and seldom eat eggs, and have been supplementing with omega 3, for a long time!

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Thanks Iris, glad it is helpful! Thank you for your donation to the community.

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Jun 28, 2023·edited Jun 28, 2023Liked by Chris Masterjohn, PhD

I am very proud, that I myself, all alone, have figured out the theory of what is wrong with my body! - And the potential treatment. It gives me confidence, that I myself can overcome other life threatening illnesses if I or loved ones should encounter them. And it is such a great relief to have you confirm that the theories and treatments make sense to you. That is the first time I do not feel alone in all of this...

I would never have been able, to get well, had I not found you.

You have saved me.

You empower people, with the stuff you share.

You have empowered me, to find out, what was wrong, and to find the treatments,

And I would love to share more of that with others, later on, ex. in a second video, when I am sure, that this really brings me, all of the way back (and hopefully when I am done getting pregnant!!! :-D)

Forever gratefully yours,

Iris from Denmark

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Jun 28, 2023·edited Jun 28, 2023Liked by Chris Masterjohn, PhD

And, I forgot, over the years, since I found you and made contact, knowing that you were there, and that I could always ask questions, and feeling like, you really deeply care, has been a support, that I could not have done without. I would not have been able to figure this out on my own, if I had not had the security of knowing that you were always there, in the background. I feel like you really care, and that touches me deeply. I see how you, in everything you do, profoundly care about empowering people - Thank you!!!

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You’re welcome Iris, and thank you, I appreciate that.

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I found out, that it seems to me that the brain of different land animals, like our brains, all contains a relatively high amount of both DHA and Arachidonic Acid, and no EPA! So, maybe that has been a primary source of DHA for us? Besides from fish (maybe we are evolutionarily more zombies, developed to eat brain, and only fish, that contains EPA, when there was not enough brain around?). And maybe brain can be listed along with liver, and eggs, as a good source of Arachidonic Acid.

If anyone knows of a low histamine lectine free, cheap, brainseller out there, then I will be pleased if you let me know! :-D - hope the grass fed animal producers, will start selling brain along with the intestines... ex sell the whole head, and you can cook it, and also eat all the collagen.

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I have written about this in the context of why we EPA is not essential, but not in the context of eating brain.

I haven’t thought or researched much on prion diseases. Do you think it’s a non-issue?

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Jul 2, 2023Liked by Chris Masterjohn, PhD

Haven't thought of that, thank you, that is a good question!

My impression is, that it is a non issue, as long as the grass eating animals are not feed meat, or maybe just at least not feed them selves!? There was a case of Creutzfeldt-Jacobs-disease in the UK in the 1990s after they feed the cows left overs of lambs and cows that had died by themselves!

I have know people from Island, and the Fareo IsIands (and Norway), where eating the brain of lambs is quit common, ex. they sold a whole haft lamb head with brain at the central buss station in Reykjavik when we were on Island. And we have found both lamb and calf brain in the local middle east shop, and I can tolerate them:-D - but they are quit expensive. My guess is, that they would not be allowed to sell it, if prion disease was at all an issue. The rules regarding food security is quit strict here in the EU.

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I have now written our health minestry, to ask about the risk of prion disease when eating brain bought here in the EU, and when eating it when bouth outside of the EU and in general what risk factores there are to look for. Looking forward to hearing their answer:-)

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Yes they all makes sense to me. I just haven’t looked into it enough for my own satisfaction.

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Jul 28, 2023Liked by Chris Masterjohn, PhD

I yesterday received an answer from the food ministry here in Denmark regarding the risk of prion disease when consuming brain bought in the EU, and the short answer is that there is no risk. Here is a translated part of the answer:

"Prion diseases can be transmitted by eating brains. There are special provisions for mad cow disease and certain other prion diseases. From the beginning, mad cow disease was spread among the animals through feeding insufficiently heat-treated meat and bone meal, which contained slaughter waste, e.g. brains, from infected cattle. There are a few cases of infection to humans who have eaten brains from cattle. Therefore, rules have been introduced in the EU and many other countries that the parts of animals that may contain infectious agents may not be used for human consumption. For cattle, it is, among other things, the brain from animals over 12 months, and for sheep it is the brain from animals over 12 months or with an erupted, permanent incisor. Within the EU and when importing meat into the EU from other countries, these rules must be observed. There is thus no a particular risk of getting mad cow disease or certain other prion diseases by eating brains from animals that have been slaughtered at slaughterhouses in the EU or imported into the EU from other countries. The Danish Food and Beverage Agency has no information about the risks of eating brains from animals outside the EU."

So, from this I gather, that if the herbevores has not been feed meat, the risk of prion disease is not present. Then if so, ex grass feed cow and lamb brains should be ok.

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Jul 6, 2023Liked by Chris Masterjohn, PhD

Yes, I totally wasn’t meaning it in a preaching sort of way. It is very hard to accept struggle in our lives, and to see why we deal with it. I have learned to see how good can come from it, and how it is often used to bring good in others lives as well. Totally came from a good heart! May you continue to heal and be blessed with children!! ❤️

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No worries:-) And I really see that it came from the heart. I hope it was not harsh to read my message in any way (?) And thank you for your wish that we will have children. I hope your wish has an influence and I really appriciate your wish to contribute to me being ok. I love it

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No harshness as I read it at all. 😊

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Jun 22, 2023Liked by Chris Masterjohn, PhD

would love to arrange an interview between you and Colin Robertson or Dr Paul Clayton, as I really think it is a very revolutionary thoughts and scientific evidence around omegas. We need to get this out, as a underlying building block for reduction of chronic inflammation. Only way forward is sharing and critically analysing the thinking around this!

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Sure let me know what they say.

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Nov 14, 2023Liked by Chris Masterjohn, PhD

Thank you for this information! Based on this video, I decided to try discontinuing my (high EPA) fish oil supplement. I had been taking 2 g everyday for approximately 6 years and had been taking 2 g of generic fish oil for 14 years before that. In the 6 weeks since I discontinued my supplement, my fatigue and brain fog have reduced from constant and debilitating to annoying and intermittent. I really hope it's not a coincidence! If anyone is curious, my levels per my NutrEval were EPA 2.2% and DHA 6.0%.

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Jul 7, 2023Liked by Chris Masterjohn, PhD

https://www.sunday.de/en/omega-3-dha-400mg-vegan.html

Per capsule this is 400mg DHA and 12mg EPA, from algae

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Is it possible AA is being converted to inflammatory eicosanoids by something else like strep or virus ? I had high omega-3 EPA and low Arachidonic acid, but high omega 6 eicosanoids.

Very interesting about salicylates deceasing PGE2 too !! Are salicylates causing AA to be released from cell membranes ?

Also would love to read the transcript for this video. Will one eventually be available?

This one is a fabulous video !! Thank you.

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The immune system is what metabolizes AA, not the infection. But yes through that an infection can lower AA levels, though I don’t see why to invoke that in Iris’s case.

Salicylates lower the expression of the COX enzyme.

I’ll look into getting a transcript.

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Jun 28, 2023Liked by Chris Masterjohn, PhD

Thank you so much !

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I've been going in with ALA, LA and GLA and food based AA, I sometimes think going in too aggressively in these pathways can tip a delicate balance, EZTrek in the US have a whole white paper on this pathway, but its difficult for me to source in the UK so been using UDO's choice ultimate oil 3,6,9 with good effect. Would be good to get your opinion on this as I have questioned Fish oils as a standalone for a long time.

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You might want to check this out:

https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/039-what-are-parent-essential-oils

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Jun 28, 2023Liked by Chris Masterjohn, PhD

Hey Chris - Sorry for the late reply - just catching up. Thanks I will take a look and hope the Summit went well, will catch up on that too.

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author

Sounds good.

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Very timely - thank you, I’m actually presenting about this for Genova Diagnostics UK as many long haulers that in testing are coming up with a delta-6-desaturase deficiency and subsequent deficiency of omega 6 - most long haulers are using EPA and DHA supplements as per popular recommendations provided in many long haul protocols

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Very interesting. Are you seeing any get better with AA?

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This is why it’s important to TEST don’t GUESS .. according to recent data of nearly 1 million omega ratio tests conducted via VITAS labs .. 97% of people have an imbalance of 6:3 .. and also why it’s important to know yes we need arachidonic acid not too low and not too high !!

Why I am glad I found ZINZINO to not only test first but follow up after 120 days on balance oil ( perfectly protected with polyphenols added) to watch the results !! And understand how just adding to the diet has affected major health outcomes !

Why I never take anything for granted .. why can’t we encourage pathology more to use individualised nutritional advice !

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I agree, but one of the basic principles here is that Iris has little access to testing in Denmark.

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Home based testing now available worldwide .. would love your thoughts and have a look at some of the scientific research Chris for ZINZINO cause I am passionate about this topic as well . Esp for fertility and pregnant women and the epidemic of chronic inflammation from our overconsumption of PUFA .

Will email you Chris as love your work and respect all the info you give. This is a conversation as the amount of omegas we consume are not doing their best either at getting that cellular membrane healthy for starters.

I’m not a nutritional biochemist by any means .. did my basics at uni while doing my naturopathy degree but honestly have been out of industry for years . Since past 3 years I have come back so relearning looking at what we are saying now as trending which I was promoting in my clinic 15 years ago .. and being called a quack back then. So reigniting my fire ! You certainly help!!

Thank you

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Does the test measure serum or phospholipids? I’m guessing it is serum or plasma, which should reflect recent intake rather than long-term status and I think it would be more likely to be misleading than helpful for Iris.

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https://www.zinzinotest.com/en/balancetest?openmap=1#map

Denmark stats of 60683 tests analyzed

Average omega 6:3 12.2 : 1

Dry Red Blood Cell test.. analyzed independently at VITAS

Zinzino’s BalanceTest is an easy self-test for analyzing

the fatty acids found in capillary blood obtained from

a fingertip using the Dried Blood Spot (DBS) technique.

A DBS is scientifically proven to be as accurate as a

venous blood sample when fatty acids are to be

analyzed. All it requires is a few drops of blood from

the fingertip on a Whatman® filter paper and it takes

less than a minute to complete.

VITAS Analytical Services in Norway will anonymously

analyze the percentage content of 11 fatty acids,

which together represent approximately 98% of the

fatty acids in the blood and the values reflect your diet

for the last 120 days, which is the lifetime of blood

cells. The result is then displayed, after about 10-20

days, on the zinzinotest.com website.

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So it sounds like it is whole blood.

I think this would have been valuable for Iris when starting out but I’m not sure about now as it is certainly likely to show high AA low EPA from the last 120 days but will not reflect the 4-5-year arc of change in adipose and other tissues.

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Would love you to have this conversation further with DR PAUL CLAYTON head of scientific board as I know there is a lot of interest in ZINZINO products in the IVF Aus industry happening .. as evidence based nutritional so this would be something I would love to hear at deeper levels. It shows AA levels as well .. I would assume past 120 days most important before pregnancy snd if red blood cell also measuring cellular membrane ? Ie into all other cells?! This is where my level of understanding would love to hear a deeper conversation !

Would love to be in on that zoom meeting ?!

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On second thought this might be helpful for her to make sure she has enough DHA going into pregnancy.

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So is there a specific number of egg yolks and/or liver that should be consumed daily to raise AA levels that are low? I assume I should not eat fish as I have been bc of high EPA levels as well. How long do these fatty acids typically take to normalize...4 years or more?

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Jul 6, 2023Liked by Chris Masterjohn, PhD

I relistened to the video and have found her dosage used and the timing you suggest it will take. Thank you

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Jun 23, 2023·edited Jun 23, 2023

Does anyone know where I can buy an ARA supplement? The best I can find is 250mg capsules. Is there nothing larger or cheaper than that? I'm recovering from long term PUFA depletion (from a strict Ray Peat approach) and I'm finding I require a lot of ARA, similar to Iris here.

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Probably you found the same as I’ve seen.

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Jun 27, 2023Liked by Chris Masterjohn, PhD

Since I am hyper allergic to a lot of stuff, including eggs and liver (that contain a lot of arachidonic acid) and the powder of the pills you can buy in the US, seem to have rice or the like in it (had a strong allergic reaction to it! And the provider promised that the second batch I would get was without this powder but I got tricked, and no money back!:-((( Grrr!!!) I wrote over 20 arachidonic oil producers in China, asking for a complete list of content, and test for allergens, and prices. Got answers that was - really different - from a lot of them, seemed like they had no idea what I was talking about even when I send them examples, like they had never before encountered questions about a complete list of all the content of the product (they were all on Alibaba, and not on Amazone, and on Alibaba, there is no fix price, there is no content list of what the products contain, and no list of what they are allergy tested for!! - crazy!!!) I wrote them all directly and not through Alibaba, since that gave the best results (my partner tested writing them through Alibaba - no got results). In the end, I had to accept that no one, had anyone come from the outside, (like here in Denmark where the state tests if the products live up to what they say they contain etc), and make the tests, they all tested them selves. But at the end, I found a provider that seemed the most sincere, and that could directly answer all my questions. I had them send me 5 liters of 46% arachidonic oil (I have now frozen a lot of it in smaller portions), that of course got stopped in custody, and tested (wonder why, when it says "acid" on the outside;-)) - but, I can tolerate the product:-DDD And I am getting better. If you want, I can look up the name of the company again, and send it to you? Or, if you want to buy a lot of arachidonic powder, like the one you can find in the US, but get it cheaper, we have a whole lot, from when we got cheated. Let me know:-)

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Jul 6, 2023Liked by Chris Masterjohn, PhD

I have chronic recurrent skin rashes and just tested and gave low AA and high EPA levels but don’t know how much to take if I don’t tolerate liver and eggs well. Thanks

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Jul 6, 2023Liked by Chris Masterjohn, PhD

Hi Leslie, I take as high a dose of arachidonic acid, as my stomach can tollerate. With the oil I have now, that is about 4 grams a day, before I get diarrea. The oil is about 46% arachidonic acid. So, I guess that will make it a daily dose of about 1,84 g a day. I have started taking arachidonic acid before, but apparently I did not go high enough in the dose + I continued taking my fish oil every day, and eating fish some times a week. I did get better, I was even more allergic before, ex. got rashes on my lower legs and food allergy reactions with read dods all over my body (average distance app 5-10 cm max) - and those two symptoms dissapeared, when I started on a dose of 1,4 g a day, so it is not much more I get now, but I take absolutely no fish oil and eat no fish. Not that I would recommend that. I have found a DHA supplement now, that we think I can tollerate:-D I would recommend finding an algea DHA product, and take that, since it seems to be the EPA that poses the problem, and because so many fish are endangered, that getting the DHA from algae, is helping save species from going extinct(!!!), and the algae oil is also without the risk of left over heavy metals, and less risk of the oil being rancid. I dont remember the dose of the fish oil I keep taking, but it was a "normal" dose, I think it was about 1 g a day of pure oil, so about 0,7 g of omega 3... I will try to see if I can find the exact amount. And then I ate wild salmon (MSC branded) about 2 times a week, 2 x 200 grams. I had cut down on the fish oil and then fish at that point. But, still was not enough to make me ok. I would say, that this is a quit normal dose, for most people I know who is health consious here, that they eat a omega 3 supplements each day, and eat fish a couple of times a week. So, I thought I was fine! Also, the dose of arachidonic acid I was getting, was way higher than what Chris recommends in his papers Vitamins and Minerals course 101, so, I thought I was fine.

We have a whole batch of arachidonic acid that I cannot tollerate, because they changed the recipe, so that it now contains rice flour. This it the kind I use to take, the 1,4 g a day dose. If you want, you can buy it from us, from an under the marked price. If interested, then send me a mail:-) info@omnitropi.one

Hope this answers your questions?

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Jul 6, 2023Liked by Chris Masterjohn, PhD

Thank you SO much for this and for sharing your consult time with Chris so I can learn along with my patients! I’ll let you know about the supplements.

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Jul 6, 2023·edited Jul 8, 2023Liked by Chris Masterjohn, PhD

Dear Leslie, I see your message here, and the one below with what dose i take, I answer both messages here:-D

Your response makes me cry :´-D - I dont want anyone to end in the hell I was in!!! This was not in the video, but before I found Chris, when it was at the worst before I started using Terry Wahls diet, I was in a wheal chair, with nerve pains in all of my body, where there were about 2 minutes of break and then a new pain somewhere in the body, some kind of nerve pain, if it was lightening, or burn, or "regular pain" - all variations, all places but mostly feed and hands, pain at a level that when my one tooth died here some time ago, I did not go to the dentist at first, but thought this was just the nerve pains that had come back at their old level. I have never imagined something like this. We did have a urin test for heavy metals, and if that test was taken correctly, I had a lot in my body. And glutathione did help a lot (together with ex. mangesium and a lot of other stuff) but if I dont stay away from the stuff I am allergic to, I am quickly back at the level of pain and symptoms that I was back then (is my experience, I have not tried to go all the way back!) So, that makes me think, that the food allergies, and arachidonic acid problem, is at the base. Also since my food allergies have gotten better, since this approach. I do have more to the theory, but I would like to do another video on that, with Chris, where he goes through my thoughts and experiences, and comment on it.

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Jun 29, 2023Liked by Chris Masterjohn, PhD

Very helpful, thank you Iris! It would be great if you could share the link to that provider who sold you the liters of 46% arachidonic oil. I think I could probably save a lot of money that way.

To elaborate: I am skeptical of the powder personally. It appears to be diluted in misleading and unclear ways, and chemically it seems intuitive to me that ARA in powder form should be highly prone to oxidation anyway. After some research I concluded that the 40-46% arachidonic oil product produced via Mortierella alpina fungus is probably the best and most reliable stuff to use. It seems to be a relatively new product, patented not that long ago. As far as I can tell it was first sold as a supplement by the brand Molecular Nutrition in 2015 or so under the product name "X-Factor". There's also a copy-cat product under the SNS Nutrition brand, sold under the product name "X-Gels". Both sell capsules standardized to contain 250mg of ARA via oil that contains at least 40% ARA. I don't know how many factories are making ARA oil, but since it seems to be a patented process so I suspect there are not very many manufacturers. It's possible these two supplement brands might be ultimately sourcing from the same manufacturer. It might even be the same manufacturer you've located. I don't know. In any case, it sounds like you're basically consuming the same arachidonic oil I am, but you bought yours in bulk whereas I've been buying mine in little 250mg capsules. So if you can let me know where I can buy some oil like that too, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

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Jun 29, 2023·edited Jul 2, 2023Liked by Chris Masterjohn, PhD

I forgot to say: Before the american company Getenhanced.shop, the one with a spider on it, before they changed their recipe, and added rice powder to the product, I was able to supplement with their powder, and it did work, I did get less allergic to stuff, I was just not taking high enough doses, and just before they changed their recipe, I did have a period of taking high doses, and seeing a profound difference. I bought my AA through amazon seller KINARA, and both Amazone and KINARA sended us back and forth between them, no one taking responsobility, for us getting the wrong product even though we did ask before purchasing, if it was the right product. I do not recommend them, since they tricked us, and took advantage of us not being able to fight for our rights, because we are drowning in taking care of symptoms from illness. They take advantage of the vulnerable, so, yes, I will love it if you and others dont use them! - hope we or I have energy to pursue it at some time, and not let them get away with it. We bought through a homepage where we buy as though we are americans (because the product was only sold in the US), so we are under the same consumer protection as you guys are - and does it suck! The consumer protection laws and support here in the EU, is soooo much stronger, and better, than what you have in the US!!! - here in Scandinavia you get all legal support for free, paid by the state, when you as a consumer have problems with providers not keeping their word. So, your rights here, are not dependent on you having an income to pay for legally actually being able to manifest your rights, as it is my impression that it more or less is, in the US. I was able to supplement with their powder, and it did work, I did get less allergic to stuff, I was just not taking high enough doses, and just before they changed their recipe, I did have a period of taking high doses, and seeing a profound difference. I bought my AA through amazon seller KINARA, we had asked just to make sure, before purchasing, that the batch was the old recipie, but they still send us the wrong product, and even though we could document it all both Amazon and KINARA sended us back and forth between them, no one taking responsibility. I do not recommend them, since they tricked me, and took advantage of us not being able to fight for our rights, because we are drowning in taking care of symptoms from illness. They take advantage of the vulnerable, so, yes, I will love it if you and others dont use them! - hope we or I have energy to pursue it at some time, and not let them get away with it. We bought through a homepage where we buy as though we are americans (because the product was only sold in the US), so we are under the same consumer protection as you guys are - and does it suck! The consumer protection laws and support here in the EU, is soooo much stronger, and better, than what you have in the US!!! - here in Scandinavia you get all legal support for free, paid by the state, when you as a consumer have problems with providers not keeping their word. So, your rights here, are not dependent on you having an income to pay for legally actually being able to manifest your rights, as it is my impression that it more or less is, in the US.

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I made a mistake, it is not the producer, but the Amazon seller KINARA, in other words, Amazon and KINARA, that I see as having tricked us. Have changed it in the text now, but want to make it clear her as well.

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Jun 29, 2023Liked by Chris Masterjohn, PhD

Sure, I looked it up, and I had contact with two people from LYPHAR. They were both really a delight, and very professionel, the one called herself Lily (I think a lot of chinese people choose to use western names when in contact with us since we are really bad a pronouncing and remembering their real names) and the other one, was Tiffany, where I had a really heart felt contact, where I will always be greatfull for her help.

Lily: Lyphar_sales@lyphar.com

Tiffany He: <sales09@lyphar.com>

You are welcome to greet them from me and say that I love the help I am getting from the product, and for their professional, patient and kind way of being.

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Can I ask what dose you found most helpful to take of the AA?

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Yes absolutely! If you look futher up under your other question, I give an answer (and I mostely write this note right now, to others who might read this, and look for my answer to your question, sicne I know you allready read my answer:-))

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Chris, Could you investigate ProdromeNeuro as a DHA supplement option? It is sold as a plasmalogen precursor, and the scientist behind it says that it is the best DHA source available.

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author

In past research, my impression was that phospholipid n-3 will reach the brain faster than n-3 TG, but over long term it probably makes no difference.

I’m not familiar with the issue of plasmalogen replacement specifically. If you want me to research it, this would be a good example to put into the next Masterpass AMA question contest.

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Can someone provide a hyperlink to a discussion of the "optimal" ratio of EPA / Arachidonic acid per CMJ PhD or anyone else?

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author

You do not need to micromanage the ratio if you get eggs, liver, and fish. The ratio studies are based on animal studies using plant oils. See “Nutrition and Immunity” in courses for more detail about balancing cod liver oil with eggs and liver.

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Jun 21, 2023·edited Jun 21, 2023Liked by Chris Masterjohn, PhD

Here, perhaps out of context, CMJ PhD notes he doen't care about the AA/ EPA ratio.

https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/046-how-to-bring-up-low-levels-of

But the above clip seems to attach importance to it. Am I missing a salient point here?

*edit* - we have this CMJ PhD Lite https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/101-the-omega-6-omega-3-fatty-acid which discusses the relationship between arachidonic acid in initiating and, together with DHA, resolving, inflammation. Back to the ratio of AA / EPA, the higher the concentration of EPA, the more likely EPA will act to blunt the inflammatory process. That's where I am so far.

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Anything that requires reading and analysis should be submitted as a question the Masterpass AMA question contest.

Also please do not link to mercola.com as every link says the article has been moved to his substack.

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Jun 27, 2023Liked by Chris Masterjohn, PhD

My apologies. Got it.

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