Q: I have just been given your book by a friend of mine, and many things that I have taken for granted about food, nutrition or even medicines (e. g., aspirin) got thrown out of the window.
I am 44 with thrombophily, obesity (204 pounds due to hormone treatments for reproduction treatment) and beginning diabetes 2 (insulin resistance). Our biggest dream of having a baby is unfulfilled. I do sports regularly and in my opinion do not eat as much as other people (e. g., I often skip breakfast and start eating at dinnertime or even later since until then I am not hungry).
My doctor has prescribed me with a lifetime use of Aspirin 100 (one tablet a day) since I suffer from thrombophily (factor-V-mutation, prothrombin-mutation, APC-resistance path, HPA genotype 1a/1b). Under certain circumstances (e. g., over four-hour flights, Ops, immobilization, pregnancy), I have to substitute the Aspirin for a low-molecular Heparin. Reading about Aspirin in your book and how it stops all prostaglandin synthesis, I do not really want to take it for the rest of my life. Are there any alternatives? Also, what exactly is the difference between the aspirin and the low-molecular Heparin?
Many greetings from Germany,
Barbara G.
A: Dear Barbara,
The increased tendency for platelet aggregation is due to the overproduction of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids. The drugs you are taking try to reduce their effects. Aspirin inhibits bleeding. Heparin also prevents bleeding by inhibiting clotting. Following the Zone Diet and taking about 2.5 grams of EPA and DHA per day will reduce the production of those same eicosanoids. The additional benefits will be the loss of excess body fat and the reduction of insulin resistance.