Essential fatty acids are grouped into two families, omega-6 EFAs and omega-3 EFAs. Omega-6 acids promote inflammation, blood clotting, and tumor growth, while omega-3 acids, found in fish oil and very few other sources, act entirely opposite, according to researcher Hans R. Larsen, MSc ChE.

According to Larsen, Scientists were first alerted to many benefits of EPA and DHA in early 1970s when Danish physicians observed that Greenland Eskimos had an exceptionally low incidence of heart disease and arthritis despite fact that they consumed a high-fat diet. Subsequent research later discovered that two fats or oils that they consumed in considerable quantities, EPA and DHA, were indeed very beneficial.

Dr. Sears states that purity of fish oil is single most important factor to consider when taking it as a supplement. To manufacture pharmaceutical-grade fish oil requires extensive purification. In fact, it takes 100 gallons of health-food grade fish oil to make one gallon pharmaceutical-grade fish oil. It should be known by anyone taking fish oil supplements, that there are several medications which may have beneficial or harmful interactions with them. They are Cyclosporine, Pravastatin and Simvastatin.

"OK, dear. Perhaps you are right. Perhaps media is blowing this politician thing out of proportion. But what about SARS?"

"SARS is simple. We all fight disease best when we are less stressed. So everybody should take a vacation and relax on a Mexican beach. Then SARS would be defeated."

"But dear, do you really think six billion of us can fit onto a Mexican beach?"

"I suppose not. Which means we must take other measures to avoid stress. We can start by avoiding stressful situations, such as malicious colleagues, cantankerous in-laws and violent movies."

"OK, I'm taking notes."

"Make sure you get plenty of sleep."

"Why? Does SARS leave people alone while they sleep?"

"No, but well-rested people fight off diseases better than worn-down, tired people."

"OK, what else?"

"Keep fit. Eat nutritious meals and get plenty of exercise."

"But won't exercise just wear me down? Then I'll be a sitting duck for disease."

"Don't exercise THAT much. Just enough to keep fit. And pray.

"I can do that."

"And don't pick on people with slanted eyes. Believe it or not, people are keeping clear of anybody who looks Chinese. I know many people of Chinese ancestry who have never even been to China. I know people born in China who have not been there for years. Why avoid people based on their ancestry, when SARS began just a few months ago?"

"I make decisions based on ancestry all time, dear."

"You do, mother?"

"Sure, why do you think I am your biggest fan?"