Q: I was contacted recently by a friend who is taking and marketing this anti-inflammatory product with extremely high free radical fighting power. Are you familiar with this product? What do you think about how it would fit in with your Zone program?
Thanks, Judy
Dear Judy,
A: Your friend is probably describing a polyphenol. There are some 8,000 known polyphenols, and there is no magic single one (i.e. MonaVie). Polyphenols do have some limited anti-inflammatory properties, but you have to take a lot. Your best defense against inflammation is the Zone Diet to reduce AA levels and high-dose fish oil (at least 5 grams of EPA and DHA per day) to dilute out the remaining AA. Only after doing that would I recommend taking a polyphenol supplement.